Have you ever wondered to yourself:
“Gosh. I wish I knew what it was like to raise multiple teens at one time in the same household?”
Allow me to help you visualize what that life might be like.
It’s like a complex game of Whac-A-Mole. And just when you think you have taken care of one issue with one teen, another teen/issue pops out and you have to find the energy to whack it.
But there are not only four moles in this game, Reader. Nay. Each mole has side moles. And the side moles bring their friends.
So, if you think you have solved the grades issue with one teen, a side issue, such as disrespect OR poor attitude OR dishonesty OR BOYFRIENDS OR driving OR car accidents OR internet issues OR general hygiene OR car breakdowns OR someone standing on the lid to mom’s favorite washing machine for reasons no one understands and completely breaking it and letting mom find out it is not covered under warranty
OR job stress OR college decisions OR friend drama OR BRUSHING YOUR TEETH REGULARLY OR unclogging a toilet when you have clogged it OR turning in missing assignments OR being home when you are told to be home OR cleaning your room vs lying about cleaning your room OR knowing where the title to your car is OR the importance of wearing deoderant OR learning the importance of scheduled oil changes OR cleaning up after a puppy that you wanted instead of trying to blame someone else and make them clean up after the puppy OR USING SOAP IN THE SHOWER OR not calling your mom “Karen” OR not losing your keys will pop out and surprise you.
Just when you least expect it.
It’s super fun.
***
LD was permitted to stay home alone for one more chance after this happened under his watchful eye:
So, I am like an hour away from him and my neighbor calls me at work.
“Yes, hello. The Fed Ex Man said there is a black horse standing in the middle of the road. Could it be yours?”
Me: *sigh* Maybe. Let me try to get a hold of LD.
LD is not answering my texts.
Neighbor calls back.
“Yeah, Taylor. You’ve got bigger problems. Your cows are out, too.”
Me: All of them?
“Well, how many do you have? There are a lot out here.”
So, I have to drive home and the nice neighbor helps the child round up the cattle and
“I am sorry, Mom, I forgot to close the gate and will I ever get to stay home alone again?”
That’s a hard no for a long while, Son.
And also, because he refuses to wear pants whilst doing farm chores, he had gotten himself cut up in barbed wire and was bleeding and used three different kitchen towels to tend to himself and left them on the counter for me to clean for him.
***
I used to think Charlie the puppy was kind of dumb. But now, I think she is a genius.
David and I played let’s make a deal and my end of the bargain was that I got to have Charlie snuggle on the bed with me when I gave her permission.
I forgot to clarify in my end of the deal that David could not sabotage my happy snuggles time. So, when ever Charlie hops up, he stares her down and growls.
So, if David is on the premises, the dog is very well behaved and won’t even think of getting on the bed.
As soon as he toodles on down the road to go to town-
***
HD is wrapping up his season on the JV team. He is in 8th grade, but was able to play up on JV. Now, he and LD are starting Junior High season. This past weekend, HD and the JV team played in five games and took first place in their league tournament.
***
HD had a friend over. Friend has played basketball with him now for a few years. Friend is super respectful and cute. And I do believe he was trying to recruit me into the family plumbing business.
Friend: It’s good work. Good, honest work. My brother has a house, a car, and a boat. You can do real well being a plumber. Just goes to show you. You can make a nice living.
Well, dang. I don’t have a boat.
***
I don’t want a boat.
If we had a boat, it would just get added to David’s weekend rotation of broken down things that he needs to repair.
***
We are getting ready to butcher Awful Steer. We all vehemently dislike Awful Steer. In fact, Lily might come back just for that event.
I decided to embarass Hadley and invite her new BOYFRIEND to steer butchering day.
BOYFRIEND: Yeah, I think I can do that. Wait! Is that Valentine’s Day?
Me: Valentine’s Day is the next weekend.
BOYFRIEND: Oh, good. Because I am going fishing on Valentine’s Day.
And just like that, all of Hadley’s hopes for her first Valentine’s Day with a suitor were smashed.
***
I came across this photo quite by accident. I took the photo and it was right after we moved here. We hadn’t really seen all the land yet, so David loaded me and the girls in the four wheeler trailer and had the boys with him on the four wheeler and we went and explored.
LD is in the front with David and he was 2. HD was behind David and he was 3. Hadley is in the left side of the picture-age six and Kate was seven.
Happy Sunday!
Yeeeaaahhh, I agree with all the extras that come with the teen years. When they are babies, they really need you to help with their baby life. When they are teens they need you to help with their living life skills, their thinking life skills, their friend life skills, their laundry life skills, their cooking life skills, their….it goes on and on and on. It helps if you have that “village” around you that people talk about. Plus if you can put some rules in place that If Followed, Help Everyone In The House. Thankfully, the time passes. The calmer you can be, the more reasonable you sound. The more positive spin you can put on it, the more likely they will remember to do it next time. My sympathies.
My sympathies too.