A day in the life of an "uptight" parent!

And they wonder why some animals eat their young! Gaaaa

We are the meanest parents in the neighborhood. We're too strict. Too demanding and we ask too many questions.

Or at least that's the latest decision from our 17 year old daughter.

"No one else's parents are as difficult as you are," she says.

Don't we know that all the cool kids are out until 2:00 or 3:00 in the morning and can go wherever they want?

After all, she is going to be 18 in 10 months....she's an adult! We need to let her take care of stuff on her own!!  Because that's what "adults" do!

I guess, adults don't need rules. They don't need to clean their rooms, help with chores, show up for supper, or have a curfew. But they can stay out all night, miss classes, and at 17, they can move in with their boyfriend of 6 months.

Hmm....Not sure where we were when THAT memo came out....but we obviously missed it. We must have been out socializing at the "uptight club"! Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you...we're "uptight" too!

We are refusing to let her grow up.......

What'd I'd like to know is when we possessed this magical power. The power to stop the "growing up and aging" process...the power to refuse it from happening....because damn it I could use some of that power on myself. I wonder is it a dust or a powder? Maybe it's a pill we've mixed in with her food? Make no wonder she doesn't come home for meals...lol

Yup...she's growing up ..."and we just have to deal with it," she says!

But there is good news! oh yeah..... she tells me "she has goals and she isn't going to run wild."

Phew..I am so relieved!

Doesn't explain the Slamming doors. Staying out past curfew. Failing grades. Or the overwhelming need to move in with her boyfriend before she even finishes high school....but what do we know...right?...after all, we're uptight! lol

Teenage drama...

Don't ya just love it?!!! NOT

I swear, if us parents knew what we would be in for with our teens we may have settled for a cute puppy or kitty instead...you don't know what you don't have..right?!

But nevertheless....she is here...and we love her beyond belief. So, somehow we have to get through this.

I sat with her and explained that everything we do is out of love and concern. We want her to get good grades - to get a good education - to be more responsible. Part of responsibility (of becoming an adult) is realizing that rules exist in the "adult world" just as they do at home. If you say you are going to be somewhere (i.e I will be home for supper) you have to at least phone when you are going to be late. If you don't show up for work (i.e skipping classes) you will lose your job....and no amount of slamming your bosses office door will change his mind. I also explained that, although we like her boyfriend Mark (he's almost 20, has a good job, and just moved into his first place) we aren't permitting her to move in with him because 1) she is too young for such a huge committment 2) even an adult would be crazy to move in with a boyfriend they have only been dating a couple of months.

But of course she is too young to understand the Mom answers..(No, No, No & because we know better)....she would much rather the teenage answer....(Look at Arly being all cool at 17, living on her own and having to answer to no one, you go girl!)

So instead, all this week, I have tried something different. I let her have a huge rope. I knew it would not be long before she hung herself with it.

All week she has done pretty much whatever she wanted to. She has been out every school night. Her room is a disaster. And she has showed up for supper when she wanted to. She was in her glory!

Yesterday afternoon, on my voice mail at work, I got this message.......

Hell yeah...Represent!!lol

"It's Tara calling from the high school....Arly didn't show up for her after lunch class...if you can clear her absense please call me at the school. "

So, I called Tara and explained the situation (Tara and I know each other from previous school stuff) she just laughed and told me I have her full support. Arly's punishment for an uncleared absense is detention. I said GIVE IT TO HER. DOUBLE IT.

So, yesterday at supper....Miss Arly sat at the table, and after supper she said.."Erm Mom, Kayla and I went out for lunch today and we were late getting back to school so we missed a whole class. I was wondering could you call the school and clear my absense for me."

To which I immediately replied...

"Sorry Arly, you are an adult now....and I have to let you take care of stuff on your own."

Dang kids!!!!!!!!!

She is going to have to learn that she can't pick and choose when to be an adult. It just does not work that way.

ME uptight?!! .............Pfft Whatever!!