Happy Mother's Day

If you are the mother of a teen, you deserve a special award this Mother's Day. Here's why:

1. Teens can be trying at best, even the good ones. It takes super mom powers to not become a hydra at times or run out of the house pulling your hair and screaming as you head off to Wal Mart, "Why didn't you tell me you needed this for your school project before 10:00 at night???" Thanks so much for the many times you refrained from saying, "poor planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on mine." I appreciate you!

2. The laundry. Keeping up with a teen's laundry is a herculean task in itself. Teens change clothes three times a day and use a minimum of two towels. Hopefully, you have already taught your teen to do his/her own laundry, but I'm sure there are times when you would rather do it yourself than run the risk of your washing machine throwing a belt from being off balance for the thirtieth time. And thanks, too, for remembering to grab all the athletic paraphernalia that needs to be washed before the next match. Three's nothing worse than wearing already-been-used tennis socks or soccer jerseys. You're the best!

3. Coordination of dinner plans. This takes skills, but you've got 'em. Everyone's schedules are so hectic. Your daughter has cheerleading practice, your son has football, they both run off to a job afterwards. It can be maddening trying to figure out when to eat. Thanks for making or buying meals that can be reheated at 9:00 p.m. and then staying up to microwave them and enjoy a few moments of your teen's company before finally falling into bed for a little rest.

4. Grocery shopping. Didn't you just buy bread? Wasn't there just a new bag of unopened chips in the cabinet mere seconds ago? What happened to all the toilet paper! Provisions don't last long with a teen and his/her friends in the house. Keeping a running mental shopping list in one's head takes enormous brain power! You really are the smartest woman alive!

5. Chauffeuring. You would really rather be asleep, but your 15-year-old needs to be picked up at 11:30 p.m. at an obscure residence near Brushy Mountain you've never been to before. You forget your night blindness and drive the twenty miles out there anyway, because you don't want your child to be a social pariah!! You are the greatest mom ever!

6. Sporting Events and Other Lessons. You've driven your teen to so many practices that you practically have a den in the front passenger seat. You can fish out a bottle of water, a Jodi Piccoult novel, Handi Wipes, and some chocolate just from under the seat. You have sat all the way through 12 dance recitals. You know where every soccer field, football field, and tennis court is in Oklahoma and the fastest way to get there. You are queen of the road!

7. You got your teen this far in life. You have already been the mother of a baby, a toddler, an elementary child, a pre-teen and here you are, the mother of a teenager. It went by in the blink of an eye. Enjoy the rest of the journey and take heart - most of it won't be spent chauffeuring!

8. For always being there - no matter what.

Thanks, Mom, for all you do. Happy Mother's Day!