Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Conflict Management ~

Lately I've been having a conflict with myself.  When I read other blogs, they have the happiest children who are perfectly adorned and color coordinated to match the fronts of their homes/bicycles.  We typically get to hear the sweet phrases that escape their mouths so innocently, yet eloquently profound and headed for the publisher.

Well I've been waiting for these things to happen.  Really I have!  I don't want to paint a bad picture of my boys, and so I wait.  I've been waiting for that super cute thing to happen so that I can blog about it.  Still waiting!

It's not that my remaining two are bad kids, but they are teenagers.  And although they are boys, we still have a bit of drama that inevitably sneaks in from day to day.  Mildly entertaining to me, but it might be considered taunting if I share it with the public.

So here's my conflict.  I want to be real in my blogging, but I don't want people to read my blog and then want to smack my boys when they see them on the street!  I've had to draw a line as to not incriminate my remaining resident offspring.  So consequently, I don't do a lot of blogging anymore!  Sorry Mary Ellen!

Other than going private (which I'm not going to do), I guess my only solution is to tread lightly.  I don't need to share every ridiculous wrinkle that is created under this roof, and I don't need to share anything that a prosecuting attorney would like to get their hands on.  It will be a mild version of what real mothers of teenagers deal with.

For example!  Last night, we went to Target ... because I'm a sucker for these things!  Every year I devour them until I am finally satisfied with the sweet taste of Easter and ready to move into Summer. 


Anyway, while we were there, Jake found a pair of shorts that he needed/liked.  I told him that I would buy them, but that I was going to hold onto them until the drawers in his room (which were already imploding with clothes that haven't been worn since the Bush Administration) were cleaned out and organized.  He agreed.  Our purchases were made and we went home.

This morning, silly Jake asked me for his new pair of shorts.  I reminded him of the deal that was made and he did his best to convince me that his drawers were just fine.  Oh sweet little Jake ... how did our definitions become so disconnected?  He didn't argue for long and before I knew it he was on his way to school ... in an old pair of clothes.  Harsh?  I say no.  So I continued about my day not giving it much more thought.

About 30 minutes after this handsome child had been gone, I noticed this little love note that he left on my office door.  I gasped and then giggled.




 The energy that was put into these bubble letters alone could have cleaned out two drawers!  I love how he avoided more conflict with me by just taping this up and running.  The irony is, he has no idea what conflict he just began.  Oh Jake.  You silly, silly ARTISTIC boy.

Does anybody that reads this have teenagers?

 

7 comments:

Melissa said...

I am scared for the teenage days :) Your kids are great. I hope I can survive with the 4 girls of mine!

Miss Stace said...

I say be real! I like reading blogs about real life. I know those blogs you are talking about and I rarely read them, cuz I don't believe it. If you put the real stuff out there, more mom's will be able to relate. Plus, I think its funner to read!

Just input of a childless chica.

Mrs. Bennett said...

YES. I have a teenage boy, Jasper who is only 12 but is already very TEENAGE. I cry a lot. I don't even know what the heck I am doing. He hates me, he loves me. He argues, he's sweet. I can TOTALLY see Jasper writing that note. He wrote me a cute litle love note/want list and stuck it on the computer just yesterday, addressing me as "mom" which he does craftily in times of need.

I feel your blogging pain. There is so much I want to say, but I feel he will come off badly when he is just being a teenager and I'm an ill equipped mom. Luckily I still have an adorable 2 year old too. Although it also means right when Jasper is turning human again, Jackson will start his teenage years.

With empathy,
Michelle

Kacey's View said...

Oh the drama.

Sue said...

I'm afraid if I posted what REALLY goes on at our house there are people in the world who might decide not to have children.

Wesley has forbidden me to blog any stories about him. Which is sad, because at times, without meaning to, he can be quite entertaining.

Tina McKinnon said...

Been there, done that... and survived all of you. The up side of all this is that "This, too, shall pass" and when it does, you'll find totally awesome people on the other side!! Trust me! :)
xox

Julie Mooney said...

Way to stick to your guns Mama. If he were just a little bigger you could get him good my sending the shorts to me. Ha!