“How was school, Honey?”
Four words that are repeated daily by countless parents across the country. Words that represent the first parent-teen interaction after any school day. Those four simple words may get a typical, “Good,” or a nonchalant, “Fine,” but they can also awaken a beast. Or worse, aggravate it.
For the most part, if I have a pressing issue I want to share, I’ll take the initiative. I will bring it up when I feel comfortable. I get that sometimes it’s obvious to my mom that I’ve had a bad day and she wants to know what’s going on. But now, after raising two teenage boys, she realizes that giving me space makes it much more likely that I’ll her what’s going on.
School and work are a roller coaster of ups and downs. They can wind me up so that even the smallest imbalance can set me off. Especially when I have a terrible day. Recently, after a long day of school, I found out that the girl I liked was interested in my best friend. That same day, I got a D on my physics test. On top of it all, I had a parking ticket waiting for me when school was over. My mom’s routine “after-school check-in” was so irritating that instead of answering her with my usual, “I’m good,” I went off about how she suffocates me and wastes my time asking annoying questions.
Most of the time, when I am unexpectedly aggressive towards my parents, my behavior really has nothing to do with them, as was the case here. My mom didn’t have much to say after I blew up. In hindsight, that was the best thing she could have done. When I’m that angry, it’s almost like I’m fishing for something to get angrier about. And that “something” will be just about anything that comes out of my parents’ mouths.
After I decompressed, we talked about how I needed time to be by myself or in silence after school. I know she is trying to help or connect with me. But there are much better approaches. Especially after I slam the door and throw my backpack onto our bench (right outside the front door).
Now, my mom respects and acknowledges that my privacy is valuable. She understands that I just want to be left alone sometimes. As a result, I feel more inclined to share my day with her. And I’m more comfortable in general because it’s on my terms. Ultimately, the day can corner me into a hole of aggression and lack of common sense. The best way my parents can respond is to respect my privacy and my space.
