Do you remember when you were a teenager and your mom cursed you with: I hope one day you have a child just like you?

When my mom said that she meant perfect like me, it was more of a hope than a curse. Especially when I was a teenager. I never caused problems, there was never any drama, and I was a perfect student. Really, she had no idea how lucky she had it.

My mother-in-law on the other hand raised a bunch of hellions. I don’t know how she survived them. When she said her curse, she meant all the voodoo type of future grandchildren that would cause her children more gray hairs and sleepless nights. It’s true, my sister-in-law was gifted boys just like her brothers. It wasn’t her husband’s fault at all that the boys were wild.

Of course, my mother-in-law never mentioned the curse she bestowed on her son. And to this day, she will probably deny it.

With my eldest, I understood the curse was real. While she wasn’t a total hellion, oh man the teenage girl drama was real.

For some reason, I thought with Bridget that I was spared by my mother-in-law’s curse. Since Bridget has always been behind her peers and has a mind of a 4-year-old, I thought puberty would either never happen (yes, I was swimming in the river of the de-Nile) or would just be something she would not realize was happening.

Then catatonia happened. Then depression happened. Then PACS1 remained the gift that kept on giving. And now puberty and all the fun that goes along with it.

This Saturday was a perfect example of wondering what the hell is going on. Refusing to get dressed and wanting a PJ Day on a perfect end of summer day. Not leaving her room, on her device all freaking day. Now I remember my eldest at 16 doing this, spending the weekend in her PJs and the odors that go along with that. The just hanging out in her room, only to come out for food and water.

Because of the way this year is going, of course I have to grapple with is it PACS1? Is it catatonia? Is it anxiety because she doesn’t know what to wear or what the day is bringing? Is she depressed because she isn’t in her routine?

Or is she just being a pain in the ass teenager?

After being in her room for an hour, she comes out buck ass naked like the 4-year-old she is, asking me to help her get a dress of a hanger.

It again reminded me of my eldest at 16y, ranting at me one moment and being sweet as the young child I remembered.

Sigh.

All I know is just like typical moms, this mom will be doing a happy dance when the van picks Bridget up for the first day of school tomorrow. Hoping the battle to get her out of the PJs is a short one.

Just like I used to with her sister.

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Disclaimer: if my mom denies that I was a perfect teenager, remind her that she is old and I am in charge of whatever nursing home she ends up in!