Raising a teen can be dramatic enough to warrants its own soundtrack. Mom blogger Rachee Fagg's set the scene with a healthy helping of tunes to get frazzled moms get through the middle school years, tapping their toes the whole way.
Middle school madness is, well, madness.
My teen, once a lovely young lady, has seemingly lost her ever-loving mind. It’s so bad that The Dad and I have been talking regularly to try and dissect what in the world is going on!
"We Used to Be Friends," The Dandy Warhols
Dude. Where the freck is my child? One day she is an agreeable, pleasant person, 0the next moment I am ready to pluck her in the throat. I get hormones and all, but I am failing dealing with it. I always felt like I wasn’t given the space to go through my own raging teenage hormonal stage and wanted to give The Bee that space. I regret and rethink this decision daily, hourly, moment by moment.
"Radioactive," Imagine Dragons
Once again I must apologize to my mom. Her dealing with not one, but two hormonal teens . . . whoa Nelly! With The Bee it seems as if our conversations range from pleasant to explosive and over seemingly benign things. The most innocuous moments can come to a head with a perceived thought, idea, look.
Sometimes I put myself on a timeout just to be alone.
"Young and Beautiful," Lana del Rey
It’s not all bad. There are some light moments raising a teen, as when she looks at me with a determined, serious face and announces that she, “looks good today.” I am 40 and don’t have that confidence and applaud my teen for embracing herself.
"Blues in the Night" (I prefer the Ella version but any will do)
I have been waking up through the night worrying, ’cause that’s what I do. Last night I woke up three times because of these things:
- Are we getting enough protein?
- Did I lock the front door?
- Did I turn off the oven?
- What is that noise? (It was the cat.)
- Will my kid ever get *it*?
- Am I doing enough to make her get *it*?
- Did I finish my time sheet?
It’s no wonder I have dark circles under my eyes!
"Changes," Butterfly Boucher featuring David Bowie
I have to keep reminding myself that raising a child is full of changes. Each moment, good or bad, will be full of changes, and it’s all good. I don’t have to always like it but I have to acknowledge that these things are happening and let it be.
"Let It Go," Idina Menzel, Frozen
Cause sometimes you have to get all Scarlet O’Hara and remember that tomorrow is another day.
Motherhood is full of do-overs and yes, you will second-, third-, quadruple-guess yourself. Just remember to breathe, breathe again and then let it go.
Rachée Fagg is a Delaware County, PA mom. This post was adapted from her blog, Say It Rah-shay.
