Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus, then where do teenagers come from....

United States
November 20, 2007 4:57pm CST
I recently moved into a very large apartment that has spare rooms in it. Knowing my teenage daughter I knew she would fill it with a friend or some sort. This is not a problem for most of her friends are good kids, not always the brightest bulb on the tree but well intentioned. The girls have a regular influx of friends here, most of whom think that for a mom I am cool, which of course is good.....I think. Anyway the reason I am cool is because I don't say much, my daughter has told me I shouldn't talk to her friends for not knowing who is in and who is out and who is with whom, I can make a serious mistake. OK...I can handle this for teenagers oftentimes have rules that defy logic. My daughter is 18 and many of her friends are old enough to drink, which is ok...as long as she is not doing anything wrong. I a afraid I did cross the line a few days ago when one fellow came here three sheets to the wind. He was trying to pull a Ritchie Cunningham maneuver and sweet talk the mom person. He came in and said Hi I'm Deric, you must be Jess's mom. I gave it about 60 seconds and said Noooo, actually I'm her dad, I just like to cross dress on weekends. Somebody came along and steered him out the door. I of course asked Jess who and what this person was and she told me he wasn't with them. I said he had to have come with you or he would not have found the door. She said no no you don't understand he came with us, but he is not with us. Well I obviously missed something in the translation. Can anybody tell me where to find directions on understanding teenagers? I could even work with a cheat sheet if I knew where to get one. What seems simple and straight forward to me is like algebra to them. Ask a simple question and they look at you like they would a dentist. Actually many of them even sound like they are at the dentist talking with a mouth full of cotton. Yes I was young once myself, but I know my feet were firmly planted on mother earth.
3 people like this
4 responses
@mansha (6298)
• India
23 Nov 07
Its simple, he is not one of their gangs but a friend of a friend and they have to just tolerate him for friend's sake. Well one thing I can answer correctly is teenagers come from some another galaxy-may be andromeda but I am not sure. They are certainly not from here.
2 people like this
• United States
24 Nov 07
I had assumed the friend of a friend once removed type of relationship...lol, but it sure does make you wonder. Very cute avatar too...:}
1 person likes this
@mansha (6298)
• India
28 Nov 07
Thanks, She just reminded me of my own teens,lol
2 people like this
@miamilady (4910)
• United States
7 Feb 08
Thank you SO MUCH for writing that! lol I have a 15 year old girl and a 12 year old boy. My girl is...a handful! I don't have the handbook or codebook or any other book that seems to help with teen logic. If you find one, PLEASE let me know!
1 person likes this
• United States
16 Feb 08
I'm still looking for that book as we speak, but it doesn't seem to be available.....I think having and open mind and an open heart will make a big difference. Making sure that they understand that no subject can't be talked about, after all you are their guiding influence.
@drannhh (15219)
• United States
1 Dec 07
I think they come from somewhere in our own dark minds that we tried hard to forget about, but just didn't quite succeed. I hate to say it, but from your description your daughter really does sound like an angel! Maybe you left out the negatives. Anyway congratulations, both on starting a great discussion and on having raised what seems to be a perfectly normal daughter! That is not easy in this day and age.
1 person likes this
• United States
3 Dec 07
Thanks for the kudos....compared to many my daughter is quite good.
@velvet53 (22528)
• Palisade, Colorado
8 Aug 17
I am so lost when it comes to teenagers. i used to understand them but not anymore.
• United States
9 Aug 17
Just when you think you figured something the rules change again. It seems to be a step by step process, baby steps but still steps.
1 person likes this
@velvet53 (22528)
• Palisade, Colorado
10 Aug 17
@sumofalltears I agree. Times has changed so much over the years. I do have a teenage granddaughter but I don't see a lot of her. She has been getting into some trouble and her mom doesn't like for me to say anything. So I keep quiet.