Archive for the ‘Friendships’ Category

Hi! I know, I know, it’s been pretty silent around here, and I am totally 100% to blame. You see, after I pulled my hermit bit, I then did something silly, and got myself a day job. In doing so, I went from spending every waking moment sitting on my (considerable)ass in front of the Computer Screen like a NORMAL person, and instead spend 9 hours a day on my feet in the Digital Photo Lab at our brand new Walmart. It’s been quite the switch, as I’m sure you can imagine, and I’ve been missing my daily games, and doing the unthinkable and actually going to bed at decent hours. Sometimes even before the teenagers.

INORITE?!

But, today? I had to write, because I just got a few text messages from Peppermist that made me so INCREDIBLY PROUD of that girl of mine. She is AMAZING in every sense of the word, and some days, I wonder how she’s managed to grow up so perfectly. And then I take all the credit. Because I’m her mom. And I can. Even if I’m a bad blogger and should have known about this already.

You see, today is apparently a National Day of Silence, to protest against Gay Bashing in schools. Today, across the nation, hundreds of thousands of students took a vow of silence to bring attention to anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment in their schools.

And my daughter? was one of them.

If you only knew how that girl LOVES to talk, you’d know what strength she possesses to take such a vow! She and Micki wore signs all day today, and though she’s going to the movies after school with the Twins, who would like her to talk after school, she has decided to continue on because according to her text to me: “That’s not the point, to just do it during school. I’m not going to stop until tonight.”

Damn, but that girl makes me proud to be her mom! So tell me, what will YOU do to end the silence?

We’re not a football family. I know, I know – get out the pitchforks and such now, but it mainly stems from being in a state that doesn’t HAVE it’s own football (or any real sports) team. Sure, we have collegiate baseball, and I think in Anchorage they still have some inside flag football thing, but whatever – we’re just not that into it. Except for the whole Superbowl sunday, and that’s all about the commercials.

But even though we’re just not that into it? This past weekend was all about the kids’ Homecoming Weekend – mostly because the colorguard and drumline were performing, and well – could the team break the Homecoming Curse?

What curse? The one where they win every other game in the year, and then bomb on homecoming because they get cocky. Did they break the curse? No, of course not! It was a slaughter – but that didn’t stop MY kids from having fun.

First off, Friday night, it was the bonfire. Now, you may THINK you’re school has the biggest and baddest bonfire ever (I’m looking at you ‘we do everything bigger in Texas’!) but you ain’t seen NOTHING yet. When someone started the fire early, they turned to our local home depot, and they came through in a BIG way. Check out the before:

Oh yeah. And yes, one of our boys climbed to the top to put the opposing teems banner up there. So after the parade through town – which Peppermist and her colorguard and drumline buds walked in – they lit that badboy up, and within about 30 minutes, the flag was gone and the bonfire settled into something that resembled the surface of the SUN.

Now THAT’S a bonfire!

The boy made his Papa proud – but filling up a large container full of ice, buying a couple cases of soda, and setting up a tailgate party in his truck. He had all his friends, his sisters friends and a bunch of random strangers hanging around – and by the time I left, it seemed he was having quite a bit of fun.

On Saturday, it was the games, and at halftime – the Girl’s colorguard performance!

And of course, the crowning jewel of the weekend, the Homecoming Dance. My son didn’t go, nor did many of his friends, so it was Pizza Party in the Manspace with them. Peppermist, on the other hand, is firmly in the camp of “Date? who needs a date?! I’m going with my GIRLFRIENDS!” And their group of 8 hit the dancefloor together, looking stunning, as usual!

Peppermist knew she looked pretty good when her brother and his best friend took one look and just went “NO! You cannot leave the house looking like that.” Undeterred, she and her friends danced the night away (though she DID forget her jewelry, and I being the nice mom that I am, made a second trip to bring it to her so that her look would be complete. Inorite?!). They even took their pictures together, and the photographer there worked out a special package so that each of the 8 girls would get a 5×7 and 3 wallets, which was pretty damn nice of him since his standard price of $10 per extra person would have cost them $80 and was way to expensive for any of the girls, and the package wouldn’t have divided up right. So good on ya, photographer dude!

By all reports, the dance was a huge success, though there were some confusion with the girls. They had an assembly, and reminded everyone that the same dress code was in effect for dances – which meant no spaghetti straps or
strapless dresses. This is why Peppermist wore a wrap all evening (and also because she’s more comfortable that way.) – but there were some dresses? Woooooooooooahboy. I don’t think I saw ANY with actual sleeves! And a couple elicited one reaction from me: “Hooker, stay away from MY son.” Who the HELL let their daughter wear a strapless SOCK that barely covered her ass, with thigh high hooker boots?! Harumph.

But they had fun anyway, Peppermist and her crew, while dressed APPROPRIATELY, even.

So that’s what we did with OUR weekend. How was YOURS?

…you can’t pick you family, but you can pick your friends. But don’t pick your friends nose…

Or something like that. All I know is that as the kids got older, I worried about what friends they would choose. Would they be good influences, or bad? Would I love them or hate them? Would we get into fights and would I have to pull the ultimate ‘you can’t see them’ card?

It’s easier when they’re little – then, as the parent, you’re in control of the play dates, of who they get to see and when, and no one blinks twice if you suddenly decide that’s enough at the playground because you have a “meeting” and pull your child away from the snot-nosed little bully that needs a good talkin’ too. You’re expected to protect them at that stage, see, and whether you go overboard (OH MAH PRESHUSH! -first baby syndrome!) or let them learn fundamental truths on their own (Told ya it was hot. Betcha won’t do THAT again! -3rd baby syndrome) – you are still in control.

Then they go to school. And make friends without you.

For the first years, you still maintain a bit of control – sleep overs become the norm, but you still hold veto power – but it seeps away a little more every year… and by Middle School? We, as parents, are doomed.

At this point, all you can do is hope. Hope they have chosen wisely, hope that all the lessons you’ve taught them are still embedded somewhere in the depths of their subconsciousness, and they will remember them when the time is right. Even if they think it’s their OWN idea – that’s ok too! At least we still have some tiny medium of control…

I will state right now, though, for all to see. When it comes to my kids and their friends? I got lucky. DAMN lucky. EXTREMELY LUCKY. In fact, while I may like a few friends better than others, there is not a single teenager or preteen in the group that I dislike so intensely that I’d not let them come over. Their parents, though… (Just kidding!)

I wish I could give you a formula on how to raise kids that choose great friends. I can’t. I just raised them up the best I could, and trusted they would choose well. From middle school on, The Boy has chosen friends with the same sense of humor he possesses, the same like of sharp and pointy things, the same grounded sense of reality and strength that he possesses himself. From fifth grade on, Peppermist and her BFF group – Micky, The Twins, Micky2 – and an ever present rotation of others as well, show a different pattern, a diversity in likes and dislikes, a mishmash of personalities, strengths and weaknesses that somehow comes together as a glorious, supportive, solid whole.

Both groups have made me laugh, have made me want to hug them like crazy, have called me mom, and have become my extended family – which is odd since I hate kids, but what are ya gonna do?

But a couple friends made themselves stand out above the rest a couple of weekends ago. They did something so shocking, so stunningly amazing, something that not even my OWN kids would ever do willingly, that I’ve since branded the Twins as my favorites de jour.

They scrubbed my kitchen floor, on hands and knees.

You’re totally jealous now, aren’t you? Not only did they do that, and loaded the dishwasher and cleaned off the stovetop and counters?

THEY CLEANED OUT MY FRIDGE!

And it was their idea. Because they were bored, and thought it would be fun – and it was, it seemed, judging by the laughter from them and Peppermist while this astonishing feet was accomplished. Which means?

I AM THE LUCKIEST MOM IN THE WORLD.

I just hope that ‘fun cleaning’ gene rubs off on Peppermist sometime soon… her room scares me.

~~~~~~~
PS –
I want to apologize for the lack of posting this month! I also cover Big Brother over at Big Brother Craze, and it’s taken over my life. Usually we get house guests that are night owls or early birds – this year we have BOTH! The amount of posting and work there is astonishing. So – rest assured, I have not forgotten my other beloved blogs, and I will post as often as possible over the rest of the Big Brother Season.

And if your a BB Fan – come join us BBCrazies!

I would like to introduce you to one of the bravest girls I’ve ever known.

This is CC. I’ve talked about her here a few times before, but I’ve never given her name or her picture, so I’ll let ya’ll decide if you recognize her. She’s a lovely girl, and despite the arguments she gets into with other lovely girls that I’ve claimed as my own, she remains one of my favorite kids. Yes, I know. I tell them they’re all my favorites. That’s not the point.

POINT is, that I like it when she comes around – for many reasons, but also? She makes me laugh. From general chitchat, to trying to play “Mindtrap” (a game of stupid trick questions, that always seem to manage to trick her, much to our amusement) to simply hanging out – she’s one of the more fun kiddos to have around.

And currently, the bravest.

You see, my boys – my son and his friends – all went on vacation with Z. I know, I thought I was crazy, until Z’s mom invited the other boys to join them on a trip out of state! She clearly wears the crazy crown! They’ve been gone for a while, and despite the nagging I did before they left, the ManSpace – aka, The Boy’s room – is a disaster. I’m scared to go in there. Really scared. Things move out there, that shouldn’t move! And don’t even get me started on the stench…

But not CC, though! Oh no. She spent the day with us yesterday, and WILLINGLY and RANDOMLY said “I”m gonna clean the ManSpace.”

I KNOW, RIGHT?!

We begged her not too, we pleaded with her (SHES TOO YOUNG TO DIE!) but her mind was made up! She would at least put a dent in the disaster! She grabbed a couple garbage bags, and headed out to the ManSpace while we watched, fearful for her life, from the safety of the living room. All was well for a while, and we began to relax… then…

then…

The scream. She came hauling ass back inside, squealing and gagging and doing a jitterbug dance of the “GET IT OFF GET IT OFF OMG GROSS WTF GET IT OFF” variety. When we finally got her to tell us what she discovered, we all gagged appropriately, and assured her that we could just shut the door, and let the boys have at it when they got home. After all, it’s THEIR stench! We fed her dinner, gave her points for bravery, watched reality tv, and relaxed, forgetting what awaits the boys out in the manspace – forcing the memory from our minds with a gentle rain of Pushing Daisies, and Top Design.

Did YOU know Orange Juice could curdle?! Neither did we!
And she tipped. it. over.
Exactly.

Poor girl is likely scarred for life… but it DOES explain the smell…

I would like to introduce you to one of the bravest girls I’ve ever known.

This is CC. I’ve talked about her here a few times before, but I’ve never given her name or her picture, so I’ll let ya’ll decide if you recognize her. She’s a lovely girl, and despite the arguments she gets into with other lovely girls that I’ve claimed as my own, she remains one of my favorite kids. Yes, I know. I tell them they’re all my favorites. That’s not the point.

POINT is, that I like it when she comes around – for many reasons, but also? She makes me laugh. From general chitchat, to trying to play “Mindtrap” (a game of stupid trick questions, that always seem to manage to trick her, much to our amusement) to simply hanging out – she’s one of the more fun kiddos to have around.

And currently, the bravest.

You see, my boys – my son and his friends – all went on vacation with Z. I know, I thought I was crazy, until Z’s mom invited the other boys to join them on a trip out of state! She clearly wears the crazy crown! They’ve been gone for a while, and despite the nagging I did before they left, the ManSpace – aka, The Boy’s room – is a disaster. I’m scared to go in there. Really scared. Things move out there, that shouldn’t move! And don’t even get me started on the stench…

But not CC, though! Oh no. She spent the day with us yesterday, and WILLINGLY and RANDOMLY said “I”m gonna clean the ManSpace.”

I KNOW, RIGHT?!

We begged her not too, we pleaded with her (SHES TOO YOUNG TO DIE!) but her mind was made up! She would at least put a dent in the disaster! She grabbed a couple garbage bags, and headed out to the ManSpace while we watched, fearful for her life, from the safety of the living room. All was well for a while, and we began to relax… then…

then…

The scream. She came hauling ass back inside, squealing and gagging and doing a jitterbug dance of the “GET IT OFF GET IT OFF OMG GROSS WTF GET IT OFF” variety. When we finally got her to tell us what she discovered, we all gagged appropriately, and assured her that we could just shut the door, and let the boys have at it when they got home. After all, it’s THEIR stench! We fed her dinner, gave her points for bravery, watched reality tv, and relaxed, forgetting what awaits the boys out in the manspace – forcing the memory from our minds with a gentle rain of Pushing Daisies, and Top Design.

Did YOU know Orange Juice could curdle?! Neither did we!
And she tipped. it. over.
Exactly.

Poor girl is likely scarred for life… but it DOES explain the smell…

Any parent of a teen knows that the hardest part of raising teenagers has nothing to do with the sex talks and the video games and the rebellious spirits and the bad grades and the desperately needed naps. No, the hardest part of raising a teen is keeping them FED. And when I say keeping my teens fed, I really mean my teens, their younger sister, and ALL OF THEIR FRIENDS.

Do you have ANY idea how much teenagers EAT?

The most surprising thing I’ve learned, however, is that feeding teenage girls is ENTIRELY different then feeding teenage boys. With boys, especially with boys that have driver’s licenses and jobs, they simply go to the store and pick up frozen pizzas in a variety of flavors, use the oven (thus heating the whole house – added benefit here in AK!) scarf the spoils of their labors, and leave the pizza boxes on the counter. See the picture to the left – and yes, that is a plate of crusts there in the middle somewhere. That is two nights worth of pizza runs, sure, but still, that’s a LOTTA pizza. Some of our boys are BIG boys, and as we’ve come to expect, the youngest of the group is the biggest of the group! We got a couple of linebackers, and a couple of running backs – none of whom play any sport at all, naturally. The football coaches at the high school have been trying for three years now, without luck.

Boys are easy. It has to follow a couple simple rules – be fast, involve no real prep time, and be eaten immediately. If it takes longer then 2 minutes, then it only works if they can convince the girl to do the actual work. (See: Pizzas.) It also has to involve minimal cleanup. Because they’re not going to do that either, until threatened with bodily harm.

And then there’s the girls. Girls are a completely different animal, and it doesn’t start at teenager, it starts really around age 11 or so. The difference with girls is that they will MAKE something to eat. They don’t mind putting the effort in for a bigger reward, and will actually cook something. This means that NOTHING IN THE PANTRY IS SAFE! If they can conceive it, they will make and eat it. Yes, it boggles the mind, but Teenage girls EAT MORE and better when compared to the simplicity of the boys.

They are also a little more creative when giving a shopping list. For the girl’s last birthday party, the following is what was requested for to fill out their snack table:

Something…
Sweet
Salty
Crunchy
Sour
Chewy
Cold
Fizzy
Chocolate

Can you decipher that? It’s really quite easy. Chips covers both crunchy and salty, Sweet is a variety of hard candies, sour and chewy is covered by sour gummi worms, cold means ice cream, fizzy means soda, and Chocolate means, of course, Chocolate, the more the better.

Then, they raid the pantry, and several of these items are added to or accompany sandwiches, cakes, pasta, etc. They get quite creative, the girls, and there is MUCH giggling. And much cleanup – which is where they side completely with the boys. They won’t touch it, unless threatened with physical harm.

Or the withholding of chocolate. Rule number one in the feeding and care of Teenagers – ALWAYS save the best snacks for bartering and bribing in order to get the dishes done. Or to eat in front of them when they’re too busy groaning at how full they are because they ate too much. MUHAHAHAHA!

I carefully planned to have my children two years apart in age. I did this, knowing that it would be hectic, but with the ultimate hope that they would be closer and better friends then my sister and I were when we grew up. Sure, my sister and I are great friends now – but back then? Well, she likes to tell people I pulled her down the hallway by her hair, when the truth of the matter is that I pulled her down the hallway by her hair arms like any bullying big sister would. If she had just done what I TOLD her too…

…but anyway. She and I were five years apart -much like my own daughters (Mom, stop laughing. It’s your fault, I’m sure of it. Wishing such agony on me…). My two oldest have that magical 2.5 years difference in age, and they’ve proved what I thought might be true. They’re great friends. Even with all of the arguments, fights, bullying (on BOTH sides) and wrestling matches on the living room floor – they’re still friends.

Thus, it’s no surprise that their core group of friends interact, and even like each other, despite the age differences. (The boys are all 16-17, the girls 14-15) When we have slumber parties, there is a LOT of laughter and giggling and squealing, and sword fights and so on and so forth. They’re all a great bunch of kids, and I love having them all crowded into the house.

And yes, everyone sleeps separately, Nana. When they sleep. Man, can they giggle for HOURS!

About two years ago, the flirting started. I expected it – after all, the girls mature faster, which puts them on an even playing field, right? The boy seemed to spent most of the time flirting with the girl’s BFF. I, of course, being the kind sensitive parent that I am (shush, you!) proceeded to tease them mercilessly, and take the above picture. I posted it with the caption “I’ve seen the future and I’m skeered!” on my personal page, and for the past two years since that picture, we’ve periodically teased the two of them about dating. Eventually. When they’re 87.

Don’t think they were offended by this teasing! Oh no. There was blushing, and denials, and the flirting never stopped. In fact, it might have stepped up a notch now and again, but all in all, it was still just fun, harmless flirting.

So, homecoming is next week. (You all can see where this is going, can’t you?) On a phone call to check in from some place in town, just as we were hanging up, the boy said quickly “Oh, hey, Mom?” which always means this is not a last minute question, but something he wasn’t sure he wanted to ask in person. Where I could tease him mercilessly from close proximity. Heh. It went a little like this:

Him: So, um, you think I should ask her to homecoming?
Me: Do you want to?
Him: yeah. kinda. yeah.
Me: So ask her. What’s the worst that could happen?
Him: She could say no.
Me: and then you’d go with the group anyway, and still have fun as friends right?
Him: Right.
Me; and so your problem is…
Him: getting her away from my sister long enough to ask.
Me: Ever think of asking your sister for help?
Him: …
Me: (smirks)
Him: She is kinda my insider info, huh? Thanks mom, bye!

I knew the moment he hung up with me, my daughter’s txt message alert would go off. I was right. She, of course, told me right away. He’d asked if the girl thought that M. would say yes, and how to get her alone. The answers were yes, and she’d take care of it.

So, after school today – there were two conversations. First off, the boy.

Me: Well?
Boy: Got a date for the dance.
Me: Score! Blog fodder!
Boy: (rolls eyes)
Me: Hey, you gotta keep doing this stuff and telling me so I have stuff to write.
Boy: (again with the eyes… they’re gonna get stuck if he’s not careful..)
Me: don’t spend all your paycheck now. You gotta at least get her a flower.
Boy: Whatever Mom. (turns to his friend G, whispers) do I gotta get a flower?
G. yes.
Boy: ok.

And then they were off to do whatever it is that they do when they’re together at G’s place. Today it involved a guitar. Last time it was swords. You never know with those two! Then it was the girls turn… and I got the details.

The Girl: So – we went into the lunchroom for snack and I only had my money for lunch not the pre-lunch munch, right? So M. was in the line and The Boy was in there already so I nudged him and was all look! she’s in the line! without me! and he was all ok, cool, and then when she finished paying I pushed her over toward him and she was all huh? and I was all ‘push’ and then I stood back and totally watched and he was all ‘wanna go to homecoming with me?’ and she was all ‘huh?’ and he was all want. to go. to homecoming. with me? and she was all sure…? and he said cool, talk to you later and gave her a hug and walked away right?

Me: good god child, breathe!

The Girl: whatEVer. and so I went over to her, she was like just standing there all still and staring after him and stuff right? And so I was all ‘so, I hear you have a date for homecoming’ and she was all I guess I do.. and so I asked her the important question mom, I was all did you say yes so you didn’t hurt his feelings or like yes because you like him – as if we don’t know already, right? So she said she said yes because she didn’t want to hurt his feelings because she does kinda like him. So yeah! I totally got them together!

Me: (nodding along – certainly couldn’t get a word in edgewise…) Cool. Well! Guess maybe she should rethink that wearing jeans option, huh?

Girl: hahahah. you’re funny mom.

So – you’d think it ended there, right? Nope. My sister called not long afterwards and told me she’d run into M’s dad. Apparently he gave her hell all the way home (jokingly) because a REAL gentleman would have asked her dad first because she’s only 14. I’m thinking it’s a dance, not marriage, but whatever. When I told the boy he reminded me how much he dislikes that man, and I encouraged him to be the BETTER man and ask him anyway. Still not quite sure if he’s going to, but I do know it’d shock the hell out of her dad if he does. He’ll have to start dealing with the daddies of his dates sooner or later anyway, might as well start now.

[And? Not long after my sister hung up, my dad called because HE had heard it through the grapevine too. While I was on the phone with Nana giving her the scoop on the other line. Clearly my spy network is working perfectly.]

Time will tell. Time will also tell if this dating his sister’s best friend is a good idea or not. And if I survive it. In the meantime, I’m sure there will be many stories to use as blog fodder before it’s all said and done! (Now, aren’t you glad I’m not YOUR mom?)

As parents of teenagers, I’m sure you know that no matter how many kids you actually gave BIRTH too, you’ll become mom to a whole plethora of random souls that follow your teenagers home. There’s the friends, the friends’ friends, boyfriends and girlfriends(SOB!) and all of the friends’ girlfriends and/or boyfriends. The front of your house resembles a revolving door as the ever changing dynamic brings different groups to your house.

And once they are there – they eat.
They eat a LOT.

(What they DON’T do, however, is dishes. Dammit.)

I’ve been generally lucky with both of my teenagers choices in friends. There’s a solid core group for each of them, and the majority of those friends I like. I think I’d like them even if I gave birth to them and had been stuck with them for the past 16+ years. They call me mom (indeed, most don’t even know my real name) and since my house is the one closest to their schools, they parade in and out between school and work and the drive home to check in, make phone calls, check their work schedules (I keep copies of ALL the kids’ schedules for them – mine plus friends)… and eat.

Fortunately, I’ve discovered that – while not exactly the healthiest choice, it’s certainly one of the cheapest – they love cup of noodles. Any day of the week, you can find at least two, and sometimes three or more, teenagers in my kitchen, vying for the stash, the water, and the microwaves so that they can make their snack. One of the boys, Z, works at a store that has a Chinese Food Stand, and thus a bunch of soy sauce packets and chopsticks for the taking when you buy a meal. He buys the meal, grabs extras, and then the kids don’t even dirty my silverware to eat. A cup o’noodles, a set of cheap/free wooden chopsticks, and they’re happy as clams.

If clams liked cup o’noodles, that is.

I like this little ritual, though I’d never tell THEM that. I love that they feel that my house is a safe place to be, that they’ve somewhere – someone to turn too, even if it’s for something so simple as a snack. Those that drive have ‘their’ parking spots, and they repay my steady supply of noodlage by giving my kids rides here, there and everywhere. (With the price of gas what it is, I’m pretty sure I’m coming out on the good side of THAT deal.)

They talk to me, too, and it’s not just because they swear I have the mind of a 16 year old boy. At least I don’t think it’s just because of that – but either way, they come to me when they need help, and feel they can’t go to their parents. That’s not to say I wouldn’t call said parents if the situation warranted it, but usually it doesn’t.

This openness is how I ended up with B. sleeping on my couch.

B was Z’s girlfriend at the time. Z is one of The Boy’s friends. She’s a lovely girl, all attitude and smiles and piercings and multicolored hair – and she’d had a bit of a raw deal dealt her. Her mom died in 2000, her dad had her live with her grandparents after that. It was rough going, and though she had the support of another set of grandparents, it was just rough. The night they kicked her out/she left, they came directly to me.

There was no way I was gonna let her sleep in Z’s car somewhere, so I made sure she knew she was welcome to stay with me. I let her relax for the night, but the next day came the hard part.

Many think I’m a pushover, but my kids (and their friends) would tell you otherwise. There are consequences to your actions, and when you are kicked out/moved out of your house at 17, one of them that all important phone call. I had B call her grandparents, and let her know she was safe. Then she called her manager, explained truthfully what happened and why she missed work, and walked her through how to make it sound right and keep her job. Then I made sure she had her meds, her paycheck, access to everything she needed. And when her other grandmother called me, I was honest with her and let her know what was going on, exactly.

As worried and scared at the new situation that B was, I think she appreciated my lead and help during the month she lived with me. In fact, I know she did, because she just invited me over to her new apartment for dinner two nights ago. She turns 18 in two weeks, found herself a roommate, and let me help her find a kitten. Her dad showed up with some furniture, pots and pans and such, and between us we got her settled in well.

And don’t think that she’s off the hook! I talk to her daily, usually via txt (I know, I’m SO freakin hip!), usually initiated by her. I nag her about her meds, I nag her about her money, I make sure she has food, I make sure she has rent, and I make sure she’s checked in with her grandparents and dad. She knows she can come to me no matter what – she even uses me as her emergency contact number. She’s one of my kids now – how could I treat her any different then I would my own?

It’s a fine line to walk, that of parent and friend, at any age, but they all know – as lenient as I can sometimes be in some situations, I am no pushover. And I love nothing more then to look at them, grin big, throw up my hands and crow…

“I WIN!”