I am not sure if these things that my teenage daughter says hit a nerve because I am more of a traditional Latina when it comes to how kids should speak to their parents or if it's a result of how different the parent-child dynamic is from when I was growing up!! I am proud of having raised an independent-thinking, assertive young woman but at times I think perhaps "se me ha pasado la mano." (I've gone too far!)
My parents would have spanked me (and that's putting it lightly) if I had said or done half of these things:
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1.I know. I used to be all-knowing when they were young! Now as teens they have all of the answers and you have none!
2. You don't understand. What they mean to say and sometimes even say it is "because my world is so different now from when you were my age."
3. All of my friends do it or Her parents (are so cool) let them do it. Oh so that's supposed to mean that it's ok for your own teens to do it. Yet, God forgive me if I compare them to their friends then they scream "well why don't you adopt her or him."
4. I am not 5 years old any more. This implies our teens have lived a lifetime, have experienced the world and they have all of the answers.
5. I'll get to it in a minute. Usually this pertains to doing some household chore, which among a teen's priorities, like checking in on social media or taking selfies, this falls way to the bottom or is non-existent unless we remind them 1,000 times and they just want us to shut up. So it takes them hours or days!
6. Correct our English. This is typical of a Latina like me who was born in Latin America but was raised here. I've lived here for decades, but still mess up the pronunciation of some English words. When my teens were young they thought it was funny now it bugs them that I still can't say certain words!
7. They stop saying their proper Latino-style hellos. This is the one that probably bugs me most as a Latina. Because most teens go through a phase where they are at the center of the universe and no one else exists they stop hugging, kissing and saying proper Latino hellos.
8.My life is falling apart. Honestly their problems seem so small and even shallow relative to real, adult issues.
9. Mom, you exaggerate so much. What they mean is you've watched too many novelas over your lifetime so you think that way.
10. I've heard that story already. They used to love hearing my stories when they were young and they'd ask me to tell them over and over.
11.Is that a …. spot on your face, chicho, wrinkle… I remember when in their eyes I was a Greek Goddess with absolutely no imperfections. I miss those days.
12. Stop stalking me on Facebook! No explanation needed.
13. And for teen girls: Do you want to go shopping with me. This really means you come and watch and pay but I don't necessarily welcome your fashion opinion.
Yet, the minute my teens get sick or go through heartache the first thing that they say is "mommy, can you just hold me. I'd love to be your baby once again!"
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