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Talk to the Hand
By Gwen Morrison
"Mom, sweet, nice, cute mom. Can I have some money to walk up to Brewsters for ice cream?" She looks at me and bats her long eyelashes, while balancing a golden halo above her head.
Before answering, I do a mental check of whether or not I grounded her that morning. Needless to say, she gets grounded a lot. She has that "open mouth, insert foot" syndrome. She has a hard time getting through the day without uttering something that gets her grounded. As her 5-year-old brother pointed out to her: "Robyn, I just don't like your tone." Out of the mouths of babes. I had to suppress the urge to point at her and giggle. It is amazing how everyone else can see the attitude, but her.
Even as I watch my daughter transform before my eyes, I am amazed at the struggles it takes to get there. There are trials we both have to endure on this journey to womanhood. Through it all, I am enjoying the ride, for the most part. The final destination will be worth the trip.
I will add that a sense of humor is a good thing to have when raising a teenage girl, and I do try to keep mine. Even as doors slam, and expletives are shouted through the house, I really try to look at the bright side: One day she will go off to college (I've already reserved the U-Haul truck for a graduation present). Shhhh!
