Ana... Where are you?

A TWEEN!!! 

How does one appropriately define this phase and all it entails? I have quite recently stepped into the shoes of parents who have tween children and I salute all you heroes. 

Parenting a tween is like drinking sweet and sour soup - there is joy and bitterness, there is fun and frustration, there is laughter but a lot of bickering too. In totality, being a tween-teen parent is a complete roller coaster ride - scary yet one that gives much pleasure.

Each day throws me in different directions; there are many moments of reflection and so much fun to relish. So here's me sharing tit-bits of fun so you can laugh with me as I create memories (and make history). Buckle up and enjoy the read!

Do you remember that 2-feet munchkin I absolutely adored and bragged about in several of my other blogs? Well, she is now almost 12, almost as tall as me and absolutely gorgeous (inside out). She is growing up to be a bold, mature young woman and my chest swells with pride as I see her blossom.

 

There are some typical tween moments I encounter with Ana on a regular basis. After much deliberation on these, my research concludes that... 

Tweens are hoodwinkers

In the past 2 plus years if there is one truth I have learnt about tweens is that they love to disappear. Tweens are great at hiding themselves. My Ana walks down the stairs, gives me a good morning hug and disappears. Sometimes I go looking for her and find her in the basement. I think of spending few moments with her, so settle in the basement. I am happy to watch her do her thing and slowly become engrossed with life. When I look up, she's gone! No proof, no clue of her presence.
I then walk up to her room and silently park my backside next to her. This time I watch her do her thing for a tad bit longer before becoming engrossed with life. I look up again and realize she's vanished, like a flash.
And, this hide-and-seek game continues day after day. The favorite rap song of the Ullas home now is...
Ana, where are you? 

Tweens are best eye rollers

Show me one tween who does not roll their eyes and I will be your slave! Anything you say (or not say), things you do (or not do), questions you ask (or refrain from asking) can generate eye rolls, instantly. While most rolls cover 360 degrees in a matter of seconds, some cover 180 degrees vertically. Don't miss your kids'/nieces/nephews eyerolls... trust me they are magical. I wonder if eyerolls are nature's way of ensuring these kiddos have fitter eyes for the hardships of adult life. 

Toilets are their favorite hangout

Yes, you heard me right. They love 'hanging out' in the toilet.
Ana wakes up and walks straight in there. After several minutes of silence, I call out to ask if she's okay and hear 'yea, all good' in return. Then several minutes pass by (in total silence). I call out again; this time the 'yea, I'm good' is laced with annoyance. No prizes for guessing that the eyes have rolled. Finally, when SEVERAL more minutes pass in silence (and my patience has exhausted), I call out (this time more curtly). She storms out saying... 'Jeez mom... I said I'm good okay!' Eyes roll more frantically as she expresses her displeasure on being disturbed. I breathe and try to be the bigger person here. I gently ask - have you brushed? She says 'oh, no'. Words can't comprehend how my inner self contains the lava of frustration steaming inside. I take several deep breathes and ask - 'what were you doing for so long?' She shrugs saying - 'I was just hanging out for a bit'.
God bless my brain that wants to explode at this point!

These are just few of the fun times I have with my tween. Now you know why Tween-Teen parents are the unsung heroes.   

Well! This is the circle of life I guess.
Watching Ana do her Tween thing, I remember my tweenage - the times I hoodwinked my parents, rolled my eyes and 'hung out' in most inappropriate spots.
I only hope I get an opportunity to witness my future grandkids doing their tween thing to their cool mom - Ana. Oh what pleasure that last laugh will give me...