This post is dedicated to all of you in cyberspace who have raised, are currently raising, or will soon be raising teenagers.
You know you have a teenager when:
- You say “goodnight” and get “grmphhh” in return.
- When your child fights with you over taking a shower, but douses themselves with all sorts of beauty products after they get out.
- They scream at you because they hate you, until they realize they need you and become cute and cuddly and loving again.
- You feel like you are walking around in a Jekyll and Hyde movie… never quite sure what you will get.
- Late nights are pleasant, but mornings are hell.
- Your coffee supply is dwindling much faster than it used to.
- Negotiations have moved from candy bars to automobiles.
- Your clothes are disappearing and are left on your teen’s floor.
- Your teen is large enough for you to make their clothing disappear, but you realize if you borrow their shirt you will not be able to wear it – it is so dirty it stands up on its own.
- Their iPhone needs to be surgically removed….. it has become an extra growth.
- After a week solid of fighting, you get a sweet card, a hug and an invitation to snuggle on the couch and watch a movie.
And….. when do you know if you have a teenager???? What would you add?
Today, 272 days ’til 40, I am thankful for my teenager. I will remind myself on the bad days that there are many more positive days than negative ones and it is all part of her learning and growing process as a child (and mine as a parent).
~400daystil40
Fortuitous Forty!!! 
Bob Lee
May 25, 2012 at 00:04
Oh oh how true
400daystil40
May 26, 2012 at 17:56
😉
Food n Thought Peddler
May 25, 2012 at 00:07
I can especially relate to #1 and #10, but I’m glad I have a boy so nobody’s raiding my closets 🙂
400daystil40
May 25, 2012 at 10:06
hehehe – my sister used to raid my mom’s and dad’s closet equally (she liked my dad’s flannel shirts)…. technically a boy could raid your closets, which would be an entirely different issue your family would have to cope with. 🙂
pinkagendist
May 25, 2012 at 00:08
OMG, I think I might be your teenage child!!!
400daystil40
May 25, 2012 at 10:05
!!! 🙂 I knew I saw a resemblance! 😛
narf7
May 25, 2012 at 00:09
They invite you out for coffee so they don’t have to take the bus…they get you to come shopping with them for the same reason…they roll their eyes at you and say “its not like when you were young you know!”…they seem to think that you have come from some ancient civilisation where humanity evolved old…your fights are scarier because you can see yourself in their arguments…you realise that this angry young adult is someone who carries your genes and who is going to be the represetative of your memories and they start to attempt to use reverse psychology on YOU!…sigh…
400daystil40
May 25, 2012 at 10:04
Ah yes, I can relate!
writerwannabe763
May 25, 2012 at 00:41
You know you have a teenager when…..you ask them to straighten up their room..it’s a mess… and they say they did already …when clearly they don’t know what ‘straighten up’ means….Diane
400daystil40
May 25, 2012 at 10:04
Wait.. they didn’t? I thought that if there was a path to the bed the room was clean!
dpbowman
May 25, 2012 at 01:20
12. Curfew sounds like a curse word.
400daystil40
May 25, 2012 at 10:03
Does WordPress allow you to swear in your comments? I guess they do!!! 😛
dpbowman
May 25, 2012 at 14:12
WT Curfew? 😛
chefmargot
May 25, 2012 at 01:31
Ahhh! I have two teenage sons and you are so right about the coffee…it is now custom that whatever I leave sitting in the french press becomes their iced coffee in the eve.
Also, if you think toddler boys are loud….aha! have teenage boys!!! Even louder!
400daystil40
May 25, 2012 at 10:03
And teenage girls -even louder! We go through coffee so quickly in our home! Our girls have always loved coffee, but we told them they could not consume it regularly until they were teenagers… I should have said until they were 21!!!
Dorothy
May 25, 2012 at 01:43
they prepare for all the worst moments of life
400daystil40
May 25, 2012 at 10:02
definitely.
Fiona Pimentel
May 25, 2012 at 02:05
You know you have a teenager when they come in for breakfast, just as you are preparing lunch.
400daystil40
May 25, 2012 at 10:02
Ahh yes, we get that a lot in our house!
Plant Electrician
May 25, 2012 at 02:22
You know you have a teenager when mowing the lawn becomes a more desirable diversion instead of a chore.
400daystil40
May 25, 2012 at 10:01
lol!
Louise Behiel
May 25, 2012 at 02:38
you know you’ve survived raising teenagers when…LOL they buy lunch and call you for advice.
400daystil40
May 25, 2012 at 10:01
Ah, I look forward to those days!
basildonkitchens
May 25, 2012 at 15:25
I’m at this stage – thankfully – 4 girls, all teenagers at the same time – now all beautiful, productive and sensitive adults. I used to drink a lot of wine! 🙂
400daystil40
May 26, 2012 at 00:04
Thanks for making me laugh! I would suggest Xanax or Prozac… wine works! 🙂
basildonkitchens
May 26, 2012 at 02:58
I survived – have grey hair and love them all….You will too – the best is the stories now that all start with …”Do you remember the time when…” and then they all fall into giggling heaps – just like when they were little. 🙂 Parenthood – terrifying, and exhilarating at the same time – wouldn’t trade a minute of it all – like a roller coaster ride.
400daystil40
May 26, 2012 at 17:55
🙂 🙂 🙂
Louise Behiel
May 26, 2012 at 02:27
I just came from drinking wine with my oldest daughter – life is good.
400daystil40
May 26, 2012 at 17:55
That is when you know you have arrived – when they get to the point when you can go out for a drink with them!!! 🙂
basildonkitchens
May 27, 2012 at 05:01
Glad I’m not the only one! 🙂
sahbinahvioletflynn
May 25, 2012 at 04:21
You know you have a teenager when… they won’t kiss you in public anymore (like at the drop off loop at school)…they manage their own social calendar and it’s busier than yours…
400daystil40
May 25, 2012 at 10:01
Yes!
dogdaz
May 25, 2012 at 05:17
…when you give up and close the door rather then fight about the mess on the other side (called ‘their room’),
…when you could swear you just went to the bank, just the other day.
…when you could swear you just filled the car with gas, just the other day.
400daystil40
May 25, 2012 at 10:01
🙂 🙂
pamela68
May 25, 2012 at 06:13
Number 8 is like you are watching our house. You know you have a teenager if you feel like you are in a bilingual family because they speak a language only other teens know.
400daystil40
May 25, 2012 at 10:00
🙂
tricia linden
May 25, 2012 at 07:01
I’m sorry, but you’re going to hate me. I had perfect teenagers and none of that ever happened to me. I also have fantasies of being a best selling author. What planet do I live on??
400daystil40
May 25, 2012 at 10:00
Yes, what planet do you live on? Would you like to borrow my daughter for a while??? 🙂
The Quiet Borderline
May 25, 2012 at 11:17
Hehe – Their iPhone needs to be surgically removed….. it has become an extra growth.
Funny. But oopsy, I’m 27 years old and I think my iPhone needs to be surgically removed!
Great post.
400daystil40
May 25, 2012 at 12:42
Yes, my partner has also told me at times that my phone needs to be surgically removed!!!
The Quiet Borderline
May 25, 2012 at 13:31
Sounds painful :p
400daystil40
May 25, 2012 at 13:40
🙂 !!!
ddivna
May 25, 2012 at 15:07
absolutely true, I’m just in these problems now! When is the end?
400daystil40
May 26, 2012 at 00:04
I think it ends when they turn 30!!!! 🙂
ddivna
May 26, 2012 at 00:14
ha haha..Where will we be then?
basildonkitchens
May 25, 2012 at 15:26
I read a great comment a while ago – The worst years in a woman’s life are when she is 13 and when her daughter is 13!
400daystil40
May 26, 2012 at 00:03
Ah, yes!!! Great comment! 🙂
Gluten-free Medley
May 25, 2012 at 17:13
You know your teenager is home from college when you have to go grocery shopping three times a week… and you run the dishwasher twice a day! But, it’s great having him home!!!
400daystil40
May 26, 2012 at 00:02
Yes!!! I can so relate! 🙂
viveka
May 25, 2012 at 18:06
No teenager … but I remember how I was myself – not the easiest to deal with – even if there wasn’t iphone or pads around. Can image how it can be. Not easy when all those hormones are rushing teenage bodies and brains.
400daystil40
May 26, 2012 at 00:01
Uh oh!!! Yes, the out of control hormones can be a challenge!
viveka
May 26, 2012 at 03:20
Yes, very much so … *smile
naznia
May 25, 2012 at 21:52
I do not have any kids of my own, nevertheless this was a fun read and made me smirk; especially #8. I am way past my teen years and I am still guilty of “borrowing” mom’s clothes when I can. *grin*
400daystil40
May 26, 2012 at 00:00
🙂 !!!!!
allthingsboys
May 26, 2012 at 22:26
I borrowed my sons jacket not too long ago. When he sawme in it he said, “I’ve been looking for that!”. I smiled and said, “Don’t leave it laying around!”. 🙂
400daystil40
May 26, 2012 at 22:52
I think that is great!!! 🙂
Kerry Dwyer
May 28, 2012 at 19:53
I can relate to all the above although the clothes borrowing is very one way. Her things are hers..
Strange situation last week. My mobile rang at ten fifteen and my daughter asked ‘You said you would be back by ten, where are you, I was getting worried?’. I answered the question and then hung up before realising just what was wrong with that picture.
400daystil40
May 28, 2012 at 23:05
Wow, it is always amazing when it turns around, isn’t it???
Kerry Dwyer
May 28, 2012 at 23:11
Yep – it sure is.
Spider42
May 28, 2012 at 21:34
got no kids of me own but will keep all this in mind!
400daystil40
May 28, 2012 at 23:03
One day you will know the full truth of these!!! 🙂
Spider42
May 29, 2012 at 13:31
I shudder with trepidation! 😀
400daystil40
May 29, 2012 at 14:02
Maybe one day I will visit India with my children and you can have an early exposure from them!!!! 🙂