It's got to be some kind of record!

Just an ordinary day, getting the bills paid. But then I saw something out of the ordinary while paying the family's cell plan bill.

This below illustrates how many texts one of my teens sent during the last billing cycle:

It's got to be some kind of record! It is madness I tell you.

parenting

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teens

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prime duties of parenthood

You can click on the picture above to see where I found this quote. So many things grab my attention about the above quote. "Willful violation" and "primary duties of parenthood."
My ex had accused me for so long of his bogus version of "parental alienation syndrome." It mystified me, because not only did I never keep the kids from their father, but I was the one who paid for the phone bills and plane fare to connect them with their father. The very person who accused me of P.A.S. "kidnapped" one of my children--the vulnerable child who has never been able to stand up to that parent and say "no, that's not OK." Shouldn't one of the other prime duties of parenthood to not take advantage of a vulnerable child and use them as a pawn?
You can read more about what has happened to my kids over the last couple years here, and here and here. 
I miss my child so much! It has been almost a year since I have been allowed to see my missing child. I have requested time, and time and again for contact with my child and been told "no." Oh, and by the way, in case you are new to this blog--I am primary custodial parent of this missing child.
This has definitely been a situation of direct and willful violation of the prime duties of parenthood. By the way, the siblings of this kidnapped child very much miss their other sibling as well.

"The basic difference between being assertive and being aggressive
is how our words and behaviors affect the rights and well being of others."
(Sharon Bower)

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parental_alienation_syndrome

Give an inch...

As a parent, often times it is not at all surprising to turn around and see that when we give our kids an inch -- they have taken a mile. Even though it may not be surprising, it is always disappointing.

children

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A Parent's Wish

It I had one wish, it would be that I could enjoy a peaceful Friday night and relax and unwind from the week and not be caught off guard (like so many nights after a long day at work) by a teen being cordial only to find that later in the evening they were hoping to maneuver for some time doing something with their suitor. Keep wishing!

children

parenting

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Adolescent Arithmetic

I have learned as a parent of teenagers that there is a direct correlation between the level of defensiveness an adolescent exhibits and the accuracy of parent's intuition regarding what they believe is really going on.

The formula?
The greater the indignant defensive teen rant = the greater chance that the parent nailed it when they called it as they saw it.

You do the math.
children

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My heart will go on

Over the Winter break one of my kids had a long daytime date with their suitor. Not a newsworthy event in and of itself.

But, then it was maybe a day or so later we went to the store--and wouldn't you know it--my child's suitor and family just happened to also arrive to that store parking lot (likely through the magic of 24/7 texting between the 2 of them reporting every breath to the other) at that exact same moment in time.
You would have thought these two teens had not seen each other in weeks... maybe months! They clung to each other like Leo and Kate to that hunk of wood in the freezing waters after the Titanic sank. It was madness I tell you!

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Exhaling...

It's okay Moms, you can admit it. Days like today just seem to find you exhaling!

Why?

Because a long school break has ended and our kids get back on the school buses and head back to the routine of school. That means that not only does the madness of them wandering around the house with "nothing to do," but that we Moms can get to doing all that we have waiting for us to do.

Go ahead... stop for just a moment this morning and let yourself exhale!

children

parenting