In praise of the teen

Never let it be said that I am an unfair woman. I have been known to bump my gums about the teens in my life, both the ones who dement me in my kitchen and the ones who dement me in my classroom. But I actually like them as a species, quite a lot, not as much as fruit and nut toblerones or new shoes or wine obviously but a goodish amount.

So, in an attempt to redress the balance of my moans here are some of my favourite things about teenagers.

You will never have to throw out any food ever again, I find this really helpful as I don't like the blackberry yoghurt that comes as a plus one with the cherry yogurt I do like. They sit there making me feel bad every time I open the fridge. My mother instilled in me a horror of wasting food, no 1970's Glasgow teatime was complete without yer mammy banging on about the starving weans in Africa to make sure you cleared your plate. I can actually hand my son a pile of stuff and say "Eat this, it goes out of date today" and he will. Not a bother on him, he cares not a jot what flavour, couldn't give a curdy. Score.

You can read no end of trashy magazines and make tut tutting kind of noises about the cut of today's youth whilst pretending you are checking the suitability for Eldest or even Baby Beautiful Daughter.

They will do stuff for you on the puter, me no likey the puter, me fraid of the puter, both my own teenagers and the ones I'm paid to mind are fantastic at IT and will help me. They do, however, get very frustrated at how slow I am and then say in an exasperated tone "Just leave it and I'll do it for you". Lovely example of the circle of life. Excellent, more time for me to read trashy magazines.

There will always be music to listen to, you might not like it but your musical tastes will be expanded and they might like some of your old stuff, my kids love punk.

You can go out again without the need for babysitters. After all those years of taxi service for your teens, they may, if bribed drop you off and then come back to collect you. Can you hear that joyful sound ? It's the sound of me getting my life back.

auntiegwen