When You Live with a Teen and a Tween

I live with a tween and a teen. The last of their baby canines and molars are falling out faster than when they lost their front teeth as a first grader on a field trip to the zoo. I’ll be honest. Sometimes, it feels like a zoo.

I live with a tween and a teen. They’re like Gizmo. Can’t feed ‘em after midnight, not because I’m afraid they’ll turn into gremlins, but because I’m afraid we’ll go broke.

I live with a tween and a teen. They go to bed after me.

I live with a tween and a teen. I spend a crapload of money on hair supplies, soccer cleats, and tournament fees. Turns out, long hair . . . they do care.

I live with a tween and a teen. They prank me at least once a day.

I live with a tween and a teen. There are balls everywhere—tennis balls, baseballs, footballs, fireballs. Don’t leave home without a football or soccer ball, otherwise, they’ll find something else to throw. They’ve got sock balls everywhere like trash balls. (Okay, maybe I am exaggerating by just a little.)

I live with a tween and a teen. Sometimes, I can catch glimpses of their baby selves in their changing and maturing jawline profiles. They look handsome like their dad.

I live with a tween and a teen. Little Tikes bikes are no more. Youth sizes (and prices) are out the door. Better check out some YouTube videos on how to fix a flat tire.

I live with a tween and a teen. Sometimes, I wish we could take a genie ride back to circle time when we used to sing “Skinnamarink” in Ms. Nancy’s music class. Wasn’t that a much more pleasant rhyme than some of the things they say these days?

I live with a tween and a teen. While I complain about carpools, they’re also my favorite task even though they can stink to high heaven. Before the season starts, invest in some nontoxic car air fresheners. You (and your car) will be glad you did.

I live with a tween and a teen. They’re super talented kiddos who sometimes say things that make my skin crawl. I admit it. Sometimes, their nonsense sayings rub off on me, and I catch myself saying “What the sigma?!?!” when someone cuts me off in traffic.

I live with a tween and a teen. When they wrestle, I pray nobody gets hurt.

I live with a tween and a teen. I know all the guys from Dude Perfect by name, and I hope that when my boys try to replicate one of their ridiculous challenges, they don’t break anything . . . including another window.

I live with a tween and a teen. They get mad when they have go to the doctor for a routine check-up or, quite frankly, any appointment that takes them away from doing their own thing. They don’t like to take the time for hair appointments. They think you can make their hair great (and sometimes you do!).

I live with a tween and a teen. They can do stuff like take care of the trash and dishwasher or walk the dog. Pro tip: Don’t be afraid to let them clean the skibidi toilet.

I live with a tween and a teen. If you wave to them enthusiastically when picking them up, they’ll pretend they don’t know you. Congratulations! Embarrassing them is part of the job now.

I live with a tween and a teen. They take shopping for fishing bait very seriously. By the way, there’s no such thing as a cheap trip to Cabela’s.

I live with a tween and a teen. Sometimes they don’t want their pics taken, and that’s okay. But when I get a photo with them smiling, it is gold.

I live with a tween and a teen. They can do advanced math, but some days they have a hard time figuring out how to load the dishwasher.  Either way, before they do, ask them to load the 65 cups that are stored up in their rooms.

I live with a tween and a teen. Ice cream, snacks, and Gatorade are very necessary.

I live with a tween and a teen. They make fishing, swimming, soccer training, and playing outdoor games look easy.

I live with a tween and a teen. They’re growing faster than I could ever imagine, and also, so is their shoe size and time away from home. I don’t even want to talk about it. But for now, I’m trying to focus on the shoe shopping and the time we have together. Yet, I can’t get over the significant price jump from youth to men sizing. Be careful. It adds up quickly.

I live with a tween and a teen. They’re pretty cute kiddos. (Don’t tell them I said they were cute.)

I live with a tween and a teen. I’m surviving. You will too. It’s true that some days, it feels a little chaotic, but when I look back to the day-to-day moments and, of course, the memories, it’s like they’re magic. And that’s no cap.

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Articles by Dena Wentz

Dena Wentz

Writer, social worker, wife, and mom of 2 boys trying to make the world a better place. We love little free libraries. Mailboxes are my favorite way to share joy. Follow me on my Facebook page @What We've Got is Gold.