8/29/11

I want to be in the universe where moms do the RIGHT thing. (or at least the daughters.)

Dear Bitchy,


I’ve decided that we must be living in some kind of crazy parallel universe. You’re in the one where I live to serve you, and I’m in the one called “my mom sucks.”


Call me crazy, but I’m pretty sure that I’ve been running my @$ off for you for the last two weeks. We’ve shopped for apartment necessities; college necessities; beauty necessities; and other things you “can’t live without", and I'm doing it all with my rolled quarters, a wing and a prayer.


I’ve carried an innumerable amount of boxes, crates and baskets down three flights of steps and up another four with a knees that are screaming and a lower back that is beginning to remind me that I'm no spring chicken. I’ve picked you up every day for “one more errand” for the last six days, without complaint; all the while knowing that I have a million other things I should be doing for ME, and that tiny thing I call a job.



When you asked me to do your laundry last Saturday night at 9:00 p.m., and informed me that you hoped it would be done and folded by 9:00 a.m. the next morning did I complain? No. In fact, I’m pretty sure I said, “Thank you may I have another.”


So when you threw a major hissy fit Sunday morning screaming at the TOP OF YOUR LUNGS that I had “ruined ALL OF YOUR CLOTHES” when I inadvertently put them in the dryer at midnight, I was confused.



I thought, perhaps, that you were going to thank me.





Silly me.

39 comments:

Linda M. said...

Whoa--you are WAY nicer than me. My kid asked me to find his special drawing pens, get his alarm clock & the stuff that came for him in the mail, and drive it to his dorm last night at 8:40 pm. I said, "No!" Well, technically I said, "No, but I can drop it off tomorrow after dinner."

sigh

Scope said...

I'm going to go hug my daughter now. All she asked me for recently is advice on "Angry Birds".

Kerry Ann @Vinobaby's Voice said...

This too shall pass. I was a rotten little witch to my mom at that age. (Sorry Mom.) I just can't wait to see what a son will do...

Hang in there...

Anonymous said...

I was an ungrateful teenager when I was in high school/college. I can tell you it will get better. My mom and I are much closer now that I am on my own...I know that doesn't make it any better right now, but there is hope for the future. At least she is out of the house now and you can concentrate on YOU! With a side of vodka!

CT said...

lol- yeah, join the club. my one and only son ran around all summer counting down the days until he left home to go to "dreamville" for his freshman year. when anyone would ask him when he was coming home again, he would jubilantly reply, "NEVER if i can help it!" as if his home life of being a spoiled, pampered only child was so bad that he had to escape. well, 3 weeks in and he is BEGGING me to drive 4.5 hours to his campus (and then 4.5 to take him back) so that he can come home for the labor day holiday. you know what i say? "is that right? well, i guess you better find a ride from someone else on campus."

payback is a witch and sometimes her name is 'swella. lol

RottenMom said...

I'm sorry. It happens to the best of us.

Family rule here is any laundry going down the shoot after 7 will be done when I get around to it. You are a great Mama and soon she will learn to appreciate you. I know it. XO

Lucia said...

my daughter is 13, SOOO, it only gets worse eh??

sharyn said...

Just in case, I'll thank you for her.

Thanks Mom.

Just Two Chicks said...

Oh boy... it's more than disappointing when we run in circles for our kids only to have them get nuts because we didn't do something right.

Then I begin to struggle with "Will they ever "get it"?" Mine are a bit younger than yours, so I guess I'll know to be prepared.

Brian Miller said...

((hugs)) um, i may need to call my mom and tell her i love her now...was i ever that bad?

Bob said...

I do believe that would be the LAST time I ever did my grown-daughter's laundry. Next time, send her back to school with her dirty laundry and a roll of quarters. Maybe she'll get the message that it is time to grow up and be responsible for her own chores.

I'm sorry, it really is none of my business - but I would *never* tolerate one of my children treating me that way. Or anyone else, for that matter. Ever.

Ellobie said...

Hmmmm, so this is why my mom taught each of us to do laundry at age 8. If I'd asked her to do my laundry right before heading back to college, I would have heard, "Bwaaaaahahahaa! That's a good one!" (and honestly, I would have known better than to ask my mom, who was making that whole college thing POSSIBLE, such a silly question)

Lynn MacDonald said...

Can i send this to my girls? Just had the same thing...although i received a text message apology for being a moody bitch.

awesome!

The Sisters' Hood said...

My mother in law visits often from Europe, and pretty much every time she is here, my husband finds someway of apologising for his youth.

needless to say, she likes me more than him ;)

Erin Branscom said...

Love your blog! I can totally relate! haha I became a follower! :) Erin

www.healthybranscoms.com

GMGKnits said...

Yes, it's true the teenage years are to help us parents let go (with a bit of joy!?). You are way nicer than I am. The magic age in our house for "do your own laundry" was 13.

Thanks for sharing :)

Kevin McKeever said...

My daughter has been told that that when she hits 12 next year that she is not allowed to grow older. Or meaner.

Sara J. Henry said...

And exactly why are you doing your adult children's laundry? For that matter, start training Golden Boy now to do his.

I'm going to tell you something I learned the hard way in recent years: We get treated the way we think we deserve to be treated.

Until your kids are supporting themselves, uh, you're in charge. Do not let them think this is appropriate behavior, ever. Especially toward their mother.

SkylersDad said...

I would have been on the evening news being led out of the house in handcuffs. The interviews with the neighbors would have been the typical "But he seemed like such a nice man" variety.

G. B. Miller said...

Perhaps the next time that she asks, you should say, "Here's a roll of quarters and jug of laundry detergent. Have fun."

Our Crazy Life said...

Yep, that settles it. I am teaching my 6 & 8 year olds to do laundry this weekend!!

MaryBeth said...

My mother and I didn't get along - OK, rephrase that - I didn't appreciate my mom until my first was born.
I miss her everyday, she was awesome and so are you!

p.s. I taught my boys to do laundry at 12. My husband pays boy #3 to do his laundry. I do my own and if they know what is good for them if mine is in the dryer when they want to use it - they fold it for me.

Gigi said...

Oh my! You are FAR nicer than I am.....but then let's wait and see what comes next year when I'm shipping him off to college. Somehow I have a feeling I might be a lot nicer then.....

kiwicris said...

Have downloaded the app but haven't tried calling anyone yet. too early on the other side of the world :) I'm now your new follower!

Kenna Ray said...

I'm beginning to think that I don't like this bitchy girl at all. She has to do her own laundry from now on. Lord, our kids can really break our hearts! Hang in there, Momma!

Sharon Rose said...

I would have told "Bitchy" (and if it was Jody, the same thing) at 9pm to do her own laundry if she wants it done and folded by 9am. And, another thing, I'm the mom! Don't ever talk to me like that again.

Just sayin.....

I know. I probably just landed myself in the litter box. Couldn't help it.

So. Cal. Gal said...

Mom's 'stink eye' always warned us when she was about to blow. Kept us in line, I gotta tell ya!

Want me to ask her how she does it???

Cheryl D. said...

Okay, I'm only the mother of a 7 year old, so I don't have any experience with young adults. But...in the future, say no when Bitchy makes an unreasonable request. Tell her to take care of her things. Then open up a nice bottle of wine (or Vodka) and enjoy a good book!

Ellie Belen Ambrose said...

Have her go see the movie "The Help" and let her know you will write all about all the terrible things she does and how badly she treats the help, you. Of course you will change the names so no one knows it's really her....

Oh wait...

Nevermind.

Mel said...

Ahhh, Bitchy, how has she survived you doing her laundry all of these years? I cannot imagine her pain. I ask you to think about the children before doing something as foolish as trying to help them with their *sob* laundry.

Anonymous said...

She would get along famously with this one here. He Who Makes Unreasonable Requests.

Hang in there. Enjoy the GLITTERY Kindergarten children today.

xoxoxo

Anonymous said...

She would get along famously with this one here. He Who Makes Unreasonable Requests.

Hang in there. Enjoy the GLITTERY Kindergarten children today.

xoxoxo

Anonymous said...

WOW! Doesn't sound like she is very appreciative! Jody has been doing his own laundry since he was 12. And, that being said, we help if it is in the laundry room when we are doing our laundry and there is still room in the load for more clothes.
Teaching responsibility is so important! And where is the respect?

Remember. . . We teach people how to treat us.

I DO love you my friend!

Working Mommy said...

YIKES! Sounds like someone needs a REALITY check! I mean, I have had my bouts of bratty, but that is a little out of control.

WM

Casey Freeland said...

Someone needs a smack. Nothing that will leave a mark. Just something to get her attention. And you may be just the mom to do it. :) Or at least think about doing it.

Cheers,

Casey

Anonymous said...

My daughter is 3 (and 3/4 as she likes to remind me) and now I'm very afraid...although my plan to disguise my laziness as teaching her 'life skills' seems to be the right path *g*

WVLeAnn said...

O.M.G.....I so live your nightmare with my 19 year old that's moved home. It's a no win situation with her and just recently bought her a car so she could get a job but does she appreciate H#$@ NO!!!!! I've been a single mom to her for 16 years receiving no support sincee the State of WV sucks so let's just choke them or ourselves OR just drink TWO bottles of Vodka together, LOL...I feel your pain!

An Autism Blog said...

Hilarious!

I call my daughter The Diva on my blog. She is a vegan, tree hugging, save the world, environmentalist. Everyone loves her.... except her 6 brothers and sisters. She is a Type A. She has these crazy high standards that she expects from her siblings. Need I say more?

Everyone else loves her. The nursing home she visited regularly. The million clubs she ran including Key Club, Bible Club, Book Club, etc. I actually received postcards from her teachers! They thanked her for outlook on life and told her they knew she would be successful! WT?!?!

Since she left for college I have hung up on her at least ten times. Her financial aid hasn't kicked in. She was told not to attend class until it's processed. She has to ride her bike 45 minutes just to get to the campus. She lives with strangers, pays for a room in a townhouse. She found it on craigslist. She knew it was going to be hard. No family. No resources. I told her time and time again. But you know, MOMS don't know anything....

She couldn't wait to leave this 6 bedroom house full of her family in NY to move 6 hours away to VA. Now she wants to come back in October!

She had to learn the hard way. There's no place like home!

flutter said...

hey Bitchy, do your own laundry. Love, flutter.