While I’ve been enjoying semi-hibernation, Avdi has to get up on a Saturday at the crack of dawn, shovel snow (which the kids mostly wouldn’t do) in order to take kids to their extracurricular school activity, then not get to finish sleeping because they can’t coordinate when and where they need to be retrieved, or rescued as the case may be.  So he has to spend much of his day interpreting their ambiguous signals and needs, and driving around.

They won’t wear cold weather clothing or outerwear, then complain it’s too cold to walk.  (This happens to be a warmer, sunny day.)  They seem to expect grownups to show up at their confusing beck and call, then complain when they don’t get instant gratification.  They don’t get how hard their single parent works day and night on little sleep to make sure they’re provided for in every way, with limited help.

Am I sounding too grandmotherly?  Good, I think I have that right.  Too boomer behind the times?  Yes, times are much more complicated and demanding now, but teens remain self-centered and needy, possibly more so.  They don’t always get cause-and-effect.  Or where the money comes from to indulge their every whim.  Or how to empathize and contribute to the family.  It’s their world now, and grownups exist to cater to their needs and clean up after them.  Or so it sometimes seems.

I was an ungrateful teen once, too.  Temperamental and spoiled, but also punished for the slightest infraction, and I didn’t have to grow up as fast in such a complex world.  So maybe I can’t really compare.  Cultures change, as it should be.  Kids have to learn for themselves, the hard way.

Also I can’t really talk, because I can’t help out with all the things my son needs, and I get to be snowed in so as not to be one more ride for someone to provide.  I’ll get one anyway, and sleep over so he can get out for respite.  I just feel like once in a while, someone should be speaker for the quiet desperation of a single parent.  Thanks to anyone still reading.