Does anyone speak Tween?

OK, so for those of you who know me, you know I was not an overly sappy baby mom.

Yes, I adored my babies. I treasured all of their stages. But, no I did not cry when the highchair went to the basement for storage. Nor did I mourn the transformation of the baby room to the big girl/big boy room.

If I am truly honest, I did the happy dance every time a baby toy was outgrown.

I know sounds terrible, but really, I taught middle school/high school for 10 years for a reason.

There was a standing joke in our family. My sister, the amazingly gifted KINDERGARTEN teacher, would raise the kids until they were twelve, then I would take over.

Well, forget it. Apparently, it was easy for me to relate to OTHER PEOPLE'S tweens!

I need a manual for my own child.

Example...I give a direction like, "Could you please fill Koda's bowl with food and water and put him in the 'apartment'."

I descend the stairs to see, Hunter's shoes on the kitchen table and Maddy sorting out coats from the closet.

I admit, I was puzzled.

So, foolishly I ask..."What are you doing?"

"I'm coordinating jackets and shoes for everyone." was the reply I received.

I think, wow, above and beyond what I asked of her. Maybe I do have the hang of this parenting thing.

Yeah, not so much.

I come further into the kitchen to see that my direction, in its entirety, was ignored. Now, I have an added mountain of coats to assist with hanging up, a dog who is still NOT confined to the apartment, and kids who are not ready to walk out the door.

Disappointed...a little...the first 5 times...

Now, I'm my mom. "Why won't you follow the direction I gave you? Don't do more. Don't do less. Just do the direction I gave you."

The common reply, "Well, I figured you didn't know we needed to do the other stuff so I was helping."

I'm sorry...me not know we needed to do the other stuff...I don't think so.