Why would anyone want to be a parent? Especially of teenagers? Whether they are adopted, foster kids, birth kids, or even clones, I’m sure it’s the same everywhere you go.
I am struck by how stupid being a parent really is -- there is just no visible reward on a day to day basis. Now sure, theoretically they are going to grow up and one day be grateful, but so far we haven’t experienced that -- too early in the game to expect that.
Yesterday I dedicated myself to making a teenage girl happy. Grant it, she was being pleasant, doing her part, and being very agreeable (which she always manages to be when she wants something), but I expected at the end of the day to be thanked, or at least ignored. I didn’t expect the verbal attack about how I hadn’t done it exactly right! Now today she’s on strike and not speaking to me.
Then this morning I had to have the discussion with Kyle that never ends when all the sudden he needs our vehicle, 2 days off work (from being a PCA for us) and our permission to take off the day after tomorrow. I tried to explain that in another job the employer might need more notice. But talking to him about trying to see things from anyone’s perspective but his own is more difficult than it would be for me to climb Mt. Everest.
And finally, John’s first day of real work is today. Last night I took him shopping for what he needed. This morning I made sure he had what he needed, got him out the door, gave him a ride to work. As he was getting out of the car I said something like, “Good luck. I”ll be back at 1:45.“
Foolishly expecting something like ”Thanks, Mom“ or even something innocuous like ”see ya“ I only heard ”you better be.“
There is a reason why people give birth to cute helpless babies BEFORE they parent teenagers or we would have a difficult time continued to keep replenishing the earth from generation to generation.
I am struck by how stupid being a parent really is -- there is just no visible reward on a day to day basis. Now sure, theoretically they are going to grow up and one day be grateful, but so far we haven’t experienced that -- too early in the game to expect that.
Yesterday I dedicated myself to making a teenage girl happy. Grant it, she was being pleasant, doing her part, and being very agreeable (which she always manages to be when she wants something), but I expected at the end of the day to be thanked, or at least ignored. I didn’t expect the verbal attack about how I hadn’t done it exactly right! Now today she’s on strike and not speaking to me.
Then this morning I had to have the discussion with Kyle that never ends when all the sudden he needs our vehicle, 2 days off work (from being a PCA for us) and our permission to take off the day after tomorrow. I tried to explain that in another job the employer might need more notice. But talking to him about trying to see things from anyone’s perspective but his own is more difficult than it would be for me to climb Mt. Everest.
And finally, John’s first day of real work is today. Last night I took him shopping for what he needed. This morning I made sure he had what he needed, got him out the door, gave him a ride to work. As he was getting out of the car I said something like, “Good luck. I”ll be back at 1:45.“
Foolishly expecting something like ”Thanks, Mom“ or even something innocuous like ”see ya“ I only heard ”you better be.“
There is a reason why people give birth to cute helpless babies BEFORE they parent teenagers or we would have a difficult time continued to keep replenishing the earth from generation to generation.
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