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ShareMumbai: Having lived through many functions and events as a parent of a teen, I would willingly reiterate umpteen times how difficult it is to drag reluctant teenagers to a family wedding, naming ceremony or a simple dinner when they would rather be spending time on the computer, chatting on the mobile, watching television or just kicking the football in the garden with friends in tow.
And then I remembered about what I had read about the mother who was surprised by her teenager's behaviour when she took him in stone-washed jeans, rings in his ears to a family dinner to find him the most well-behaved child there. And I chuckled out loud.
Take I of this story goes back a few months ago when my friend and her husband had come over for dinner. Since we were the hosts, my kids had no choice but to willy-nilly stay put at home.
The boy had grumbled in my ears about losing his precious play but when guests come a dining, it is one time when I lay down the parental law. No exceptions. So, when they realised that my friends' kids (of identical age and gender had not turned up) they sulked - but luckily for my patience and my temper - bounced back to good humour when confronted with paneer chilli, corn and cheese balls and chicken tikka.
Take II of this tale returns closer home and heart(h), after a lovely Christmas, I was expecting an even more warm - in the nip of December - New Year celebration. But my daughter had made plans for a night out again with friends and when I reached home, I discovered that Saxena Jr had made his own plans too.
And when they realised that I would be alone at home - since hubby dearest was in absentia still - the volcano almost hit the ceiling. For each argued that the other should stay at home to mother-sit a home-alone momma.... As baby tears threatened to fall from teen eyes and the bawls could almost be heard on the ground floor, I begged that I be left in peace.
And in a haze of hurry the two scampered off to their own events - it's another story altogether that when my husband returned in the first week of the New Year, he ribbed the little one about leaving Momma darling at home alone.
On the flip - and lovelier side - here is Take III of the 'Friends vs Family' saga. My daughter returned to hostel life in Pune and learnt that my sister was due for her delivery on a chill Wednesday. She promptly, unprompted, offered to be at the hospital with the family for the Big event. And when I called the next morning, I found her there bright and chirpy. "I was up at 6 am, Mom," she trilled.
An hour later she called and announced gleefully, "It's a girl, wow!" And promising to get all her friends to come and visit the proud mama a few days later, she rushed off to her class, making it with ample time to spare.
So, who is the mother who said families don't matter to teens? Was it me? No, never....
