The Day My Preteen Son's Head Fell Off

"It would happen soon," they said. "One day you'd wake up and wouldn't recognize your kid. His head would fall off. "

"Yea sure, in 7th grade," I thought. That seemed like the time when puberty would start to hit, he'd be in his 'middle child' phase in middle school, and thus would develop a strange attitude and emotions.

Nope. 

It would hit today.

I picked Talon up from basketball practice. As soon as he got in the car I could feel the frustration radiate off of him. I asked him, "what's up?", and he just let it all out. I tried to rationalize with him to help him see another perspective but could tell he was not in the place to hear it, so I let it go. I encouraged him to just take a deep breath in and out and we'd talk about it later. Well, he wanted to keep talking and for me to, well not. And so he did. And normally I would just let him vent but I have two hot buttons as a parent-- you better never, ever EVER bully or make fun of another kid AND you better never, ever EVER blame your problems on someone else. Nope. And that's what he did.... first his coach, then on me, and then even on referees at games.

Cue lecture from mom about life and learning how to adapt and not using it as an excuse. 

He actually listened so I thought it was all good, it was done, it was over. But then we moved on to the conversation about what I was going to pick up for dinner.

Me: "How about Subway?"
Talon: "No, it's disgusting."
Me: "Okay then, what would you like then?"
Talon: "I don't care."
Me: "Obviously you do."
Talon: "Let's just eat at home."
Me: "I don't want to cook."
Talon: "You can just freeze something. Uh, I mean cook something in the freezer."
Me: *giggling* "I don't want to cook or freeze anything to eat"

Apparently that's where I went wrong.....

Tears started flowing. Then these were some of the words that ensued....

"Why do you always make fun of me?" (for the record, I don't)
"You don't love me"
"I hate my life"
"Take me to my dads!"

And it only got worse when I pulled into Subway....

Talon: "I told you I don't want that!"
Me: "But I thought you wanted to eat at home? I still want Subway?"
Talon: "You never go where I want!"
Me:

Then I was questioned when I pulled into the gas station to get gas. At that point, I just looked forward, held the steering wheel ever so firmly, and tried not to move. Maybe he won't see me....

He showed emotions I have never seen a day in my life. He was crying, he was puffing, he was yelling nonsense, for a brief moment I'm pretty sure I saw steam coming out of his ears. 

Who is this kid?!

His head fell completely and all the way off. 

As minutes passed, he began to calm down. By time we made it to our neighborhood, he was laughing and joking like none of that even happened. I played along.

Then once we got out of the car, I gave him a big hug and kiss and told him I loved him, and he returned the affection. And ever since, he has been back to his sweet, fun loving self.

Oh pubescent hormones... I'm not ready for you.