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I Have A Teenager In My House...Pray For Me (206 hits)

I came very close to physically killing my teenager yesterday. Her alarm clock went out off, she shut it off, and went back to sleep. When I got up and inquired why she wasn't in the shower, she replied that she had nothing to wear and couldn't go to school. My daughter has a closet full of clothes. I pulled the covers off of her and proceeded to discpline her. She sprinted out of bed.

I informed her that for right now, school was her job and it was her number one priority. She doesn't have to pay bills, clean, clothe or feed children; that's my job.
She locked the bathroom door and took her shower. Just one problem: her little sister needed to use the bathroom.

Pounding on the door, I told her to open the door so her sister could use the bathroom. She replied: "You're lying. You're going to come in and get me." Her sister replied: "I have to use the bathroom. Open the door." Reluctantly, she did.

I reminded her that her cousins in the Caribbean have to pay to go to high school and they wash their own clothes. People in this country get to go to school for free. By West Indian standards, she would be considered lazy. I got on her case about the value of education and how she needed to reap the benefits. I also let her know that if she used that excuse on a job: she'd be fired!

I was being tested and I didn't like it. I had to go into my computer room and vent my anger on Facebook. I told my story in my status update, but added: "If you hear on the news about an African-American mom wanted in connection with the disappearance of her teenage daughter for the same story I just told you...remember...I didn't do it. (wink)" My friends laughed and shared their teenage horror stories.

My daughter knows how to do laundry; she chose not to do it. Her actions have consequences. Since she missed her bus, I made her walk to school. When she got home, she had extra chores. And she went to bed early. She discovered that this Mama Bear don't play.

I'm the mom of a teenage daughter... this is just the beginning...she's only 13... pray for me.

Posted By: Marsha Jones
Monday, November 9th 2009 at 4:59PM
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Sister Marsha,
God bless you and I ask that God give you the grace needed to steer your teenager in the paths of righteousness. It ain't easy!
Monday, November 9th 2009 at 5:23PM
Jen Fad

Last night my 13 year-old niece began to complain about doing the dishes. She's a good child who never gave me a moment's worth of trouble so far, never got into fights and the like, but when she began to complain, I told her a story I learned as a teenager:

This is the story of four people named ANYBODY, SOMEBODY, EVERYBODY, and NOBODY.

There was an important project to be done, and EVERYBODY was sure that SOMEBODY would do it.

NOBODY did it.

So SOMEBODY got mad about that, because it was EVERYBODY's job.

It turns out that EVERYBODY blamed SOMEBODY because NOBODY did what ANYBODY could have.

(You know it worked!!!)

Monday, November 9th 2009 at 5:57PM
Siebra Muhammad

Marsha, w/all due respect to the other commentators, you don't need prayer -- you need a steady hand. Expecting some deity to step in and do your job is a complete flake out ... and your kid[s] will see right through it.

Be firm always -- and be loving always. Trust me, this is what will work. Nothing more and nothing less.
Monday, November 9th 2009 at 10:27PM
Craig Amos

Continue to remain her friend, as well as her mother. She's experiencing changing emotions and she'll need YOU to be more closer to her than ever before. Let her vent with you and that she can talk with you about anything, encourage her too, and that you're always there to hear her opinions, even if you don't always agree with them.
Tuesday, November 10th 2009 at 9:44AM
MIISRAEL Bride

..."Marsha, w/all due respect to the other commentators, you don't need prayer -- ...

Brother Craig your comment needs no Reply, but for the sake of Sister Marsha ---at least she knows what time it T-I-S.
Sister Marsha I will continue to pray for your strength and continue to ask God to give you the Grace needed to deal with your teenage daughter. Every wise mother knows that it takes the wisdom of 'some deity' to lead and guide a teenager in today's times. ((Hugs to you Sistah))

Tuesday, November 10th 2009 at 10:51AM
Jen Fad

Thanks Jen for the kind words.:) I guess Brother Craig didn't get my play on words. I am a strict disciplinarian in my house. I wasa raised by very strict West Indian parents. Basically the blog implied that I (like many parents) can use all the wisdom here on Earth and elsewhere when it comes to raising a teenager. Every parent can. You only get one chance to raise a child right. I'm taking my parenting duties very seriously.
Wednesday, November 11th 2009 at 12:17AM
Marsha Jones