I sometimes wonder why I even bother. My words are met with rolled eyes, glares and sneers. Asked for advice falls on unwilling ears. Guidance met with stubborn crossed arms.
They know better, or so they think.
My hands are constantly being thrown up in frustration and exasperation.
My life looks at me with blank stares. I’m just a Mom, I wouldn’t really know about their trials and tribulations. To them, I’ve always been just a Mom.
They know better, or so they think.
I am completely clueless as to how to reach them. To let them know that their actions now will have an impact on the rest of their lives. What they do now will make or break what they will become.
They know better, or so they think.
Grades are more important than high scores and completed levels. Studying for tests and quizzes are priority over Skype and iChat.
They know better, or so they think.
No matter the punishment, or how many times we take things away, nothing makes a difference. Other things are found as replacement.
They know better, or so they think.
Chores left undone, clothes left on floors, toilets left unflushed, counters left a mess. Nothing is that dire or immediate.
They know better, or so they think.
Panic is the state I live in. I walk on eggshells, never knowing when the next explosion will be or from which direction it will come.
I sometimes wonder why I even bother. My love goes unnoticed. My kisses ignored. My touch dodged. My heart aches.
My life looks at me unseeing. Not noticing.
They know better, or so they think.
But I am here. I’ll always be here.
One day, when they realize they don’t know better. I’ll be here. I’ll listen and guide the best I am able to.
My hands will stroke cheeks and hair. And wipe away tears.
My arms will hold and comfort.
My words will be heard.
My love unending, infinite, without borders.
Love.
That is why I bother.
We aren’t to this point yet, but I know we are getting close and my heart breaks just thinking about it. If we could just hand over all of our wisdom to them and they would accept it for the gift it is.
Jennifer´s last blog post ..What chores do your kids do?
There’s hardly a parent of a kid old enough to talk that hasn’t gone through the same thing. I wish I knew the magic ‘way in’. I wish I knew what I could say that would actually make a difference. Then I could share it with all the other parents going through the same thing. And we’d all be so happy, we’d all actually have the time to read, and blog, and just LOOK at the little darlings and admire our handiwork.
lceel´s last blog post ..In Dialect
Huuu huuuu…. I want to cry reading this! There are so many times, more than I like to admit, that I feel what you felt.
Okay, I won’t hate you anymore. I love you now. I hope that makes you feel a little better… 😉
Sweaty´s last blog post ..A Token of Remembrance
I wish they realized the error of their ways and the stress that it causes their parents. I too have been walking on eggshells, waiting for the next ball to drop or explosion to erupt. It’s not fun. And as a fellow mother of a teenager, my heart goes out to you.
With a somewhat sullen 9 yr old today – oh joy …
By Word of Mouth Musings´s last blog post ..Skinny on the Scales. Time Travel Tuesday.
Beautifully said.
I like to think he’s listening on the inside. That what I’m saying is penetrating and eventually, he’ll see that I was right all along.
And? A parent’s best revenge (or so I hear)? Grandchildren. Because one day, they will be going through exactly what we have been going through. And then? Then, I will laugh!
Gigi´s last blog post ..How to make a Big Boy’s birthday celebration special
I tend to think this is a pretty universal experience for most mom’s and their kids, painful as it may be.
RIGHT ON Gigi! My daughter especially did a lot of this type of behavior growing up, teen year horror. It made me feel so unheard and unneeded/ unheeded as a parent- how frustrating it was at the time!
Now it happens to her with my grandsons and she calls me up and I listen and what’s funny is, back then I thought to myself when this happens to you I know I’m gonna gloat. But I don’t I truly sympathize with her and she feels bad about what she did and see’s the parallel.
Jen´s last blog post ..I got an award, and I’m giving it to you!
I think about this all the time, the day my house is full of ungrateful teens instead of kids to climb into my lap. I hope that sooner rather than later some one givesvyou some credit and a hug.
Jessica´s last blog post ..Halloween Link Up With Treats!