MURPHY'S LAW FOR TEENAGERS

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-05-2006
MURPHY'S LAW FOR TEENAGERS
Mon, 07-16-2007 - 3:08pm

Summertime here and school is out. Who plans this school calendar? No one trapped in a house will two teenage girls I can assure you. DD and her best friend Lulu (read: BFF Tag Team) had dreams of the lazy days of summer with no classes. Now four weeks since the last day of school their favorite mantras include, but not limited to the following:

WE ARE SO BORED

WHAT IS THERE TO EAT?

WE WOULD LIKE TO GO TO THE LATE MOVIE - But our curfew is too early

LET’S GO TO McDONALD’S - We need some cash

After days of much whining from the BFF Tag Team, I decided a plan of action was required. Empower your children I say, offer them choices and if those choices happen to benefit you, then all the better. Beyond the shadow of a doubt, motherhood has granted me these inalienable rights as compensation for tolerating teenage angst. My interpretation of the Parents Bill of Rights is broad people, very broad. My story, I am sticking to it.

ME: What could you two do to earn extra privileges and money?

BFF Team: We could clean the house?

ME: Whose version of clean? (Note: I have seen their rooms)

BFF Team: We will mop floors, vacuum and dust!

ME: Well, that may buy you a happy meal.

BFF Team: We will throw in cleaning bathrooms.

ME: Okay, well that offer will provide dinner and the late movie.

BFF Team: (in quiet hushed tones) We won! With two of us we will be done in no time. He he he…we get to stay out late!

TWO HOURS LATER........

BFF Team: We are finished! See our list we did everything!

ME: Yes, you did a great job! Thanks so much. (hands over cash)

So here I sit here with a clean house, a quiet house and the feeling that I live in a Mastercard commercial. Why, you ask?

CLEAN FLOORS…

Cost $10.00

CLEAN BATHS…

Cost $10.00

WHEN LULU’S MOM CALLS AND SAYS SHE HAS TO COME HOME RIGHT NOW AND DO HER CHORES…

Priceless