You Think an Apocalyptic War is Tough, Try Raising a Teenager!
Wendy, thank you for having me over today! I’m thrilled to be here and talking about a favorite topic of mine… kids! I have a couple of my own, girls, who are preteen and teenager. People may be wondering why I would want to talk about kids on a site such as this. BUT Emma Livingston, from my paranormal romance, Trinity, has a daughter herself, is raising her alone, and although she’s only going to be 6 years old on June 6th, she WILL BE a teenager one day. I felt it only right to share with her all the glorious times that lay ahead as Hannah, her daughter, grows up. There are many wonderful ways she will be able to reach out and connect with her daughter-turned-alien. And there is an unspoken code of language and conduct that must be learned as well so she can understand Hannah and keep the lines of communication open.
So, Emma, I’ll direct this toward you. Let me begin first with my condolences. It’s gonna be a bumpy ride! We start with adolescence and puberty. Well, as much as Hannah adores you right now, pretty soon, you will become the bane of her existence. You will lose every knowledgeable brain cell and become the dumbest mother on the planet. Suddenly, and without warning, Hannah will not allow you in the dressing room at clothing stores, and will demand you knock on her bedroom and bathroom doors before entering. You will not be allowed to say the words bra or panties out loud or in public.
The unspoken code of language begins at this stage, typically with the giant roll of the eyes when being told what to do. Folding of the arms or placing hands on hips could occur, but is optional. A frown is the constant facial expression of choice, sometimes paired up with the eyeroll.
When Hannah enters her teens, she will still exhibit the above characteristics; however, new ones will pop up everyday. Her moods will swing dramatically from hour to hour. The use of the word “freakin’” is heightened at this age, as is the slamming of doors when she doesn’t get her way. At this point, it is recommended to yell and scream like a teenager yourself, and then ignore her until the next day when all will have been forgotten.
It is also important as a parent to expose your teen to bouts of utter humiliation. The next time you are at a party together, take that opportunity to dance like a freak and sing bad karaoke. Then, introduce yourself to all of her friends. Remember as you walk in the mall that as a parent, you will always walk a few paces ahead of her. She’ll do whatever it takes to not have herself identified as your child.
Every now and then, Emma, there will be glimmers of the little girl you used to have tea parties with. You’ll have moments where you’ll laugh at the same joke, or sing the same song together, or even take a stroll down memory lane. It will give you hope that your “baby” switched with an alien at puberty, shall return once again after the teenage years have gone.
Wendy, LaTonia, and all of you, my friends out there, if you would like to weigh in on this topic and help Emma out, please feel free to comment. Misery loves company! What golden nuggets of knowledge can you impart on Emma?
Leave a comment about teenagers and you could win a FREE eBook COPY OF TRINITY! Another person can win a fan pack including trading cards of Michael AND Raphael!
Hugs,
Deena Remiel
TRINITY BLURB:
One way or another, terror will reign tonight.
School teacher and single mom, Emma Livingston, has been through hell—and back so she thinks. While dealing with the night terrors and active imagination of her five-year old daughter, Hannah, she attempts to lead a normal life. That is, until the demon from those nightmares pays her a visit, too, and threatens both of their lives. Desperate, she reaches out for help—and finds Michael waiting.
Michael D’Angelo is known to everyone in Prophet’s Point, Arizona, as their loving elementary school principal. But to The Brethren, he is the most powerful Protector. Immortal and angelic does not mean he’s without doubts or fears, as protecting Emma and Hannah from Evil tests his ability to fight his tortured past.
As the Trinity is formed, ancient secrets are revealed and faith is tested. When a prophecy is exposed, Hannah becomes the main target and Emma wonders if a normal life will ever be possible again. Hope is like an anchor, but can a mother, her daughter, and an angel overcome the evil determined to annihilate the world?
©Deena Remiel, 2011.
Web Links:
www.deenaremiel.com
www.decadentpublishing.com
http://brethrenbeginnings.com
http://paraposse.blogspot.com
http://plotmamas.com
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Hey everyone- sorry about the posting problems, hopefully everything is working now
ReplyDeleteSo Emma needs advice about teenagers??? I have 2 my son Tyler is 18 and my daughter Lizzy is almost 20. I have to say the both of you is that for the girls atleast once they get thru that beginning part of being a teenager and wanting to be older things do get better. I went thru the whole "You can't come in the dressing room" or the Don't follow me at the mall" stuff with my daughter too. Once she got a little older it got easier.Now at almost 20 I am seeing glimpse of the adult she will be. She still drives me nuts with the mood swings,but as she gets older I am learning to choose my battles and how best to deal with her.
ReplyDeleteOK i have four freaking daughters and i wish i could tell you anything.. but when you have more then one.. they all have different mood swings and attitudes.. so you have to do something different for each and everyone of them..
ReplyDeleteOk I have 2 kids but they are a boy 6 and a girl who is 9. i have not quite hit the teenage years, but am getting close. i remember what it was like at that age and just let them be like that. it was embarassing when you did not want to be around your parents. just try and atleast be part of there lives. you can still be a part of there life. tease them because i loved it as a child. when i got older i got a new respect for my parents. but when i had kids of my own, i respected them even more, because now i have to go through it. i was a fun teenager, but got everything i wanted.
ReplyDeletechristinebails@yahoo.com
I feel I'm not able to give advice on having a teenager because I haven't reach that age with own yet and I was a horrible teen lol. Ummm take it one day at a time and give lot of love even when it doesn't want to be heard.
ReplyDeleteleanne_gag[at]hotmail[dot]com
oh and don't enter me :) already own the book :D
ReplyDeleteI agree you have to go with what you remember from when you were young.I had a much different life then my kids have had. I ran away at 13 from my Mom who was addicted to drugs.So I was on my own and responsible for myself at a very young age. I worked and Lived at a friends house with her family but still was on my own when it came to money and such.My kids have been sheltered,maybe even too much but because I had my daughter at 17 the life experiences I had were still so fresh I was very careful to make sure they were protected from having the same things happen.There has been good stuff too because I am younger then alot of the Mom's of her friends. The kids look at me different and talk to me about thing since I don't seem so old to them. It sounds crazy to say that now since I feel alot older,but the kids think that way and talk to me and hopefully I can help them. But theres no way I could have done any of it without my Husband. We have been married since the end of our senior yr of highschool and will celebrate 20 yrs on the 1st.
ReplyDeleteHaving 3 boys is somewhat different then having girls...boys are tough in the beginning and girls become difficult...puberty! I think a lot of the problem is parents not growing up and kids being parentified. I work with these types of children and it is difficult for them to even know how to play. I have recently been getting books with "messages" regarding life and the troubles of teens and yes some of them are vampire series. Please keep the books coming!
ReplyDeleteOk I thought I would comment too even though I already have the book. I'm a single mom to one girl, she will 19 next weekend. I've been a single mom since she was almost 3 years old and yes it has been hard doing it alone but for the most part it has been great. I would say that it all gets easier and you have to take it one day at a time. She and I have had some rough moments over the years with the back talking, eye rolling and slamming of the doors (to the point to where I was about to take her door from her lol) and I think all of these things were the worst when she was between 13-15 years old. Oh my favorite thing is her thinking she knows more than me, yes she is smarter than me but she doesn't know more than me- lol. It all gets better each day and she is the best thing in my life.
ReplyDeleteWendy I can't agree more about the worst age! My daughter is almost 22 and now a mother herself, but I still remember the horrible mood swings I swear I didn't think I was going to make it. I have enjoyed each stage of my children's lives and favor each current stage. Hang in there! It will get better!
ReplyDeleteI to have three daughters, one 18, 14 5, so the mood flow here ;) Little one is easily coherced into doing the right thing :) middle one is thinking she is 21 ,, I have to really clamp down on her and give her limitations at times otherwise they try to take over and do as they please !! Everything in moderation is good advice for a teenagers dont let them get away with to much !! or think they can do so much !! my 18 year has been send to my by Heaven Im sure !! Never given me grief !! Respectful and absolute angel !!! I d say I was gifted with her nature !!
ReplyDeleteIm sure as the kids grow and experience the world they will look back to you and say Mum im sorry I understand now !! yes hang in their !! They say persistance pays !!
kat
kittee_cat@bigpond.com
First if all let's establish that you are out to get her everything you say or do is aimed at destroying her life. Get used to screams they will rarely be of fear. These nerve wrecking sounds are no longer reserved for spiders, generally when you hear it a boy is involved her hair sometimes a pimple . Stay calm do not respond if you go running to her she will slam the door in your face. The cooler her friends think you are the more she will hate you. and for god sake do not pick out her clothes!!!! Do make a habit of dropping by for surprise visit at her school you may be surprised at what she's wearing and wonder where she got to make up from. Remember the more you hate something the more she loves it. This goes doubly for boys. No matter what she drags in make friends with him the more he likes you the faster she will dump him!!!
ReplyDeleteStay calm and remember no matter what she says you are cool and Mommainflipflops is who she runs to first when she needs emotional support. You will be fine.
I have two grown boys. All I can say is after being a part of my friends daughters life, I'm so glad I had boys! Now that they are gone onto college, having a quiet house is awesome!! I bet girls are wonderful, but boys do love their mommas.
ReplyDeleteToni
tsteinerid (gmail.com)