Conversations with Teenage Children


                                  

Conversation 1 (with a teenage son)

‘Mummy I am going out,’ says the 16-year-old boy.

‘Where?’ asks the mother.

‘Mummy,’ says the boy. ‘Didn’t I tell you last week?’

‘I don’t remember, son.’

‘But I can’t go on reminding you, mom.’

‘OK, ok, what time will you come back?’

‘How can I tell you this? I am going out with friends. I’ll be late.’

‘Whatever. Be home by 9pm.’

The boy reacts as if he has heard the biggest joke of his life.

‘Mom. People go out at 9pm. And you want me to be back by 9pm.’

‘Ok. 10, that’s final,’ says the mother.

‘I’ll try my best to be back by 2am.’

And the door closes. The mother calls out. ‘I or your father never stayed out so late when we were your age.’

Pat comes the reply. ‘That’s not my lookout, mom.’

***

Conversation 2 (with a teenage daughter)

‘Mummy how was I born?’ asks the 15-year-old girl.

‘From mummy’s tummy,’ says the mummy.

‘But how did I reach there?’

Poor mummy looks at the ceiling, then at the wall, and then at the floor, thinking what to say.

‘Tell me,’ the daughter insists.

‘God put you there,’ answers the mother.

‘God,’ says the daughter. ‘How did he put me there?’

The mother again looks here and there.

‘Tell me mom, how did God put me in your tummy?’

‘He helped your father to put you in my tummy.’

‘And how did I come out?’

‘Enough. You’ll learn it yourself.’

‘I have already learned mom. Look here,’ and she shows a video on her mobile on How Babies are Born to the mother.

Poor mummy’s eyes almost pop out.

-          NZ

8.7.2019

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