Funny Mummy: December 2011- Smells Like Teens Dispirited
Posted by: Sara Hodge on: 2011-12-12 Permanent Link: Funny Mummy: December 2011- Smells Like Teens Dispirited
Funny Mummy: December, 2011
By: Kathy Buckworth
Smells Like Teens Dispirited
I recently engaged in a debate online with other parents about whether they thought the Teen Years or the Toddler Years were harder to survive.
Depending on the age of your children, opinions vary, although I think that parents of toddlers who nod and say “I hear teens are worse” don’t really believe anything could be difficult than the perilous parenting of a tippy and tantruming toddler. Of course both ages and stages have their challenges, but the general consensus seemed to be that the teens were a little harder to take; mostly because they weren’t necessarily so cute anymore, and there was this whole bad attitude thing going on.
The girls get snippy and the boys get surly; that’s what teenagers are made of. But as a Mom who has lived through a few toddlers through to their inevitable teenage stage, I know that there can be some great things about having these older kids in the house. So I decided to employ a public relations strategy aimed at the average teenager, and inspire those parents who are currently going through the toddler years, and who might be feeling a little dispirited to learn that it in fact doesn’t get any easier.
So, with some positive ink, here are the great qualities today’s teenagers have, supported by words from their own brace-laden mouths:
• Budding Independence: “I can manage my own life Mom.” Pause. “Can you make me a grilled cheese?”
• Critical Thinkers: “Are you wearing that? Like outside the house? Just asking. Okay then.”
• Clarity Seeking: “Oh, are you still talking?”
• Solution Focused: “What is the point of being fat? I mean, just stop eating. There. Done.”
• Philosophical: “What is the point of a parade? You just stand there and people go by and then it’s over.”
• Proud: “That’s just your work stuff. I have real work to do. You know, for school. For my future.”
• Curious: “What do you do all day? It’s not that important, right?”
• Logical: “But you’d have to drive me to this party if I didn’t borrow the car. So I’m saving you time. What’s your time worth anyway? Can you give me some money?”
• Comforting: “Mom. Seriously. Don’t worry about your hair. No one is looking at you anyway.”
• Mindful of Others, Especially Brothers: “Someone has to tell him he’s an idiot.”
• Efficient With Their Time: “Anyway I stopped listening 10 minutes ago. What?”
• Advisors: “Old people go to bed at 10:00, Mom”
• Helpful: “Could you buy some good food?”
Like many facets of parenting, it’s always beneficial to look on the positive side of things. But try not to take it too far when they’re toddlers. We’re on to you when say thing like:
• The great thing about the baby waking up at 2:00am is that we have quality bonding time together. (HE DOESN’T SLEEP!!!!)
• He’s really impossible to feed. Guess he has discerning tastes. (HE WON’T EAT!!!!)
• When he threw that toy at my head I know he would be a man who knew his own mind. (IF HE ATE AND SLEPT MORE HE WOULDN’T BE SO FUSSY!!!!)
Personally I embrace the more unpleasant qualities a teenager brings to the (dinner) table, versus his toddler counterpart. Not the least of which they made writing this article incredibly easy, as I stole all of their lines, literally, from them. Now who’s showing some attitude? And yes, I’m totally wearing this outside.
When not writing down everything her kids say, Kathy is hard at work on her next book, “I Am So The Boss Of You”, due out with McClelland & Stewart, Spring, 2013. Follow Kathy on twitter at www.twitter.com/kathybuckworth , and visit www.kathybuckworth.com
About the Author
Photo by CL Buchanan Photography
Kathy Buckworth is an award winning writer, public speaker, and television personality. She is the author of five books, including “The BlackBerry Diaries: Adventures in Modern Motherhood” and her latest, “Shut Up and Eat:Tales of Chicken, Children & Chardonnay”. She is a feature writer for Sympatico.ca in their parenting, travel, and auto sections, and is also a columnist for ParentsCanada, Womens Post, Ottawa Families, Dabble Magazine, and GoodLife. She also regularly contributes to national magazines such as Canadian Families, Disney Playhouse, and Oh Baby. Her monthly “Funny Mummy” column appears on 25+ websites across North America. She is a parenting correspondent for CTVNewsChannel, and appears on shows such as CityLine and The Marilyn Denis Show.
Kathy is the only two time winner of the Professional Writers Association of Canada Award for Excellence in Humour, and is the 2010 recipient of the Mississauga Arts Award for Established Literary Arts. She is the Managing Director of 4WordsComm.com and has over 18 years of corporate marketing experience, with CIBC, Royal Bank, Telus and Coca Cola Foods. She has acted as corporate/media spokesperson/social media consultant for blue chip companies such as Procter & Gamble, Research In Motion, Presidents Choice Financial and LeapFrog Toys. Visit www.kathybuckworth.com or follow along at www.twitter.com/kathybuckworth
Kathy’s latest book, “Shut Up and Eat: Tales of Chicken, Children and Chardonnay” can be found at bookstores and online, everywhere.
Check out our review of Kathy’s book, “Shut Up and Eat” here
Other Funny Mummy articles on Mums ‘n Chums:
Zombie Moms: Not Just for Newborns
Parenting: The Ultimate Workout
Watch Kathy discuss the latest hot parenting topics every Friday at 11:20am on CTVNewschannel.
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