Life with a 14 Year Old (17)
I made it to the house about 8:15 this morning and before I could even shower and shave my 14 year old was in the door welcoming me and setting the stage for her relentless barrage of “can you get me” and “will you take me”. She’s actually not that direct…she’s pretty coy about it all. Here’s one such conversation:
Her:Â “Dad, my phone doesn’t charge so I need a new one.”
Me:Â “When did we get it?”
Her:Â “Right after Christmas.”
Me: “It’s still under warranty. Probably need a new battery.”
Her:Â “Dad, I could get an I-Phone.”
Me:Â “You don’t need an I-Phone.”
Her:Â “Dad, do you know how many kids in my school have an I-Phone?”
Me:Â “How many?”
Her:Â “One.”
Now I have to be honest with you…that didn’t quite make her point…so she quickly realized her setback and said…”Dad, I really want a blackberry.” So, two or three of her friends have blackberries and apparently everyone but my 14 year old has cool phones.
I almost caved with the relentless barrage of “Dad, I’ll pay for it myself” and “Dad, when did Melissa or Matt ever offer to pay for their phone” and “Dad, a blackberry has more memory so I can store more stuff in it like birthdays and special stuff in it.” But I didn’t. And I had to reach deep down inside and pull out the one thing that always saves me in just such a situation – “I’m not allowed to make a decision without talking to your mother.” Whew. She knew that was true.
As I sit here typing this she’s sitting right in front of me continuing her stream of consciousness – “Dad, think about it, I’m paying for it.” Now I’m really struggling with this because there’s nothing more I want in the world than for my daughter to be cool…geez…what would life be like if she wasn’t cool. “Dad, this is something I really want to pay for.” Of course when she says “I want to pay for it” what she really means is she wants to take money out of her put aside cash savings for college to enhance her current coolness.
She’s wearing me down…I can’t think…”Dad, how much does a new battery cost?”…the stream of comments and questions is overwhelming me…she knows I’m about to give in…her Mom left the house and I have no one to keep me strong…”Dad, it’s my money and I should be able to buy it”…I’m hanging on by a thread…I feel myself slipping close to the “oh all right” point…give me strength…give me strength!