Husband and I have been Mom and Dad to six children (seven if you count Baby Brown) while my parents are gone delivering Elder Shinkle to the MTC. It's been a fun adventure. Husband successfully got the kids to school on Monday. I've picked them up and shuttled to an orchestra concert. The house isn't a disaster. The laundry isn't out of control. We're doing good.
Except when it comes to being the mother of a teenager.
My sister Keila is a busy body. She's in high school. She has a job. She's the manager for the wrestling team. She likes to spend time with friends. And it's been my job to keep track of her.
Last night she had to close at work. She thought she would be done around 9:30. I was exhausted and didn't feel well, so I told her to wake me up when she got home. I remember getting a text from my sister Sydney at 11:10 that Keila still wasn't home. I also remember Keila telling me (at some point) that she was home. I asked her if she had locked the front door.
Today I was upset with myself. Where had she been for two hours after she was scheduled to be off of work? Why hadn't I sucked it up and waited up for her? Why couldn't I be a responsible mother?
I asked her this afternoon when she got home. She said 11:00. I said, "Not according to Sydney." Fine. 11:15. Where had she been for two hours? She hadn't finished at work until 10:15. She had called me at 9:55 to tell me she was going to be late. (I checked my phone. This is true.) After she got off she went to Walmart to get some dinner and then came home and woke me up.
Seriously. I remember no phone call. I'm a terrible mother of a teenager.
I remember going to tell Grams when I got home and she was so tired she wouldn't remember either and Papa would have to say yes they told us they were home! Hope the week goes better.
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