Pre-Teen Progress

Having a house full of pre-teens is fun.

Well, full might not be the right word. So maybe I better try again....

Having two pre-teens in the house is fun.

Its true.

Although we are testing waters in eye rolling, sulkiness, and always getting the last word, there are good parts too.

Like the fact that they are learning to be humorously clever.

If you are a mama who is stuck in the made-up knock-knock jokes phase  - there is hope!

Eventually they will stop telling the same nonsense knock-knock jokes over and over again. They will actually tell jokes and stories that are witty and fun to hear. You will actually laugh... for real.

Or how about when you are on the phone and the kids suddenly realize it prime time to ask you for something they want, in hopes that you're too distracted to notice?

Well that... oh wait... that still happens.

Sorry, can't lie.

But, take heart, eventually instead of following you (and the person you're talking to) from room to room  trying to wear you down, the natives get savvy. They learn that often the key to getting what they want is to change the strategy.

For instance, several nights ago while I was on the phone, my son handed me a white note-card and a pen. The note card read:

Apparently I was supposed to write back an emphatic YES! on the card and hand it back to him.

But....I-was-on-the-phone.

So I ignored him. 

I did tell him later that I thought his poem was cute. 

Only it wasn't "supposed to be cute."

It made me happy though, not because I am as sweet as a rose, but because I am seeing progress.

Progress may not always look the way I want it to look - Or won't leave me to talk in peace - but its a sign that they are growing up.

I love them so.