Half Time Drama

Ok parents, I'm talking about a twelve year old here. The dreaded tween. And the drama has begun.

Dramatic childhood mood swings have been going on for centuries, of course. It's that age when the boys hate the girls, and the girls hate the boys, but they just can't leave each other alone for some reason. They are so annoyed with each other, and so unwittingly attracted to each other at the same time. Awkwardness to the maximum. It's one of the most confusing and emotional phases in life.

The other night, my daughter came home crying after a high school football game. Yes, just like the olden days, kids still go to football games to run around and hang out. With the invention of social media however, things have changed slightly, and kids have gathered even more ammunition for teasing each other. Instead of talking shit behind a kid's back, now a cruel child can talk shit while holding up and laughing at an Instagram post of almost any kid. The smartphones also come in handy for taking an unflattering picture of the opposite sex, and then parading around with it, threatening to post. Kids have always taken things from one another, but now, capturing their image is even more upsetting. I won't get too detailed, but this type of teasing led to the tears.

Although all of her friends do have it, thankfully my daughter is not on social media... yet. At home, the whole family often talks about the uselessness of social sites. My wife and I complain about Facebook and Instagram every chance we get. We say it's a waste of time, it's gossip, it's for the grandmas, it's vain, it's false, and it's dumb and good for nothing. So far, our daughter has believed us, but those days may be numbered. The open-book, dramatic tween may soon be replaced by the jaded teen, a closed-book schemer, who specializes in rebellion and deceit.

A friend of mine thought his daughter was off of social media. Then one day he went through the history on his laptop and found not one, but three different accounts posted by his daughter. And some suggestive selfies were also included. Not good.

But this blog isn't about the perils of social media, it's about the drama of growing up. And the truth is, the tears probably would have happened, even without iPhones. Kids this age are fragile emotional wrecks. And it's not over yet. The Jr High dances will come soon, and then high school drama is just around the corner. I'm really not sure if I can handle this, but I have to appear somewhat confident for her.

Someday she'll realize I have no idea what I'm doing. Maybe she'll even google me and read this blog. Or maybe I'll give some honest advice that backfires and ends in a broken heart. Mistakes are unavoidable, and the damages are deeply emotional.

Every parent wants the best for their child. You want them to be safe and happy. You don't want to see them cry. But the tears will come, there's no avoiding it. I'm not sure what to do next. I'll just wait with open arms, and open ears, and try to field every conflict the best I can. My apologies in advance, sweetheart, but we will survive [smiley face emoji].