So my little girl came down from the stairs calling out to me crying. We've had a massive fight. Well not really. More like I scolded her really hard and then I went down to wash the dishes to let of a bit of steam. Lately, she had been quite snappy (and snarky! Snarly, more like it) with me which both incensed and pained me. My well-schooled (from all the reading on the topic), logical mind knows she is in a phase. My illogical, emotional, motherly heart however is seeking for the what-used-to-be-so-sweet-gentle-and-caring demeanor in a face that is almost distorted with angst and irritation. My little sunshine has turned into this moody, scorching ball of fire. And my heart breaks each time. So today, it seems, it has come to a head.
A few months back I happen to read a text from my old phone that she often use. It is where I keep my authenticator app for work and other related apps like Outlook and Teams. So when a messaged popped, my default was to check. It did not help that I was working and distracted and quite a fast reader that I happen to scan the full message before it dawned on me that it wasn't for me but Forest. And the message while innocent as it was, had the instant effect of turning my blood cold. I froze. Denial came as a reflex. Nah, not my Baby Forest.
Looking back, there was nothing to it really. But I guess it was just lurking in my head and since that day, a big pendulum has lodged itself there. My thoughts would swing from being reasonable, asking myself had I been such an expressive 14 year old to the 'object of my affection.' (Hah! I wasn't at all. I've written various entries in my diary though haha! And, at 15 years old, had 'co-authored' a journal with my 3 other closest friends. We even named that journal -- littered with accounts of crush-sighting and 'sighing' our feelings into its pages -- Honeysuckle! How cheeky! Haha! But enough of me!)
So I've been swinging from being indignant to being understanding to having difficulty in coming into terms with my little one's being finally infatuated. Yep! (Shocking huh?) So today, against my better judgment (I have thought about playing the role of the bestfriend-Mom, all gushy and excited and laying myself open so she would feel comfortable about opening up to me.), I've gotten angry. While I did not raise my voice as I normally would when I become exasperated, I knew Forest could tell I was angry. The gist of what I told her is that she is too young, in my opinion. What's the rush? Although I also did make it clear that I am not invalidating her feelings. Too young. Too rushed. At one point I told her, how can she be that kind, sweet to another while these past months she had been nothing but snarky to me, her Mom, even when there was very little reason for her to be so. I was petty too, asking where is that little girl saying she wouldn't have a boyfriend until she is forty! (Petty indeed as she was only 8 years old then!)
I stormed out of her room and washed the dishes so I could somehow project my busy thoughts into my busy hands, doing something mechanical. Then she came down crying. I did not hear her at first but when I moved closer to comfort her, I heard her say, "Sorry." She told me she had always wanted to say sorry every time she gets too moody with me. Then she told me, she's very scared at the moment but that she wanted to open up to me because she trusts me. And that she is seeking my guidance. I hugged her and told her that I'm not saying she should not have crushes or foster affection towards someone. I also reassured her that she had nothing to be scared coz with me she can be as raw as she can be and that I'd love her no less; how I might get angry too but that doesn't mean I'd stop loving her. She said she knew that, that is why she muster her courage to talk to me about it.
I told her at that age, it is but natural but also pointed out that having these feelings do not mean rushing into having labels. Why not just delight in having the feelings, be mindful of it... grow towards it... reflect on what it does to her becoming as a person? I reminded her that having all these feelings does not necessarily mean that you have to do something about it or to immediately act on it. I said it is all these external media bombardment, the urgency to do something about the feelings, labeling it... She smiled and said, "Labels... no labeling.. what comes to mind now is no labeling oneself, calling oneself, 'procrastinator.'" I had to pause at that and reminded her of our standing rule at home -- no labeling. I nag about doing things right away and the right way but never about labeling someone as procrastinator or lazy... To which she nods assent.
We've had a bit more exchanges after that but my take away is that, it is alright. It is alright if parents cannot be that chummy-chummy-mommy-excited-with-anything if the glove does not fit. I am not saying one couldn't be as well. To each her own. In my case, I've been raised in a very strict, conservative household. While I try so hard not to emulate the same thing in dealing with my daughter, I am realistic enough to know that I could not totally escape from that conditioning. So I've warned her early on. Nanay could be tough when it comes to things like this. And she was quite understanding saying, she's fine to have me scold her. But I guess, a 10-year old saying that is totally different from a 14-year old totally immersed with the feeling. It is alright as long as you've kept that communication channels open and established quite early on that you are coming from the position of love. Because even if you are not chummy-chummy, and might be even a bit strict, your child will still come to you for questions, to seek guidance. I'm thankful I've also managed to establish that early on with the children as well. I've told them -- come to me for your questions. Your peers could be as clueless as you but Nanay would have the advantage of having been there, having stumbled and learned...
I reminded Forest that what is important right now is that she thinks about growing as a person, defining her person, what she wants... and that holds true for her big crush as well... I said it could be that as they grow, they would like each other even more for who they are becoming to be or maybe the opposite, and that is alright. She was quick to tell me that she knows and understand all that. And that she is realistic enough to know that the future may hold something different.
Ah... so there's nothing dull about dealing with an adolescent daughter or son for that matter. Rod and I have our massive fights as well. But I am ever so grateful that they still come to me for their questions and that they still seek me out for guidance -- for something as little as what color to dye their hair with to how to maneuver their growing feelings towards someone. Ah....help me, Abba.