I never realized that having a young child was such an ego boost; they ask you tons of questions and wait anxiously for your answers.  I only realize this now that I have a 13-year-old in the house because every comment of mine gets an eye roll and I have been told I am “so embarrassing” more times than I can count.  I wonder way too much, if I will survive the next several years.

It is difficult to not be bitter as I look at her incredulously when she must show off. Treating me poorly in front of her friends is the new past time. I pour over the photo albums of the various family vacations we have taken; she looks at me lovingly and expectantly. And as a parent, I wonder where has the time gone and how can someone I love so ferociously treat me in her self-centered middle school “way”.

I am told this is a phase. “Get through ages 12 and 13 and things will return to normal,” they say. Maybe so, I think, but will I survive and endure is the question. Even more depressing, is that in six years I will be going through this all again, as my now-seven year old reaches 13!