I long ago gave up the idea of being the cool parent that all my kids’ friends would adore. Since I make up stories and talk to invisible people, I’m much better suited to being the “weird mom.” As a writer, I probably spend too much time locked in my house, or hanging out with equally odd individuals at writing conferences. No offense to my writing friends–I’m just trying to see it from my teen and tween’s perspective.
Today, as we were getting ready for school, I asked my 11-year-old, “Do you know where your brother keeps his Doctor Who scarf?”
She wrinkled her nose. “Um, no. Why???”
“It’s Halloween, silly. I thought I’d wear it to drop you off at school. Your friends will love it! Heh, heh.”
“No. I haven’t seen it.” (In that tone that suggests that even if she had, she wouldn’t tell me.)
“Well, I’ve got the jacket and the hat, maybe that’ll be enough.”
“Mom–no. Please.” (Hey–at least I got a please.)
A few minutes later I find my son’s weeping angel mask. (Yes, I’ve been a bad influence on him.) I slip it on and sneak around the corner. “How about this?”
She rolls her eyes. “Absolutely not.”
I pull off the mask and replace it with a mock-pout. As she finishes getting ready, I find the scarf. I quickly assemble the outfit, add the plastic mask, and throw on a googly-eye headband just for good measure. “Ready to go?”
I thought she was going to cry.
After much pleading from my daughter, I pull off the mask, scarf, and the jacket. “Okay, okay. But I can wear the googly-eyes, right?”
She grabs her backpack. “I guess… But you have to STAY in the car. No coming in the building.”
I tug the eyes down so they droop around my ears. “Awww, look. You made them sad.”
Have a great pumpkin day everyone. And don’t forget to embarrass your kids while you’re at it.
Blessings!
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Click to Tweet: TweenTorture: A Writer’s Life, v.1. Writer parents can be SO embarrassing! via @KarenMBarnett
Too much awesome right there. Is that a TARDIS Fathead? *jealous*
Glad you liked it, Jason! It’s not as awesome as your 11 costume, complete with fez. The TARDIS is a cardboard standup. We got it for my son for his 13th birthday, but I’ve probably had more fun with it. 🙂 He’s going to kill me when he gets home from high school and sees the pictures of me wearing his Tom Baker costume. Though, technically–it’s MY hat, and I purchased the scarf for him. I warned him I was going to get a photo with it, eventually.
Love this! The way I see it…it’s payback time for all those instances when they embarrassed us: temper tantrums in restaurants… “Mommy, why is that lady so fat?”…kindergarten teacher: “Mrs. Sundin, I’m worried about your child. He was eating other kids’ thrown-away snacks out of the garbage.”
Now we get even. Enjoy.
I was thinking the same, Sarah. Payback!
Funny, Karen. It’s so easy to tease them when such little things are of MONUMENTAL importance. 🙂
Yes! I think it’s important to teach these kids not to take life so seriously. 😉
And Sarah, how about revenge for all the pre-teen back-talk and dripping sarcasm? Actually, I should go easier on this one. She hasn’t been my troublesome one in that department. Yet.