Dear Teenagers….
..I know all us parents look old and wrinkly to you and we might not be as young as you would like but it may surprise you that we weren’t actually born this age. All parents were young once. It may be hard to believe when we struggle with what day of the week it is and sometimes even your names escape us, but it is true we have been there, we were kids once too and we know all the tricks. You probably think you invented the clever trick of just wetting the toothbrush, alas you didn’t. You may think your being super smart by just putting your feet in the shower; again alas we’ve done it too. Whatever trick or clever idea you think you thought up we have already beaten you to it. We have already thought it, done it and owned the t-shirt. Though the fashion of wearing your jeans halfway down your bum look is all yours, we aren’t taking ownership of that one.
Hint – were not as daft as you think we are. Trying to outsmart us will only result in you losing the battle. Save your energy.
When we were young there was no such thing as a dishwasher. Shocking I know but it’s the truth. When we were made to do the dishes, which actually happened every day, we had to wash each item by hand, then dry and put it all away. It wasn’t considered cruelty towards children either, we knew it had to be done and got on with it. So next time you feel it’s justified to throw a strop because you have to empty the dishwasher; be thankful us parents like dishwashers and that dishwashers caught on. It could be a whole lot worse.
Hint – if you would prefer we sell the dishwasher and you’re itching to do the washing up by hand, just say. It all could be a lot worse.
There seems to be a general consideration that we parents are just out to ruin children’s fun, sadistic and just basically have no idea. We seem to nag all the time and forever on your backs. Trust me when I say if we were out to ruin your fun or had sadistic tendencies we would pick something a lot worse than chores. The thing is that in a household there are several people. This means there are several people to cook for, to wash clothes for and tidy up after. Is it really fair that just one person does all this? When it’s left to one person it does make that one person rather pissed off. That pissed off person does have a life too (yes I know it’s shocking to hear parents have lives too) so to have a happy household it is fairer to all help with the chores. That way everything gets done and everyone gets the chance to have a life.
Hint – the word parent doesn’t mean slave, honestly, if you still doubt us check the dictionary. Try using a bit of consideration for others; you will be amazed with the results. Us parents go all smiley and tend to stop nagging.
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3 Responses to Dear Teenagers…
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I’d love to know what is the dynamic in the changing relationship between parent and child? Do they just one day stop doing what you ask? Or do they ask to do something out of the blue and the automatic reaction of the parent is to say no? I ask this because I did not really go through this with Angel, my 18 year old. But I’m definitely a slave!
Rambling is what us mums seem to do a lot of and must bore our teenagers big time! As for me I barely get started with a ramble before my daughter 18 cuts me dead, preempting any story line with ‘Yes ok mum’! She has no idea what I was about to say nor wants to hear it; are we that prehistoric to not warrant any ‘air’ space?
It’s noted things improve when they have a child of their own, funny thing is then that whatever time of day or night, you are hoped to be at the end of the phone with All the answers!
Us mums are precious, really we are!!!
I think we need parent power where we stand together and rise up to take a stand against our young people. On our own it is easy for them -backed by their virtual friends, to take us hostage. It’s hard enough when there is two parents, I dread to think out much more difficult it is fir single parents! I never expected the high level of rudeness and total disrespect that comes from their mouths! Not to mention the foul language, and binge drinking.