So, I’ve always known that there would be drama when the kids hit that lovely Hormone High known as the teenage years. I’ve been lucky, for the most part. It’s been minor blowouts, containable, and generally un-stressful. Generally. But my time was coming, my time was near - my time is here.
And it’s not one of the kids I gave birth too, just one of ‘my’ kids by proxy. The girlfriend of Z - the one who he was heartbroken over a while ago but who he’s since gotten back together with - is having some difficulties. B had been living with her grandparents, and it had gotten pretty bad there for her. It blew up bigtime a few days ago when her Grandma kicked her out, then promptly threatened to call the cops if she left.
…I know.
So she ran. And she ran straight to my house, via Z’s help and instruction. I’ve since gotten her to call her grandma (and THAT phonecall was one for the record books too.) and let them know she’s ok and has a place to stay, we’ve gotten her job squared away (she was sure she’d be fired, I walked her through talking to them - what to say, how to say it and to tell the truth, don’t try and snow them - and getting the result we wanted) and she’s staying with me and the kids for now.
She turns 18 in 2 months, and thus will then be legally able to be on her own, so it’s just keeping her out of the system until that time. Her grandmother told her not to call again, and we’ve discovered there are no authorities involved, so it should be pretty drama free for the most part. There is another grandmother that I’m hoping to have her check in with in time.
She’s a good kid, too. That’s the thing. She calls, she checks in, she lets me know where she is, what she’s doing, and even helps keep the boys in line. *L* There’s been a lot of laughter, some tears, talks, hair dye and play. She gets along with The Girl and is patient as can be with The Pup - and that’s a miracle in and of itself, as the boys have zero patience for poor Pup who only wants to be the center of attention at all times is that so much to ask GOSH. B is a wonderful girl, and I’m glad that she felt she could come to me in her time of need.
I guess I just don’t understand how some people think that suffocating the kids is the way to keep them controlled. It doesn’t work that way - they don’t like being controlled anymore then we do, or did at their age. Teach them, guide them, and give them a long leash (but not TOO long) and expect nothing less then the respect you deserve, and the kids will thrive and grow and learn. You have to trust that the lessons you taught them will sustain them through Hormone Hell, that they’ll know which decisions are the right ones and live by your rules even when not in your direct line of sight. I have great kids so maybe I’m just lucky.
Or maybe, just maybe, I’m doing something right.
Oh yeah - hair dye? Meet B (tri-toned! Blue, red, black) - with The Boy (Went blond to raven) and Z (from brunette to blond).
How cute are they?! (though obviously, they hate the camera. Sigh. Teenagers.)
