Is it just me that was expecting the whole ‘kids won’t settle at bedtime’ bullcrap to stop after a certain age? If so, boy do I have some news for you and if you’re already a somewhat frazzled parent, LOOK AWAY NOW.

Also, forgive me Karens, for I am about to sin against rule number 101 of parenting: Love thy children for thou art blessed.

Teenagers are the worst. The hormones are rife, the boundaries are extremely blurred and there is a fine line between parenting and refereeing. Finer than fine, it’s actually invisible to the naked eye; it’s reminiscent of the feud of Hulk Hogan and Macho Man Randy Savage circa the 80’s. (don’t quote me on this reference…but use the imagery here ok, just GO WITH IT!!!)

Bedtimes used to be ‘he farted’, ‘she coughed’, or ‘tell her to stop tapping the wall on purpose’.

Now it’s *DOORSLAM* and heavy bass; teeth gritting sighs and undertones of verbal abuse to one another liberally dosed with the occasional threat of ‘I’m telling Mum’ met with the hiss of ‘snitch’ in return.

Bedtimes used to be around 7-8pm in the evening.

Now, bedtime, accompanied with the cacophony of very audible teenage drivel is anywhere between 9pm and 2am.

No sooner than when the olds (yep, that’s us parents) fall into a finally settled sleep, they’re suddenly jerked awake by the sound of starving teenagers raiding the pantry below in the kitchen, the deep boom of the boy child’s laugh and the new found tic like noise from the girl child’s mouth; ‘hooyyeeehhhh’ *shudders*
Let me tell me something – you CANNOT and should not argue with an apparently famished teenager.

I miss the small squishy days and equally love the fact they’re so self sufficient, so confidently independent. Rarely, but it happens, they still try to curl up on a lap; spill awkwardly but still snuggly.

Being a parent to teens is one huge challenge after challenge – if you count the grey hairs on my heads that probably one for every battle we’ve faced each other head on in, locked horns on.

Would I change it??

Absofuckingloutely not.

Which leads me to my next story…

#Storytime #mumofteens #parentingteens #challenging #mumlife #mumblog #justanotheraveragemum