The Aerie
Oh yeah, I wanted to mention this when I was talking about my recent cold...
It's Saturday, and I'm lying in bed in the afternoon feeling miserable. My spouse is off at a writing class. My chest feels like I'm gargling hot glass, and my head feels like a kernel of popcorn about to pop. I make the mistake of breathing, and erupt in phlegmy hacking.
When I can hear again, The Boy calls up from the steps up to the attic bedroom.
"Dad, are you okay?"
"Grawwwk" I reply, "Just this dreadful cold."
"Would you like a cup of tea?"
Would I like a cup of tea?
You know, it's funny. When I tell people that I'm the dad of three teenagers, eyes roll, and knowing glances are offered. "How's THAT going for ya?" are the questions. Teens, the consensus seems to be, are SO hard to raise.
I keep slient. It seems cruel to tell people with screaming, door-slamming relationships with their teens that I like all my kids - that we all seem to get along.
Sixteen years old is stereotypically a selfish, demanding angry age. Teens humiliated by their parents sneak out to drink and smoke and who knows what else.
So here I am, lying miserable in bed, and my "selfish," "angry," "uncommunicative" sixteen-year old says "Would you like a cup of tea?"
"Yes, please, that would be wonderful." I croaked.
A few minutes of happy anticipation later he brought up my cup of tea.
"Thank you," I said gratefully, "I really appreciate it."
I laid there, carefully sipping my tea, thinking that it was well worth a couple of ground-glass coughing fits to discover what a fine young man I'm raising...
Posted by Albatross at February 19, 2008 2:04 PM | TrackBackGreat story, Bob.
FWIW, I think that sometimes parents bring that rebellion out in the kids by acting irrationally on their own fears and taking that out on the kids. On the other paw, some teens can be hellions to deal with.
Posted by: B.D. at February 19, 2008 5:10 PM