dear emily,
teenagers . . . did everybody get a little jolt at that word? or at least a
tiny shiver? oh, the power of a terrifying image. forget "the walking
dead," how much scarier would "the multiplying teenager" be?
i remember watching disrespectful, mouthy teenagers in movies when
my angels were under ten and saying, "my children will never talk like
that." i also thought that i would never be 'that' mom. you know, the
one who morphs from june cleaver to joan crawford.
and the oscar for the most horrifying mom on the planet goes to . . .
if i could do it all over, which i can't, i would train up those bandits just
the way i did BUT not have a conniption fit when they strayed outside
the lines. i would mete out a just consequence and say, "you're
smarter than this, but i still love you. now go make me a martini."
love,
lea
"when the Lord brought back the captives to zion . . . our mouths were
filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy." psalm 126:1, 2
23 comments:
Oh Lea, I don't think any of your amazing children would say you were prone to conniption fits.
My children will never be "those" teenagers...right? ;)
One thing we DO learn early on... never say never.
I was thinking of yours the other day, and wondering how the music is coming along?? I think they must all have strong genes in that area. :)
Good morning! Oh do I ever relate to this! My sweet little boys (Mel remained an angel, haha) turned into those teenaged boys you cringe over for a while...what a season! I agree with Sonja...learned VERY early, NEVER say NEVER! haha Enjoy your day!
haha that is so funny. I was always afraid one of them would write a Mommy Dearest book too. Mine were always polite, but I think it starts with Mom and Dad. By me respecting them they respected me and by me respecting their father they respected Him, which means, Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. They always learn more by what they saw rather than what they were taught.
After May I won't have any teenagers anymore. Only young men and women. I am thankful that none of them ever were like you see portrayed. God has been been very good to turn my mistakes around for His glory. :) You know Romans 8:28 I begged God on my knees, I know it isn't a Child rearing verse but I prayed it anyway. :)
I have so much fear about how much I'm going to screw up my kids. :( I still have a long time until the teens years, so plenty of time to make them hate me... *sigh*
Your comment on my blog made me laugh! My first two were pretty puny, and I didn't rip them out. ;)
farm girl: i worried about offending you with
this silly, flippant post, but i think you are the
avenger of no offense. :)
i was SO serious about doing everything right
as a parent (the praying, teaching, etc.) that i
just wanted this to be the opposite.
aubrey: your girls will be perfect in every
way and have the most perfectly wonderful
parents!
You crack me UP, Lea! Raising teenagers...you NEED a martini or two.:) My last one graduates in June. So glad that's over.:)
oh i just love this. i do shudder a little to think of it, my oldest being 9. and can i just say that i LOVE 9? he is so affectionate, hugs me every day and yesterday declared me to be "a great mom". he's a beautiful little liar. :) i want to bottle up 9 to get me through the lippiness of the teen years. :)
ps: i 'bout died at the "make me a martini" comment. it made me want to move my family next door to yours so i could weather those years with someone like you so nearby!
I know you MUST know that your comment made me smile!! :)
No more teenagers in our home but I do remember... early 20's pose some unique moments too :) The 'I am an adult' but still living in mom and dad's home moments. (more smiles)
LOL!
I hate it when people say one word, but when they don't say any words and just laugh...well, that's too much. So I am going to say that I can't think of any age group any more difficult and that I probably was an awful mother to teenagers. I remember making threats. Wild, crazy threats and then they laughed at me. Sigh.
Multiplying teenagers ... terrifying thought.
I have three at the moment. There is not a dull moment, although there are tearful moments and joyful moments and prayerful moments and "I'm going to snap your neck" moments.
What a challenge to raise.
Raising teenagers.
NOT for the faint of heart.
I wrote an article for a magazine once about addiction. How I used to judge those other parents, how I would never let that happen to my children.
Yeah.
Ummmm.
Not so much.
17 years later I'm still trying to figure out how that whole philosophy went so awry.
The martini sounds like a good idea.
I was smiling all through your post. Having ones that are 19, 17, 16 and 12, we are in the midst of those teenage years. (I am just trying to figure out how I can have kids that are that old!) So guilty of the "My kids won't ever do that..." thinking too.
Every time I get an eye roll, I just keep thinking, at least they are still living here to let me see those beautiful rolling eyes rolling at me. And then I smile, because I know what goes around, comes around! They are in for a sweet surprise when they become parents!
Enjoy a beautiful weekend!
Kate
LOL
Thank you for that perfect advice, as I am currently in the throes of teen living. There are 3 of them!
Too bad I'm a teetotaler, though I take it day by day. I'm likely to run to store at any minute for the spirits.
Seriously, they aren't "THAT" bad. Really...
Lea, you're a wise woman.
Oh my goodness, Lea! You make me laugh (and want to hide all the coat hangers)!
Hi Lea,
I didn't enjoy the teenage years, I lived in terror every day. For not only did I worry about my girls, but they brought home so many other teenagers that soon turned my hair gray.
It's nice to see that my girls are on the other side and have turned into such lovely young women. Despite that chapter of terror, I love being a mother.
Karen
Amen...I have been feeling the same as I realize I too would do it the same! Great and fun post! Now I still have two to go through this age...so I am not finished yet!
Wise words. As my husband reminds me when I stray toward "conniption", they come from us :-)
You bless me with your love and peacefulness toward your family.
~Cinnamon
p.s I thought I heard sweet Sunday on the radio the other day. Could this be? It sounded JUST like her but when the song was over it didn't say who sang it or what the title was.
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