My son will turn 13 next week.  I will be the parent of a teen-ager.  I remember back when he was born, looking ahead to this day, wondering what it would be like.  Well, here’s what it’s like…

We’re standing in his room, discussing whether it looks more like a hurricane hit it or a nuclear bomb.  It’s shocking to me that he can put up with that level of disorder.  I’m telling him that we aren’t going to live like this.  He tells me that he doesn’t have TIME to clean his room–he’s too BUSY!  Now, the conversation had taken a similar turn the day before, discussing doing his assigned chores–putitng away the dishes, taking out the trash, etc.  Again, he said he was too BUSY, mainly doing home work.  Of course, he seems to have plenty of time to hang out with friends, shooting marshmallow guns, and playing video games.  When I brought that up, he said-with a straight face–”well, I thought you told me to ENJOY my childhood!  I’m just doing what you TOLD me to do!”

Ah, yes, teen-age logic, for sure.  Of course, I remember when I thought the same way!  Took me back to when I was 13, a summer day in small-town Wisconsin.  My Dad was heading off to work and asked me to mow the lawn–that is to say, he asked me in that “Dad” way that means “I’m not asking you, I’m telling you.”  So I started mowing the lawn but for some reason–I forget why–I didn’t finish it.  I think a friend rode by on his bike and off I went with him, leaving half the lawn un-cut.  My dad was NOT happy when he got home.  But ME?  I couldn’t understand why he was so upset!!  After all, I HAD mowed HALF the lawn–”shouldn’t I get some credit for that?” 

Yep–”teen logic.”  I guess we grow out of it, right?  Most of us do, anyway…