Teenagers..The Gateway Drug for Parents

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Registered: 12-05-2006
Teenagers..The Gateway Drug for Parents
10
Sun, 07-01-2007 - 1:18am

Ponder no longer why adults slowly ease in to alcoholism around say their mid-forties…it is because they have teenagers. Seriously, AA should add a 13 step to their program…..We have come to believe that we were driven to drink by our futile efforts to communicate with our teenagers and admitted that the exact nature of our wrongs were to have unprotected marital sex about 16 years ago.

In an effort to understand the misnomer Sweet 16 I have researched many parenting books, which are truly useful only to bang against your own head or toss at the backside of your teenager as they walk away in a huff mumbling under their breath.

Karma numerical guidelines provide the most accurate insight. Number 16 offers the test of optimism and faith; it represents the misapplication of sexual energy, adversity, secrecy and aloofness. Not a spiritual guru myself, but these numerology folks have teenagers.

This darling little girl that jumped in your bed because the “scary” man (read: Unsolved Mysteries program) was on TV, the same one who gleefully camped in the yard catching frogs with her dad, the same one that rushed to deliver your homemade birthday card now believes you are the AntiChrist.

School is no longer an academic experience, it exists merely as a social arena to plan evening and weekend activities. Studying 12 hours for the driver’s license exam and 12 minutes for an english test will be the educational effort example for high school. Further evidence will be presented as a sudden aversion to math, unless calcuations are required to determine the amount of cash they need from you. You are THE NEW HUMAN ATM.

Rooms that you spent a week turning in to a palace for a princess, now resemble a pig sty complete with food scraps and odors to keep out anyone with a sense of smell. Cries of woe are frequently heard from this disaster area declaring that she has NO CLOTHES. Apparently 10 pairs of jeans, 36 shirts, 6 dresses, 3 capris, 8 skirts, 15 pairs of shoes and 5 pairs of shorts now represent the equivalent of having NO CLOTHES.

The little girl who used to sneak in to your closet for fashion shows would sooner gouge out her own eye that consult your opinion on wardrode options. Often you find yourself shouting to the driveway “you are not going anywhere dressed like that”, only to be reminded that you must be confused because she was only getting something from her car. And yes, she always carries her purse and car keys when retrieving CD’s from her automobile.

The four major food groups are now: pizza, dr. pepper, cookies and anything from the golden arches palace. Sleeping is tossed aside in favor of necessary tasks like instant messaging, TV viewing and marathon cell phone sessions, unless of course you point out a chore needing her attention.

You no longer possess a working knowledge of anything, you understand nothing and possess an IQ lower than a turtle. It is miracle of some deity that you have lived past the age of 40 and can actually shower, consume food and operate a toilet.

When you tire of choosing your battle, the aforementioned incredible raging hormonal one will do something so small and amazing your heart will melt. Let me explain:

BATTLE FOR TODAY: Rationalizing that strapless blue satin party dress with black lace is perhaps a tad inappropriate for church service.

HEART MELTING MOMENT: Scanning The Princess’s MySpace page and reading “The Parentals” in the spot next to My Heroes.

Contrary to rumors my picture should not be placed in Webster’s dictionary as a photo illustration for the word stupid, I am aware these heartfelt moments are few and far between. For the other 364.5 days of the year I have Margaritas close at hand.

PS..The post above is merely my rant of the day, no offense intended or abuse of alcohol consumed in the writing of this post.

Happy Parenting - Anna

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-24-2006
Sun, 07-01-2007 - 6:38am

How funny! And true!

I took it very hard when I went from being hero to enemy with my DS-18. Thankfully he's coming around some now.

You should be a writer, if you're not already.

zz

Avatar for jbgattuso
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-29-2003
Sun, 07-01-2007 - 10:56am

This is GREAT :) I really laughed out loud and actually teared up at the same time. Thanks for sharing!!!

Julie

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Registered: 08-17-2005
Sun, 07-01-2007 - 11:52am

I love your insight!!!

I had to laugh at the clothes thing. My DD always says she needs new clothes!

Karin

Photobucket

Avatar for weberdns0
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-25-2000
Sun, 07-01-2007 - 11:52am
LOL!!
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-14-2007
Sun, 07-01-2007 - 5:41pm
Fantastic and so true! You should really consider having this published. Well-written!
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-15-2004
Sun, 07-01-2007 - 11:19pm
Ditto with all the others. It's great & you should get it published!
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-14-2000
Mon, 07-02-2007 - 9:34am
You have such a way with words and it always makes me smile when I read your posts.
Pam
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-09-2007
Mon, 07-02-2007 - 2:42pm

Perfectly worded!

Lisa
Mom to Play Pal Darren
and Big Sisters Taylor and Jenna

 


Avatar for kel7col4
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 07-02-2007 - 3:48pm

You know I absolutely love your posts - I wish I could parent the way you write :D

It's so funny, but I don't drink, but after a very stressful weekend parenting dd I was seriously ready to get loaded!!! Everything you wrote truly describes my daughter to a T, right down to the fact that dh and I are not only listed as her heroes, but our pictures are there too.... I even "ran away" one day over the weekend with those wonderful parenting books and almost threw them into the river when it hit me they were useless!!

I really seriously and truly need to you to post every single day for the next 2 years and 10 months lol.... Thank you in advance!! :p




iVillage Member
Registered: 07-03-2007
Tue, 07-03-2007 - 8:50pm
Wow! You summed that up nicely. Only I have a 16-year-old boy. He is so smart. His teachers tell me so at parent confernces, the ones I have to have because he is failing. "He does no work yet will pass a test with an A. He has his head down the whole class but knows all the answers." Where is that toe-headed blonde haired, blue eyed boy? He used to play with GI Joe's and Corps action figures. He also loved sports. Now he considers beer pong a sport. I've talked with him about the dangers of drinking/sex/drugs/bad influences, anything else I missed? I have a daughter who is 18. Grew up in the same house, raised the same way. Very good child. Starting college this fall. Why does one turn out okay and the other scary? Nature vs. nurture? I love my kids very much and wouldn't give up on either one of them. I give a big shout out to Patrone!