I think the hardest part of having a teenager is questioning my abilities as a mother. My kids were bathed every or every other day as children, so when did not showering become the norm? They were taught to say please and thank you, so why am I still reminding them to do this simple and courteous thing? They were never allowed to eat away from the table, so why do I often find them eating on the couch? There rooms were always clean, so why is it impossible for them to put clothes in a drawer? I could go on and on and on and on.
I talk to plenty of moms and in doing so I find that these things are not completely unique to my family. So why does it feel like I may have missed something in raising my children? And how do they know when I am at my wits end? Just when I was ready to give up tonight, I was able to capture this picture. All is well for now but you should probably check back in about 30 minutes.
i question my mothering abilities every day…sometimes multiple times a day. when you’re young & having your children you think it’s going to be so great…so easy. then they arrive & you wonder what the heck have i done? funny that my mom has no sympathy when i’m having a tough time with kendall. she says “what comes around goes around” & without saying i told you so or you so deserve that, she makes this face that says exactly that. {sigh} now with college just around the corner i battle the “oh i’m going to miss her so much!” and the “get out of my house right now!” feelings. teenager-dom is a roller coaster…
I feel your pain – obviously. And I get to do it again. It is just starting with Carter. Although every now and then I still see the glimpse of the child I know I raised. I am looking forward to the day when the Brennan I raised comes back to me. Someone told me it was at the age of 25. I hope I can wait that long.