Kids these days…and their roller skates.
Sometimes, right about when I delude myself into thinking I’m a cool Mom, I do something really stupid. Like when I was talking to one of LilZ’s friends’ Mom the other day. She mentioned one of the boys from the group wanting to go skating that evening. It was just something she said in passing and I didn’t recall it until later when I was talking to LilZ.
“Well, Mrs. SoInSo said that ThatKid was going to be at the skating rink tonight.”
The look LilZ gave me was a mix of, “Is my Mom drunk?” and “Surely I didn’t hear her right.” He asked me to clarify, so I repeated what she said and right as I said it my brain clicked.
“Oh, wait. She probably meant skate boarding, not roller skating. Right?” (In my defense, when they were younger they roller-skated a lot. Evidently that is no longer cool and I am even more uncool for even considering it.)
Then he and his friends just laughed. At least I’m good for comedic relief, right?
It’s funny, as LilZ has gotten older, I’ve thought a lot about how important it is to have a working relationship with your teenager. A relationship that allows for communication about what works and what doesn’t in that relationship. Same as with any relationship. A lot of times, as parents, we forget that there are TWO people involved. And once in awhile, even though the other person is younger, they may be able to help that relationship. LilZ and I have been working this whole year, but mostly these last few months, on finding a good system. I have to keep reminding myself, Yes – he’s young. Yes – he’s the child and I’m the parent. Yes – he’s a teenager and by default often irrational. BUT – he has often made very good points about things that bug him. The way I handle things that he wishes I did differently. I’ve started taking a lot of what he says into consideration and have – as a result – started making changes in some of the way I handle things. And you know what? I feel like it’s working. We’re making progress. I feel like we are functioning much better as Mom and Son now than we were 6 months ago.
I hope he feels the same way. Even if I do sometimes think his friends are roller-skating.
I think you’re such a great mom
I think you’re an awesome mom too. It definitely shows in what a great kid LilZ is.
First, when my girls are teenagers, I’m calling you. I think you are amazing with your son – so intentional and conscientious and thoughtful. Second, the roller skating/skate board mix-up made me laugh outloud. Does that make us old? My little brother (who is 30) sent me a text recently from Skatetown USA. Remember that place? Middle school couples skate always gave me anxiety. Still laughing…
I think you are an amazing Mom! I hope to have a good relationship with my little ones once they hit the teenage years. Now please go write a helpful parenting guide in how to do so!
You do such a good job, those kids are soooo lucky to have you!!
You’re a great, Mom.
AndyZ makes the best faces.
I seventh the “great mom” comments. You’ve got some lucky children!
I have reading you forever! I love your site. You are a great mom and reminds me of the relationship I had/still have with mine. It always kept me out of trouble. Same with my brother. Because of a strong relationship with mom – he is better as an adult towards women in general. Win-win!
You’re a much better Mom than I am – and LilZ is lucky to have you. I have a 14 year old son who is testing my patience and I’m at the point where, if someone offered to take him off my hands for a year or two, I’d consider it.
When his Dad was alive, my son got everything he wanted from Dad (we were divorced). Mom said no? Just call dad – he’ll get it for me. And he did. His Dad died 3 years ago and I am not in a financial position to give him what he’s used to getting – and he resents me for it. I know because he tells me. He sees me as a failure because I cannot give him what Dad did. He’s very verbal about this.
I have NO idea why I just typed all that into your comments – but thanks for the opportunity to vent.
You seem like an awesome mom. I really like that picture.
Hey…..what’s wrong with roller skating, huh?
(My kids aren’t impressed with it, either. I think it’s cooler now than it was back when I was a teen. Well, almost. Back when I was a teen, I got to skate to rock music, and not whatever it is they play in the rinks today.)
I also agree with lots of people above I think you are a great Mom!
I know when I was a teenager me and my Mum didn’t see eye to eye on a lot of things but since I went to uni and hit my twenties (all around the same time) I realised how fab she is and how all the times I fought against her all the stuff she was doing was for my own good.