A reader wrote:“The best part is when they finally get it, and tell you sorry for being such pain in the ass during those (teenage) years. My son told me he now understands everything I was trying to convey to his logic blocked brain back then…”
Oh man, I can relate.
I was pretty certain that at least one of my envelope-pushing teens would flee the nest — i-Pod at full… CONTINUE READING >>
20 Comments
Oh my, I’m still in the throws of waiting to hear this from mine. My oldest, a 20 year old, after living away at school for part of a year, does seem to appreciate what we do as parents. Now that he is back under our roof again, he lets me know he appreciates me by actually asking me how I am doing (unprompted) and by offering up hugs when his younger brother is making me crazy. (which is often). Everyone tells me that someday my kids will appreciate me….I am counting on that! Nice post.
Hopefully the younger learns from the older. No matter what, get ready to enjoy your empty nest.
i’m still on the battlefield but i’m with you never surrerder here’s hopeing to see the light at the end of the tunnel soon lol thanks so much for sharing this post
Hang in there! You can do it!
I don’t think I totally appreciated what parents do for their children until our first born spent his first night at home with us. That was 28 years ago. He’s getting married in May. It will be interesting to see if he experiences a similar epiphany.
My middy son was my toughest child always pissed~off about something and just as strong willed as his Mama.But he is now 23 and after having to Nudge him out at 21 (to live with his 23 yr old sis)He now is the most pleasant young Man (proud mama) and thanks me often for the “Tough Love” he got as does the 26 yr old daughter. Now the 17 yr old daughter, is still in the battle with me. So I have to remind my (tired of fighting after 26 yrs) self she too will get it one day and stay strong!
thank you for giving me hope… 17 years and counting… still in the midst of the teen year wars, sigh! but like you, I always say that *I* will win! (I hope)!
sksweeps You can do it! Glad to be of help,
Yes, my kids often thank me for setting the bar high for them. My daughter is a middle school teacher and hears the “not my child” speech from parents who make excuses for their kids every day. Her students talk back to her, and there are… no consequences for their actions when they go home. She often says, “I am so happy that I grew up in the house that I did, where I was taught to respect people, say ‘please’ and ‘thank you,’ and not ‘be fresh’ to adults.” My son now has his own child and is quite strict with him as well. “Helicopter parents” do their children no good. What will they do if/and/or/when their children get a job? Go to the boss and say, “You’re being too tough on my child! You give him/her too much work! He/she comes home stressed out! He/she needs more vacation time! Cut him/her some slack!” Yeah…
Yes. The oldest one thanks me every day for letting him live under our roof (boomerang) by doing the dishes and cleaning up after all of us. The other one couldn’t wait to get out and is now paying for a vacation for me and dad this summer…. The last one is the ungrateful eighteen year old graduating high school anxious to fly the coop. Two out of three ain’t bad! Who knows in a few years we may be getting another all expenses paid trip. If they can find us!
My TEEN kids have thanked me for keeping them in line already… jaw dropper… I’ve thanked my Mom every time I’ve seen her since I was nineteen… can’t say it enough!
have not experienced that yet…waiting…patiently
It was the greatest joy in my life, I can now sit back and think I did do a great job
actually, yes they have. and after the initial shock…it felt GREAT!!
Have your adult kids thanked you for keeping them in line during their teen years? How did it feel?
Once, when my teenagers were sulking about being asked to help with the dishes, I told them I was the Bitch Mother from Hell and I took great pleasure on making their lives miserable. A story so blatantly untrue that it stopped them in their tracks. Now it has become a family joke, a way for all of us to keep things in perspective.
I have made it to the day when my oldest daughter is now my best friend, next to my husband! She is 29, and is only 16 years younger than me. She and I have talked about all the horrible stuff she put us through!
My 23 year old is pretty even keeled, but I am hoping I can make it past the 20 and the 18 year old that are still pushing that envelope!
Bernice
This really hits home. Our oldest was always butting heads with his Dad. When we were going thru old pictures while preparing for my his 50th birthday party, this son saw the pics of his Dad as a free living hippie immediately followed by his Dad with short hair and no beard with a little baby in the pictures (said son). He immediately realized the sacrifices his Dad made to be a good father and thanked him with tears in his eyes.
It was pretty amazing and cathartic!
@natestories
Try being a stepmom! It is a thankless job…always the bad guy. But then they grow up.go off to college come home for a weekend and kiss you on the cheek when they leave bak to school. God you have to love them!! Makes it all worth while. Love my stepkids like they were my own flesh and blood!!
OMG! The Sunday driver video is side splitting funny. Thanks!