What your mom hasn't told you about your "good 'ole days" as a teenager.

Here recently I have noticed that a lot of my Facebook posts and blog post have been about all the great days full of giggles, and sunshine. HA! It's time for a little reality at the Wood House. How many chances will most people have to still remember their teenage years and have a teenager living with them, not very many. Now, I have to honestly say that my teenage years were probably the best years of my life. At least from my point of view at the time. However, it is not the same point of view that your parents had. That is exactly what this post is about: What your mom probably hasn't told you about your "good 'ole teenage days"

For one, teenagers ("you" at some point in your life) are extremely moody all the time. For instance, today, I was greeted in the garage by a certain teenager with a smile on her face and all giggles. I didn't even get in the house good before she was started crying (literally crying) because I told her that she needed to do her chores and homework. It isn't like I just created some list 5 minutes before I asked her to do them. She has known about her chores since day one in our house. Hello! About 30 minutes later came "Mad Destiny" because none of her friends were going to the drop in this Friday. Then came "Baby Destiny", there was a lot of whining for no reason. I didn't say a word to her and she was whining about having to make a decision on either to go or not to go.So as a parent in order to get "Normal Destiny" this whole afternoon, she wanted me to not expect her to do any chores, homework or anything that will help her become responsible and successful. She also wanted me to contact a bunch of other moody 14 year-olds and convince them to go to the drop-in so she wouldn't be forced to talk to someone who is new (which is the whole reason we started this whole drop-in thing int he first place). Then I would have to make the decision for her to either go or not to go. Riiight...now back to reality. There wasn't/isn't anything humanly possible to do in order to get "Normal Destiny" this whole afternoon. It is inevitable that I will have a moody teenager in my house for at least the next 5 years....God help me!(Reminder: this was the thoughts of your parents at this point in your life)

Teenagers can't make a decision to save their life. We have tried talking decisions out, making visual aids, not saying anything and let her find the best way for her to make a decision...NONE OF THEM WORKED! I mean seriously?!? Did the hormones just all of a sudden start running her brain and causing her to not to be able to think? What is going to happen when she has to move out and decide on something important on her own? You wonder why your mom is crying when she leaves you at college. It isn't because she's sad that you aren't going to be there, heck for that reason she's probably going to celebrate, no she's crying because she knows that you are probably going to be calling/texting/sending smoke signals to her every waking moment to get her advice on something trivial like what color boots with the fur should I wear today, or to "just talk"...NEWSFLASH: WE DON'T UNDERSTAND YOU YET! If you are going to tell me a story please start from the beginning and use words that I might understand.

Sometimes at our house, I think I'm a stranger in another world. She dresses differently than I ever thought of dressing and even speaks a different language. For instance, we were on our way to the drop-in tonight just listening to music and all of a sudden she just starts reading me texts from some girl that I don't know, about some story that I have no clue about. It's so bad that my context clues that I am picking up on are totally mumbled jumbled. So like any foreigner that I have seen that doesn't understand, I smile really big throw in a small laugh and look the other way with my face saying "What in the h*ll?!?" And the clothes that kids are wearing these days...Boots with the fur were cool (briefly) when I was in high school. It is 70degrees outside in January in Central Alabama. We do not need boots with the fur with every outfit that we own. I don't get it! And the hoodies...lord help us! We must have every hoodie they make in her closet. But she only wears one...just one. We aren't married to the darn thing! Give the other hoodies some love for Godsake!

Lastly, teenagers don't listen. I honestly think it's getting worse with all the texting. On the way home from Karate Thursday night, Josh was telling me how he was just a-talking to Destiny about school and he even ventured into the unknown subject of ...Boys! He was almost home and realized that she didn't hear a darn thing he was saying because she was texting someone. He was so mad. Said that it makes him want to stop trying to talk to her because it isn't like she's listening anyways. We honestly have to get her to look at us in the eyes before we say anything important. When I think back, I probably heard a fourth of what my parents really said to me. It makes me wonder what I missed.

This is the tip of the teenage unknowns iceberg. I would love for it to appear that we are all giggles and sunshine at 1303 Southwick ;however, quite the opposite is true. The real part about this whole thing, is that every single one of us went through our teenage years going through some version of this. So honestly, it's nice knowing that whatever we are doing, seems to be giving her normal teenage years. As hard as it may be sometimes, it's nice just knowing that normal, for us, is an accomplishment.

Word of advice: Love on your parents as much as you can today, because they went through some really crazy stuff to get you where you are today. You should appreciate that!