Trying to hold on to the Teen's childhood

For the last month or two I have been asking her what she would like to do and was there anything she would like.

Every year the whole experience is akin to pulling teeth – there is nothing that she particularly wants and is never “bothered” about doing anything specific.

“You are so lucky,” my BF says. “I get a list as long as giraffe’s neck and she wonders why she doesn’t get everything on it.”

I decided to take matters into my own hands and invited three of her friends for a sleepover on Saturday night.

The Teen’s eyes shone when her friends arrived, and when my brother Will appeared on the doorstep from London laden with shopping bags full of goodies – including a couple of bottles of Cava (he doesn’t have children and doesn’t know the rules) – her eyes almost popped out of her skull.

“Wow, are they for us?” she asked.

“Yes,” said Will, “No!” I butted in before he could say any more.

Now, as we were cooking birthday supper, the Teen, whose favourite phrases include; you don’t know anything; stop going on; you are such a has-been (my favourite – at least it implies that I was once something) and you are sooooo boring, was being really nice.

“Thanks Mum for this, we are having such a great time – please can we have a bucks fizz?”

After several minutes of teenage manipulation I relented and poured them all a (small, weak) glass. Big Mistake. Worryingly, they guzzled it down as if it were mother’s milk.

Within seconds the music began to pound and four girls turned into four adult-sized toddlers – loud, boisterous space takers.

Will and I ventured out into the garden for some peace.

“Look, you see now, Will. One glass each and listen to them.”

“Hmmmm. At least you know where they are and what they are doing,” he said. “Don’t you remember when we were 15 and would have parties on the beach. We could have drowned.”

Later that night the girls sat outside under the stars, just talking, talking and talking.

I just hope with all my heart that one glass remains enough for them in the years ahead.

Readers who submit articles must agree to our terms of use. The content is the sole responsibility of the contributor and is unmoderated. But we will react if anything that breaks the rules comes to our attention. If you wish to complain about this article, contact us here