[Merlin]

A no kill shelter may only be referring to the run of the mill dogs and cats.
A snake may be a different deal.
Call the lady and tell her you will trade her 12 cats for one snake.

Sounds right to me!

[kelly]

Okay WHo here has or has had a teenage daughter????? How do you deal with the moods????? I think I am going to run away from home. She is driving me crazy and she won't technically be a teenage until January. The moods, the tears, the anger OMG!!!!!!!!!!

A neighbor knocked on our door about 1:15 this afternoon and asked if Katie wanted to go to the Balitmore Aquarium with them. I said "WHEN?" He said "RIGHT NOW" Okay do people not plan things in advance??? Baltimore is a good two hour drive from my house. I had a total of $12 in my pocketbook and Katie had recently just rolled out of bed. These people were in their van in my driveway and were really leaving at that moment. Well, I did the unthinkable and I said No Thank You. You would have thought I ended the entire world the way Katie reacted. Now her mission for the rest of the day is to make my day as horrible as possible. She tried crying for a while and then she followed me around telling me how bored she is. Now she keeps walking past the doorway shooting me looks that can kill. I am afraid to leave my room, I am not sure what her next tactic will be! I honestly don't remember being so miserable when I was a teen. Ugghhh!!! She goes for this awesome kid to a monster in a blink of an eye and you never know what will set her off.

[Merlin]

I raised two of them! And they will do exactly what you let them get by with! I can tell you that as a parent(and grandparent) I would have done exactly the same thing. No warning, let alone not having asked for permission to go first and there would have been NO TRIP! PERIOD!

You have to demand their respect and if they want yours, they darn well better give it to you.

Now her mission for the rest of the day is to make my day as horrible as possible. She tried crying for a while and then she followed me around telling me how bored she is.

So be a parent and tell her to knock it off! If she is bored I am sure you could find something to occupy her time for her. Cleaning the house, washing the car, or similar tasks come to mind!

[schlegelbagel]

thats odd, since they would get to the aquarium right around closing time. Well not closing time,but not enough time to see the place! I think on Sunday they kick everyone out at 5 and stop admitting at 4.

anywho, i agree with Merlin. If she continues to rant and rave tell her she must be bored and must need something to do. I suggest weeding in the garden or dusting.

[kelly]

I told her to go clean her room and put her laundry away. And I also told her that it is not my job to entertain her! I guess it is tough being an only child, I had three brothers. Plus her best friend who used to live right next door to us moved two weeks ago. Last weekend we were on our road trip to Virginia Beach with the band and were gone all weekend. So this weekend it is sinking in that Caitlyn is gone. Her other two friends that she hangs with go to their father's houses on the weekends.

She has finally decided that her attitude was getting her nowhere. She is being civil again.

[kelly]

Originally Posted by schlegelbagel

thats odd, since they would get to the aquarium right around closing time. Well not closing time,but not enough time to see the place! I think on Sunday they kick everyone out at 5 and stop admitting at 4.

I agree. That is one reason I told her no. An hour is not nearly enought time to enjoy that aquarium. This family does everything half-assed. No plans, no sense of timing. I can't live like that, I need planning and order in my life!

[SurvivorSteph]

I remember being a teenage girl... and acting just like that. I agree with Merlin--it's because my mother let me get away with it.

My jr. high school principal told my mother that he thought girls should be locked in a closet when entering jr. high and let out for high school graduation. I guess you have some idea how long this "phase" will last.

My aunt was GREAT at suggesting similar boredom busters; consequently, we were never bored at her house!

Good luck!!!

[kelly]

Originally Posted by Merlin

So be a parent and tell her to knock it off! If she is bored I am sure you could find something to occupy her time for her. Cleaning the house, washing
the car, or similar tasks come to mind!

I usually offer her suggestions of things she can do. Or I just ignore her and when she realizes that I am totally blocking her out she snaps out of her mood. It is just that you never know when a "mood" is going to hit her!

[Merlin]

I offered the "suggestions" too.
Only mine were accompanied with the word,.... "NOW!"

One thing you will find is that teenagers will test you. And if they get it in their heads that they are the ones running the show you have BIG problems!
Just one of the joys of parenthood.

[schlegelbagel]

Originally Posted by kelly

She has finally decided that her attitude was getting her nowhere. She is being civil again.

I"m glad you stuck to your guns and didn't give in to her ****y attitude. Not to mention (back to the aquarium) it's EXPENSIVE. If you are going to spend $20 to get inside, you should spend at least 3 hours there. Heck, I could spend at least 3 hours in the frog display.