It's Tuesday, Confession Tuesday. Today, I don't want to vent; I want to medicate. I want to go back to being the weekend warrior. Parenting a teenager, full-time no less, is purgatory on Earth. Really, couldn't I get, I don't know, 500 Hail Marys instead of the incessant chatter, sulking and "Yes, Mother?" Maude, please can we rewind and renegotiate my penance?Overly dramatic? Tell you what, you move in and if you're not reacting similarly in a week, let's make the substitution permanent, and I'll live your life. Okay, it's not that bad but now I fully appreciate why mothers hide in malls, lunches with girlfriends and work.
Today my DQ was actually in a good mood (until I asked her to break away from her group and go to the store). She spent the majority of her free time with her clique and after she graced me with her presence for dinner, she provided me a little entertainment: her impromptu dance performance, a hodgepodge of "Flash Dance" and "Fame," moves. The former movie she swears she's never seen. She said she obviously channeled the moves which confirms her destiny is to be a star. If only she had been born to different parents who truly supported her dreams ((close-up, sigh)) she would have been discovered by now.
She's the tortured, hidden talent and I'm the middle-aged, weary mom determined to be the better mom, resisting the urge to pull on her mommy sweats and power walk to the downtown Starbucks to nurse the over-priced coffee she doesn't even enjoy. ((hand to forehead))
Until our next episode, I sit here comforted by the soft sound of keystrokes, knowing you my dear friends, do understand me. Next week, please send out good vibes that I get 500 Hail Marys instead.
10 comments:
I don't know HOW y'all do it...I just watched a film on PBS called Bronx Princess about an 18-year old girl with a father in Ghana and a hard-working mother in the Bronx...I tell ya, if my child EVER sucked her teeth at ME! And the very next film was about three teens raising themselves in horrific living conditions in post-Katrina NOLA. How do kids KNOW they've got it good unless they no longer have it so good? I know you're trying hard to be a great mom--my hat is off to you, Susan, b/c I couldn't EVEN...
Me too what Zetta said! (but your post also makes me feel guilty remembering doing that to my mother too!) Maybe you need some gloves and a punching bag to get that stress out! I do too! Even just reading what you were going through made me feel stressed! Wish I could come work out with you! (of course, we'd have to be careful not to knock each other out!)
Thanks guys,
I was feeling guilty for feeling this way. My daughter really is a good kid, but man, I have the least confidence in this arena so yeah, I wouldn't mind some gloves. lol
And my mother was no joke. I'd be blind and toothless if I even thought to roll my eyes with my mother. :-)
I'll trade your teenager for a night with my two kids under six. It's exhausting!
And I'm glad you chose(Confession) Tuesday as your day to vent.
:)
mothers amaze me! she'll appreciate you in a few years :)
lol, I love how you compare teenage parenting to purgatory on earth! My kids are 7 and 3 right now, but boy do I know that I am in for it! lol
April
http://cafeofdreams.blogspot.com
We're just on the verge of that teenaged phase of life around here, and I'm trying to really treasure the calm before the storm. Hang in there! When she's a famous star, you know the first person she thanks when she receives all those awards will be her mom.
See that's exactly why I'll take poetry instead of children. LOL! Parenting is difficult.
...and when you said "(hand to forehead)" I almost lost it! Hilarity!
Ali, when they say raising girls is harder, I believe it. Boys keep you busy but based on my friends and fella, they are a different animal.
Thanks all. We're trying to adjust. I really want to believe it's going to smooth out soon than later but I was no walk in the park myself. I wasn't insolent but I was a teen and teens can do some pretty stupid stuff. It's amazing I survived.
Post a Comment