Last week I was exhausted. There was so much to do and so little time. Normally I try to get things done before everyone gets home or early in the morning before they wake up. This is my time to clean and kind of release some stress. Wednesday night while others were sleeping, what I would normally do to relieve some stress from my morning routine was taken to a whole different level when I discovered someone was MISSING! I searched the entire house, no Symone (oldest hot kid). I knew she had been working but it was getting late and she should have come home by now. I am a worry wart, I can’t help it, it’s one of the reason I limit my news intake. No matter how much I pray or do others things not to worry, it’s a natural instinct when something is out of sorts with one of my children, I have a need to freak out! I called her, no answer, I text, no response, I call again and again, still no response. Stress level is on 100 now. What next? I call on the village. We jump into action to locate my poor baby, who could be laying in a ditch, calling out for her mama, and I can’t find her. Okay, that’s a bit dramatic, but you get my drift. I was in panic mode. Where could she be?! Time passes and I get a text, “Mom I fell asleep, I am at so and so house, its cool.” I can’t describe the level of pissed off I was so I’ll continue in a moment below…
(5 minute break)
I’m calm, I can continue. I was so happy she was safe. But, because I watch too much The First 48, I had to call so that I could hear if her voice sounded stressed. It did not, as a matter of fact it sounded like she was annoyed, with me. Could my sweet angel really be trying me? Yeah, I think she was. I went into straight mom check that attitude mode. I ran down the statistics of missing and exploited youth, I gave the speech about how she lived under my roof, I went in for the kill with you grown but you ain’t that grown. I had an arsenal of speeches and statistics ready to combat anything she could try to say. Her response, “Mom, you raised me right!” Well people there you have it, I raised her right, she is the perfect adult, no flaws, and she can ride off into the sunset and live her life. BULLSHIT! (Forgive the language)
I am new to this parenting an “adult” situation. I just really got use to her being my kid and now she gets to use the adult card on me. I think not, or so I thought not. Although in the eyes of the government, her friends, and few others, she is an adult, but she’s still my child, someone I still have things to teach, someone I feel the need to protect, someone who still needs me. How do you know you raised them right? If I raised her right, where was my phone call?! What is a mom to do? I took a cue from The Huxtables. She is correct she is an adult (19 tomorrow), an adult who lives with her mom, but still wants to have adult freedom. I want to help her embrace that adult freedom, I want to make it real for her so that she can embrace her adulthood. I am proud to say that my adult child will be signing her first lease agreement on her 19th birthday, contracted by her mom. I know I raised her right, I don’t need her to verify that for me. I’m not done raising her right, but now I have to find alternative ways to get the lessons she needs to learn across to her. What better way to learn the true nature of being an adult, than having to pay bills?! So, Happy Birthday My Love, rent is due on the 1st!
Parents, have you found that some of your parent’s methods of parenting are not working for this generation? What alternative ways of parenting have you come up with? I’ve got two more to go, help.
Happy Birthday Symone! Welcome to the “Guilt Trip” love you!