I guess I was one at one time. I am sure I was just as much of a pain in the ah, rear as my own teenager is. I know I shouldn’t complain. He is, for the most part, a great kid. He doesn’t give us too much trouble, is generally respectful and polite and he is a total sweetheart. Thank goodness for all of those attributes because he can be maddening sometimes!

Zach has lacrosse practice everyday after school. Yesterday he called me before practice and told me practice was going to end at 5:30 instead of 6:30. He asked if he could go to Cheeburger, Cheeburger after practice. I told him it was fine. He asked if I could bring him money… In between all of my daily racing from one practice to another I found time to stop by his practice, find his gear and stuff $20 in his pocket. I then put the pedal to metal and raced off to another kid pickup. I got dinner in the oven for the rest of the family and sent Stan off to pick up Lucas. At 6:30 I text Zach to let him know I am on my way to pick him up. I figure an hour to eat at Cheeburger, Cheeburger is MORE than sufficient. Zach texts me back after 10 minutes and as I am on my way to pick him up. “We just sat down,” he says. REALLY? He couldn’t call or text to let me know? As the story comes out, via text, Zach tells me practice ended at its normal time of 6:30. So instead of calling to let me know he was an hour later than what he originally told me, he and his buddies walked to the restaurant.

No phone call, no text telling me of the time or plan change, just a secure knowledge I will be at his beck and call and I was. Stan told me I should have said “Too bad, let’s go!” I am the weaker parent. I let Zach stay and have dinner but I gave him an earful when he got in the car. The teenage mind is ALWAYS thinking, working, plotting and planning ~ this became extremely evident last night. “I FORGOT to call. I’m sorry,” he says. This is what he said but what he REALLY meant was “I knew if I didn’t call and tell you the time change I would still get to go out to dinner with my friends.” What a devious little mind you have, Zach. I am on to your game! It won’t happen again. I assure you…

Luckily for me (and Zach) he really is a great kid, most of the time, otherwise one of us would be at Fork Union Military Academy and I’ll give you a hint, it wouldn’t be me! I will continue to love the heck out of my teenager but I think I will have to change the rules of his little games. I will do it for the love of my teenager…