When Everybody Else’s Mother Suddenly Appears In Your life Without Invite
Don’t panic…she’s an illusion..soon this will happen.
The image above is everybody else’s Mom. Why can’t you be just like her?
When our daughter was going through her teen years, I vowed and declared I’d write a book about everybody else’s mother. It seemed this mythical paragon of virtue could do no wrong in the eyes of teenagers.
This mother was the best.
She allowed her children to take days off school, she’d write fabricated sicknesses about their absence, allow them to wear inappropriate clothes, whenever they chose, watch x-rated movies, and have as many ear and nose piercings as they saw fit.
Well, I never did write that book.
Long as it seemed at the time, the period was really quite short, but it was tiresome. It seemed that I was the only mom to impose limits, to ask questions, and make safer decisions.
Still it’s an agonising time. It takes endless patience to get through the discord and arguments.
So no book.
Instead I offer a poem, for all those hapless mothers who are still swimming through the murky waters of the teen canal.
BUT, It’s truly not all bad! It is a phase and this phase shall pass…I promise!
Everybody Else’s Mom
There’s a place in our world
Sort of secret, you know.
A place where a special mom lives,
(Or seems so!).
There she quietly stays.
She’s known only by some.
She’s calm and so wise,
And she never is glum.
No she never is glum.
Her smile lights up the sky.
She’s cool and serene
And she rarely would sigh.
This mom is unique
She’s so eager to please
Each one of her children.
She finds it a breeze!
Rules in her house?
Get real! There are none.
Rules are not needed
When kids have such fun!
So if they’re not tired,
They can stay up and view,
An X-rated movie,
Or maybe a few!
And while they are watching
She’ll serve them great food
The junk she has bought them.
It tastes really good!
And if in the morning
Their bellies all ache,
A day’s rest from school
Is all it should take.
Oh the things they can do
If the weather is hot,
They can pop to the beach
And get cool in a jot.
Oh they could, and they can,
And they should for a lark,
Have even more fun
At the top skating park.
There they’ll learn many tricks,
Many tricks at a glance,
Of balance and steering
And finding their stance.
Or a kick flip…which
Is so easy, they say!
Jump off, flip, jump on,
It just makes their day.
This mom thinks that skate parks
Are really so cool,
And far, far, far better
Than going to school.
But don’t be alarmed
If your children should meet,
This outstanding parent
Down Way Better Street.
For a while she will model
How your kids should dress,
And if they should clean up,
After making a mess.
Or if it is cool to wear
Rings on their nose,
Cool side-ripped jeans
Or whatever they chose.
BUT…..TAKE…HEART…DEAR PARENTS
This mother, you truly
You really must know.
In the lives of your children
Will surely soon go.
And as she disappears
As surely she might
Your loves you thought ‘lost’
Will be back in your sight.
And there I attest,
Though right now it’s not clear
Your kids will be back
The ones you held dear.
And they’ll be your friend,
Your advice they will seek.
They’ ll ask your opinion.
They will every week
And how will you feel
When you soon realize,
You’ve gone from just stupid,
To suddenly WISE?