Today I suck, there I said it. Today was hard, it was so fucking cold when I got out of bed that i just wanted to get back in… but it’s wednesday so that means kindergarten duty for me and school for the cherubs.This also means I actually have to get human and shower and wear somethign other than yoga pants… sigh, yes sadly it happens.
So after doing all that as quietly as I can because the King worked late, so late that when I woke at 2 and he wasn’t there I knew it’d be a late one. I trekked downstairs to children who at 6:45, which is our new get your ass up time, were still comatose in their warm beds. Oy. This all means that getting them up will be hard and they’ll be cranky and Grand Master D will come out with his doona wrapped around him.. (God I HATE that) AND they’ll complain and fight and battle for shower space and then someone will run late. now if you’ve followed along AT ALL lately you will know that the late shit ain’t getting any better! So much so that we got THE letter from school, you know the one that says educational neglect cos you are the parent and you are supposed to send you kid to school every day… ON TIME. Yeah we get it , we try but you get a 13 yo moving in the mornings… Why don’t we all just admit that 8am is too fucking early for school and change it.
Anyway, the morning went about as tragically as one could expect and long after Miss Gremlin had gone, I found myself being a super crazy woman and basically riding Grand Master D constantly to get ready…. By 7:55 I actually made him get out the door not completely dressed and he was dressing in the hallway. Shoes and belt all while juggling his bag.
Stock Photo by David Castillo Dominici
We rode the elevator together, he got out on the street and hightailed it. He was a minute or 2 late but still marked as ‘on time’ so yay… But I felt so horribly bad. I texted him as I walked behind him, that I loved him. He didn’t check. I know he was frustrated at me.
It was a super shitty way to start the day. I really hate that this is happening… I just can’t seem to get him organised. I feel like a crappy parent.
Any tips would be very welcome. Teenagers are hard.
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Yes, teenagers are hard. I have one who just turned 18 and I can’t figure her out (or the others when they were teens). All I can say is eventually, years from now, they will appreciate you. I know it is hard to believe but eventually they get to an age where they realize that we were right after all. It is little consolation right now but it will get better.
Author
Thanks! Funny thing is they had a half day today and he just walked in the door all happy and cheery and I’ve been hating on myself ALL morning… sigh!
that is a guy thing. we can get over the dumbest crap in an instant. we are oblivious to what is going on.
Author
aww, thanks! We’re going out to lunch now
I wish I had advice, but I don’t have teenagers. My strategies would be preschool like reward charts for getting up on time for 5 days in a row. I’m guessing he wouldn’t go for that. The only other thing I’ve got is actually punishing him for not cooperating/lack of responsibility. Take away his phone or something if he’s not out the door by a certain time. I don’t know – like I said, I don’t have teenagers yet. I’m not a morning person and when the kids aren’t either it is so hard. Hope it gets better soon!
Author
Done all that! Even used money as an incentive. I think I just have to get Dad up to do it for a week. I’m kinda done.
Basically you are riding a roller coaster for about the next 4 years. Sorry doll, but there it is. I focused on not taking ANY of it personally, just trying to herd the hamsters into adulthood. I think I have suggested it before, Kevin Lehman’s book Making Children Mind Without Losing Yours. It saved both boys their lives, balls and sanity.
As for the school thing, IF you talk to anyone in control, agree with them. Tell them you are doing everything you can and not argue with their need to hand out consequences. I treated school as if it were a job, but that is another post…
Hang in there.
Author
yeah… After the rest of the day I’ve had… whatever. We just did a high school tour. I need a whole lot of something!
But thanks for caring. I do love a good Kevin Lehman book 😉
Sorry. *raises glass* You did a good thing. Can’t wait to hear about the high school options.
The only suggestion or advice I have is to have him get up earlier. My 16yr old daughter is notorious for being late so her mornings start at 5a school starts at 7:10 and she has to be out of the house by 6:35 or the traffic is absolutely horrible. Hang in there.
Author
And don’t you find that ridiculous? Who starts school at 7:10 am for fuck sake?
He’s super hard to get up in the mornings.
You\’re just human. I used to have days like that. Then they grow up. They all survive and are not too traumatized. I am not a morning person, and my kids used to have to be at school at 7:15AM. You are right that is totally crazy. Thank you so much for sharing with Wednesday\’s Adorned From Above Link Party.
Debi and Charly @ Adorned From Above
Any day I have to get out of my yoga pants isn’t going to be a great day. That’s it. Bottom line. I wish it weren’t so, but damn, they are so comfortable!
Teenagers are a pain, there is no trick to parenting them. Your only hope, one day he will have teenagers and go through the same thing, you will smile.
Author
Yeah, cold comfort 😉
Author
There’s always self medication 🙂
Thanks so much for sharing with Adorned From Above’s Link Party. Have a great week.
Debi and Charly @ Adorned From Above