SubscribeTeenagers are from outer space
I remember years ago talking to friends who had teenage children and hearing these warnings when my daughter was an infant: Enjoy these days, they said, teenagers are from outer space. Well, that’s not exactly what they told me but you know what I mean.
Consider the goings-on at my house. On Sundays, my daughter and I go to the 9:30 a.m. services at a Baptist church. My daughter gets up, rushes to get dressed and then as I am applying my finishing touches starts complaining that she doesn’t want to be late. In fact, she’s intent on getting to the separate youth services early. Monday mornings, and every morning during the week, she barely gets to the school bus stop on time. Seems like the behavior of an alien to me.
A month or so ago, I took my 15-year-old daughter for her annual physical examination. I had been telling her for months that she needed to use a deep moisturizing cream on her skin every day since it is very dry. She ignored my advice and insisted doing it once a week or so was adequate. The doctor noticed the dry patches on her skin and repeated the advice. Now, my daughter applies the cream most days. Seems like the behavior of an alien to me.
One day my daughter is talkative, pleasant, sharing the stories of her life. The next she’s silent, moody and spends hours in her bedroom, behind a closed door. Sometimes she likes to tell jokes; sometimes she doesn’t smile. Seems like the behavior of an alien to me.
There are times when we act silly together. There are times when I wonder about the silliness of something she’s done.
My mother probably thought I was an alien, too. I have plenty of stories — like the time I didn’t say anything to my parents for several weeks, except when spoken to, because they made me show them my bank book after I got my first job. I was 15 1/2. I used to spend hours in my bedroom reading books. I was moody sometimes too.
I still give my daughter hugs. I tell her how wonderful she is. I know that she is going to come back to earth. In five years or so.
Related posts:
I am a member of the Sandwich Generation, a Baby Boomer raising a teenage daughter and dealing with the needs of an aging mother. I am a veteran journalist, having worked for more than three decades as a reporter and editor. Mostly recently, I was an editor with the Metro section of The Washington Post.
