How bad a mother am I

[annie]

My 14 yr old was roused TWICE this morning, and didn't get up.
She always complains that I nag her in the morning, she doesn't need it, she is not a baby.
I did not NAG her further.
School starts at 8:06.
Bus leaves at 7:40am
At 7:48 she was dressed, and downstairs, complaining that her clock was wrong.
I said, "It will be a cold bike ride this morning. Have a good day" and went to start the laundry. She rode her bike to school, and it is about 30 degrees and windy today here 20 miles west of Chicago. School is about 1 1/2 miles away.
I did check with the attendance person-- she did get to school.

VERDICT?

[Aloysius]

actually, that's a GREAT JOB of parenting. cudos. that is how you teach lessons!!!!!

[homeschoolmom]

Good mom!

[Luthien]

I see much pride on her part. I usually beg my mom to bug me in the morning so I can start my day. Its not like its a joy for you to have to wake her up every morning because there is "something wrong with her clock" which I doubt.
Her having to ride her bike to school is the consequence of her telling you to bug off this morning. Its only 1 1/2 miles.

[annie]

Thank you all for the confidence booster! I am sure I will be blamed for the next head cold-- TOO BAD but I AM NOT THE ONE WHO MISSED THE WARM BUS!!!!!!

When Dobson said parenting isn't for cowards, he was sooooo right. If I may ask, except for homeschool mom (no need to voice your age) how old are the rest of you who commented? Just wondering how young the wisdom goes...

[homeschoolmom]

If it makes you feel any better, I think I get the "Worst Mom of the Week award" for yesterday's performance.

Our house looks like a tornado struck and at every turn something was getting lost.

As I am violently brushing my daughter's hair (she'd claimed it was brushed).... I'm thinking, "HOLY CARP! I'm Joan Crawford" I think I may, at one point, have even screeched, "I SAID 'NO WIRE HANGERS!!!!'"

Okay... not quite that bad... close...

[img]http://www.annabellemagazine.com/annabelle%20issue%208/MommieBW.jpg[/img]

[annie]

LOL!!! Where on earth did you find that picture-- I gotta rent that movie this weekend!!!

You made my day!

[Aloysius]

18 years old here... of course I'm 18 going on 90 wishing for the carefree days of 8

[Sojourner]

I rode my bike to work yesterday ... it was rainy and cold. But I survived. It's good for you to be cold every so often.

[jasJis]

Great job. When she gets home today, compliment her on her maturity of getting herself to school. Tell her if she was 12, you would have kept bugging her because you wouldn't think she'd do what was needed for the consequences of her actions. That way she owns her decision and consequences and you might not be blamed for the head cold. (btw, only CMom is older than me)

[homeschoolmom]

[quote name='annie' date='Nov 16 2005, 09:47 AM']LOL!!!  Where on earth did you find that picture-- I gotta rent that movie this weekend!!!

You made my day!
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[/quote]
Google images is a wonderful tool.

[annie]

Aloysius-- I think you were the guy who got me to this site--were you ever on a Passion of the Christ site, defending Catholicism? I am almost sure the user name was the same---but that is how I found Phatmass! And you were even younger then! Thank you for leading this old lady to such a wonderful phamily!

[Totus Tuus]

That's what I would have done. If she doesn't want to be treated like a baby, you should tell her that she shouldn't have to be roused by her mother in the morning.

[annie]

jasjis--I am also older than you

Thanks for the advice, and I am thinking with her propensity to flippancy, I will not say a word about this morning to her, let the consequence do the talking, and just love her in the moment so to speak. If she brings it up, though, I will definitely say how great it is that she got herself to school. Of course, the plot will thicken when after school time arrives:

1. Will she ride the bike home in the cold?

2. Will she call from school AFTER missing the bus on purpose, saying 'Can you pick me up because I have my bike?"

3. Will she ride the warm bus home, only to say, "My bike is at school, can you drive me to pick it up? You WANTED me to take the bus, right?"


Hmm, what to do in situation 2? Tell her to ride the bike home is my bet.

Situation 3? Anyone? Anyone?

[Totus Tuus]

[quote name='Aloysius' date='Nov 16 2005, 09:47 AM']18 years old here... of course I'm 18 going on 90 wishing for the carefree days of 8
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I was thinking the EXACT same thing yesterday. I'm eighteen, too, and I was wondering why it was so different now from when I was eight. Weird.

[homeschoolmom]

I'm going to place my money on choice 2.

[Aloysius]

perhaps she could do well with a brisk walk? haha... or if not how about she starts saving up her money for a new bike? :

anyway, yeah I was on the Passion of the Christ forums quite a long time ago. same avatar, i think same name (unless I was in the mood at that time to make some slight variation to Aluigi (italian form) or Alaois (gaelic form))

glad I could help :

[Totus Tuus]

[quote name='annie' date='Nov 16 2005, 09:58 AM']jasjis--I am also older than you

Thanks for the advice, and I am thinking with her propensity to flippancy, I will not say a word about this morning to her, let the consequence do the talking, and just love her in the moment so to speak.  If she brings it up, though, I will definitely say how great it is that she got herself to school.  Of course, the plot will thicken when after school time arrives:

1. Will she ride the bike home in the cold?

2. Will she call from school AFTER missing the bus on purpose, saying 'Can you pick me up because I have my bike?"

3. Will she ride the warm bus home, only to say, "My bike is at school, can you drive me to pick it up?  You WANTED me to take the bus, right?"
Hmm, what to do in situation 2?  Tell her to ride the bike home is my bet.

                                    Situation 3?  Anyone?  Anyone?
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Let her ride her bike home. If she doesn't, tell her she has to ride it home tomorrow, and hope that it doesn't get stolen tonight.

[annie]

EVERYONE PLACE YOUR BETS!!!

I will report after school today (3:00 CST) what the answer is!

Place your bets---homeschool mom is first with #2--call from school!

[annie]

Totus Tuus--- EXCELLENT answer to #3---If she arrives home, will tell her that. Bike was a gift,and if she needs to replace it, SHE can do that. And guaranteed it will have been stolen if left overnight.....muhahahaha!

Life's lessons are never easy.