So, me and my 11 year old have butted heads now for the past 2 years give or take. Probably longer but I'm trying to be nice here. I deal as best I can, trying to remember that he IS just a child, and I am the parent, but he knows how to press my buttons and has now found a new button to press of mine.
I have a very ungrateful child, and just so you all know it pains me more than words can say to admit this let alone write these words. Anyways, he never seems to be happy no matter what I buy him. He could beg me for a new video game for months, and finally I'll get it for him. However his attitude is terrible. He says "thank you" but in a tone that sounds he's saying, "like well geez Mom it took you long enough to get this for me!" But what's worse is that in the same breath as the insincere "thank you", he will be telling me about the NEXT game he wants!!!
Okay, so you understand now. I'm told that this is "typical" for a kid of 11 years old. Is it though? Really??? Because I remember being 11 and I can't remember EVER speaking that way, especially to my own Mother! I just can't imagine not getting a crack across my face for a comment like that. Maybe I am just not remembering right but....I'd be shocked.
Anyways, me and my son get into an argument. He started complaining that it's unfair I don't buy him more games than I do. So, I explained that the games he wants aren't cheap, they are over 30 dollars a piece for some of them. This was still unacceptable to him and he continued to complain. So, I suggested perhaps asking his dad for the games he wanted. Well, I wasn't expecting what came out of my son's mouth next.
He replied with a stinging tongue, Well Mom, UNlike YOU, daddy actually WORKS everyday, and can't take the time to go SHOPPING for a new game!
My jaw dropped and my first reaction was to slap him across the face for speaking to me with such disrespect!! (not that I ever have) But as my hand flew up in anger, I realized something that made me put it down before it touched his cheek. This was allllllllllllll his father's words. And it was ONLY his father's words. Because what 11 year old would even THINK of this, let alone my own son??
Not to say I didn't yell at him for the hurtful words, disrespect and blatant attitude!, and explain that I DO in fact work. But I did so in such a way that after I walked away, he came up to me minutes later teary eyed and apologized for what he said. He said to me, I don't know why I said that,...... I KNOW you work hard and I shouldn't have said that.
I guess I just wasn't expecting it.... it was a slap in MY face for sure, in every regard.. Knowing this is how I'm viewed and how they talk of me in front of my OWN son during his visitations!! It was enough to make me vomit.
On that note
It's 11:32pm... time to go to bed.
