Being a Step- Mother

So I have been a step-mother for almost two years now and I have learned a lot. My step- son is 15 and will be 16 here in four months. I know what you are all thinking. He will be old enough to get a job! But in our house getting him to put his dishes in the dishwasher that he literally just rinsed off is a hassle all in it's own. I know, I know it's the age is what everyone says, but is it really?? I mean his father should be teaching him to drive for pete sakes! I truly believe that no matter what gender you are by the time you reach 16 you should have a routine down for your own personal everyday task. It's not like his father asks the world of him, which he should, I mean what parent wouldn't have high expectations of their kid. But come on, the everyday things that are going to get you through in life. I have also heard people say well it's a boy thing, bull honkie is what I say to that. I have been around for the last two years and when you are given the same things to do week after week after week you would think he would catch on, Nope. I told my husband last night if your son hasn't caught onto the things that you have been trying to instill in him over the last three years, he just isn't going to get it until he is out on his own.


It's sad to say but, it's really the reality of it. Here are just a few thing in our house that is a constant struggle. Washing off the dishes, I mean actually wiping them with the sponge and then sticking it in the dishwasher. I have showed him countless times and he is still lazy and won't do it. Then when his dish comes out of the dishwasher all gross he says to me " Gross I'm not going eat off that" Well hello why do you think I tell you to freakn wipe off your dish, or how about doing his laundry. Oh my good lord how many times have I told him " You have from the minute you wake up till 9 pm to get your laundry done" He even got to pick his own day that would work best for him. I always hear " Well I couldn't start it in the morning cause I didn't want to wake you" he says that to me after I suggested he start a load before he takes off for school, to get a head start on it. Or how about this one "I was having so much fun outside I forgot etc....." So guess what you decided to not get it done, now you have to wait till next week to do your laundry. My point to sharing all this with everyone is, what the heck are these youngsters going do when the parents shows them the door when they turn 18. There is no laundry fairy, there is no dish fairy, there is no fairy to make your lunch, there is no fairy to tell you to go to bed cause you have a long day tomorrow. Oh here is a good one, Kid: " I don't know why I have a headache?" Parent: "Well what did you eat today?" Kid: " Top Ramen" Parent: "Hmmmmmm let me think on that one, maybe you wouldn't have a headache if you would eat more then top ramen all day". We have told him over and over again you are going be 16 and are growing, you have got to eat. Again when they get out on their own there is no fairy to tell you when to eat, hello!!

To wrap this up in short: If teens (16 and older) don't catch onto the everyday habits that they need to learn to get them through life that we as parents or step-parents try to instill in them, they just won't get it until they get out on their own. So to all you parents out there banging your head on the wall, STOP and pour yourself a big glass of wine or a cold beer or a stiff drink and hang in until 18 comes around.