Talking to a Teenager is like trying to nail Jello to a Tree
By cynthiann
@cynthiann (18612)
Jamaica
October 28, 2009 3:50pm CST
Thought that all you mothers of teens and pre teens and just stroppy kids would like this: and no, I am not the author.
Poem to MOM
My son came home from school one day,
With a smirk upon his face.
He decided he was smart enough,
To put me in my place.
'Guess what I learned in Civics Two,
that's taught by Mr. Wright?
It's all about the laws today,
The 'Children's Bill of Rights.'
It says I need not clean my room,
Don't have to cut my hair
No one can tell me what to think,
Or speak, or what to wear.
I have freedom from religion,
And regardless what you say,
I don't have to bow my head,
And I sure don't have to pray.
I can wear earrings if I want,
And pierce my tongue & nose..
I can read & watch just what I like,
Get tattoos from head to toe.
And if you ever spank me,
I'll charge you with a crime.
I'll back up all my charges,
With the marks on my behind.
Don't you ever touch me,
My body's only for my use,
Not for your hugs and kisses,
that's just more child abuse.
Don't preach about your morals,
Like your Mama did to you.
That's nothing more than mind control,
And it's illegal too!
Mom, I have these children's rights,
So you can't influence me,
Or I'll call Children's Services Division,
Better known as C.S.D.'
Mom's Reply and Thoughts
Of course my first instinct was
To toss him out the door.
But the chance to teach him a lesson
Made me think a little more.
I mulled it over carefully,
I couldn't let this go.
A smile crept upon my face,
he's messing with a pro.
Next day I took him shopping
At the local Goodwill Store.
I told him, 'Pick out all you want,
there's shirts & pants galore.
I've called and checked with C.S.D ...
Who said they didn't care
If I bought you K-Mart shoes
Instead of those Nike Airs.
I've canceled that appointment
To take your driver's test.
The C..S..D. Is unconcerned
So I'll decide what's best. '
I said 'No time to stop and eat,
Or pick up stuff to munch..
And tomorrow you can start to learn
To make your own sack lunch.
Just save the raging appetite,
And wait till dinner time.
We're having liver and onions,
A favorite dish of mine.'
He asked 'Can I please rent a movie,
To watch on my VCR?'
'Sorry, but I sold your TV,
For new tires on my car.
I also rented out your room,
You'll take the couch instead.
The C .S.D. Requires
Just a roof over your head.
Your clothing won't be trendy now,
I'll choose what we eat.
That allowance that you used to get,
Will buy me something neat.
I'm selling off your jet ski,
Dirt-bike & roller blades.
Check out the 'Parents Bill of Rights',
It's in effect today!
Hey hot shot, are you crying,
Why are you on your knees?
Are you asking God to help you out,
Instead of C.S.D..?'
This made me smile and yet it is so true. Many parents sacrifice too much for their children who sometimes can be so ungrateful. What is your reaction?
5 people like this
14 responses
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
28 Oct 09
i LOVED the title of your discussion. Got a chuckle out of it. I had ssen this poem before but read it all again . I'm so thanful my sons are past the teen years. What a trip that was, lol.
@cynthiann (18612)
• Jamaica
28 Oct 09
I am glad too. I hadn't read it before but hought it may help someone here to do the best thing for their kid - time not things
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163772)
• Garden Grove, California
28 Oct 09
hi my reaction,my elderly reaction, is the parents did it to themselves,if they had not bought every electronic gadjet made
as soon as it hit the stores for their spoiled rotten kids,
the kids would not be spoiled rotten. parents also indulge in
all the things they now think they must have,dvd,player cd player ipods; stuff I dont even know the names of, they buy. then they get bills and moan I dont have enough money. well gee whiz,shoulda thought of that when buying all the fancy electronic gadjets. when I wanted something my parent could not afford, I had to get a job and pay for it myself. wah wah. When my parents wanted some thing they waited until they could pay for it in cash. or went without.Now days people do not wait til they can afford anything they just use their credit cards. until they get maxed out that is.
@cynthiann (18612)
• Jamaica
28 Oct 09
As usual, you are so right. Parents will get themselves in debt for their kids. My teenage boys who were at Boarding school had to work on the farm during the holidays. They were paid a small wage and then they had to give half of what they earned to me to help with their school uniform etc for the following September.
At 15 they tried to rebel but my husband was not having any of that! and it did not last long as they knew my husband was an ill man and they did work hard on the farm to assist him when they were home.
1 person likes this
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
29 Oct 09
I read this a while back and loved it. I have a teenager that I would sometimes like to tell that too. I had read it to my husband, and he thought it would be a great idea.
1 person likes this
@cynthiann (18612)
• Jamaica
29 Oct 09
I know exactly hiw you feel. I had three boys in tbree years and this seemed a good idea at th time and then they all grew to be teenagers! Fortunately we lived in a desrted part of the Island and we did not allow the eldest boy to get his driving license until he was 19 - so this delayed things a bit. I never slept until I heard the pick up coming up the driveway.
@cynthiann (18612)
• Jamaica
28 Oct 09
Have only one daughtr and at 15 she got a bit stroppy but it did not last. Good luck! Actually my boys went stupid for a while at 15 too! I think that you should give them away for a few years
1 person likes this
@malamar (779)
• Canada
29 Oct 09
cynthiann, what a great little poem, and so true! I wonder how many parent will actually get the point - maybe kids have too much stuff and not enough appreciation of it!
I am so happy my child is an adult. I don't have the strength to raise a teen in this day and age, I just don't.
1 person likes this
@cynthiann (18612)
• Jamaica
29 Oct 09
I couldn't do it either but thought that is becase I am older. I prefer to deal with small babies and children.
@sudiptacallingu (10879)
• India
29 Oct 09
Yes, kids can be very ungrateful and sarcastic at times but I feel with most of them, its more the age than by nature. The poem reminds me of my own teenage and early youth days and of how I deal with my own son now. Though he’s only 10, yet the signs have started coming and so have my responses…very similar to the poem. However, with age and maturity and responsibility, most kids turn out OK in their feelings towards their parents, once they realize the enormity of what a parent does for them. The realization becomes more profound once they are parents themselves.
But the teenage and early youth years are the worst and as parents, we seem to be treading on egg shells forever…you know, I really feel sorry for my mom now thinking of my own wild days LOL
@cynthiann (18612)
• Jamaica
29 Oct 09
Yes, so mnay people think of thir parents with gratitude when they become parents. They then realise what sacrifices were made for them
@cynthiann (18612)
• Jamaica
29 Oct 09
I just so agree with yio Jill. so agree with you. I have a friend who has a 9 year old boy and he actually hit her - hits her hard with anything at hand. he is a monster of her own creating. I even took him to the police station for a policeman to speak to him and he looked the officer straight in his eyes with no shame or fear.
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
29 Oct 09
The title of your discussion says it all really...I love the poems and I will pass them on to my sister, she and I have eight year old girls and hers I’m sure is eight going on seventeen! We are both dreading the teenage years which are just around the corner; I’m not sure how I’m going to handle them, I thought about running away just after my daughter turns thirteen and returning around her twenty fifth birthday...
@cynthiann (18612)
• Jamaica
29 Oct 09
No I think that you could return when she is 22!
1 person likes this
@bodhisatya (2384)
• India
29 Oct 09
There are many kids who really take everything for granted in their lives. And ultimately when they land themselves in a situation where there is no looking back, they still blame their parents.
Not only kids, but adults too carry this notion for a "prolonged" period and misbehave or disrespect with their parents, even if they have become parents now.
Some kids are born with that attitude the poem suggests and what a novel way to straighten him out! Good One.
@gdesjardin (1918)
• United States
1 Nov 09
WAY TO GO YOU!!!!!!!!! Kids do take for grant all us parents do for them. You handled the situation remarkably....good for you.
@hvedra (1619)
•
29 Oct 09
I think this poem backfires on the basic level because the parents are the ones who created the self-absorbed materialistic monster in the first place. SHE thinks that K-mart shoes are an embarrassment compared to Nike Airs and that shopping at Goodwill is a sign of disgrace.
For some people K-mart, goodwill and a roof over their head is more than adequate in the first place. Kids get badly bullied at school if they don't show up in the designer gear - the poet obviously knows this but instead of tackling the issue of there being no shame in poverty actually reinforces the idea.
@cynthiann (18612)
• Jamaica
29 Oct 09
i APPRECIATE THE WAY THAT YOU HAVE LOKED AT THIS -DEFINITELY FROM A DIFFERENT VIEW POINT. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH AS I AM SURE THAT MANY PEOPLE WILL AGREE WITH YOU
@sender621 (14889)
• United States
29 Oct 09
I totally agree. As the mother of two teenagers at home, I can relate. I think that nailing jello to a tree would be much easier than talking to teenagers. Sometimes I feel like they are the parent and I am the child. They think they know everything and I know nothing. Sometimes I wish they were babies again. They were easier to control.
@cynthiann (18612)
• Jamaica
29 Oct 09
I remember that I used to long for the baby years again. Four was a good age - loved it when they were four. Just so cute
