My home has a revolving door, not literally. My boys come and go, bring friends home who help raid my cupboards, eat all my food and then leave me with messes to clean up. My mantra is "If you feed them, they will come..." I remember how important it was as a teenager to spend time with your friends. I'm not that ancient to have forgotten that your character is built when you are away from the safety of your home and making decisions on your own. My mother must have felt the same way I am feeling now. I think I was only home to eat and sleep. Please don't assume that I have no control...I know who they are with, where they are going, but I rarely say "no" just to say "no" merely to assert a control over them when they are spreading their wings preparing to fly. (Plus, we have cell phones now. How did my parents survive this without them?)
It is funny when they want something how all of a sudden I become "mommy" again. What manipulators they are! They know that I am lamenting the loss of their childhood, that remembering their chubby cheeks and wet kisses brings tears to my eyes. Calling me mommy just brings back those memories and in that instant I'm willing to give them anything they want.... Even let them walk all over me.
Ahh, yes, I remember those days and still have some with my daughter. And trust me, she knows how to get to me. All she has to do is look at me with her "little girl" eyes and say, "Mommy, please?".
ReplyDeleteI recall the messes made and left too. Those have subsided a bit. Thank goodness!
I rarely say "no" just to say "no" merely to assert a control over them.
ReplyDeleteI love that. That's the type of parent I strive to be (though I'm finding that I have trouble letting go of that control... grr!).
What is funny, is that you know you are being manipulated as they kiss your you-know-what, but it is hard to resist.
ReplyDeleteI am having such a hard time believing how old your children are...in my mind they are still in elementary school! Time flies!
I think that if they aren't doing anything wrong and you're OK with it, there's no problem.
ReplyDeleteI don't have teenagers yet. I do remember how important freinds are at that time. And kids do make the biggest choices when they are far away from us. I hope my kids make good ones some days. Good luck surviving these teenage years. I bet they pass in a blink, even if it doesn't feel that way.
ReplyDeleteI'm sssoooo NOT looking forward to the teenage years. God Bless you sweetie!
ReplyDeletei think sons have a special way of manipulating their mothers. (good or bad) i know my brother is great at it. ;)
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