Spin Cycle Meets Friday Foto

The Spin Cycle this week is manners. I was going to do a post on how a lot of teens leave their manners at home when they come to school. I swear we should have hidden cameras and then do an open house where we show the parents what their kids act like at the taxpayers’ expense.

But that topic might be better served in appetizer portions. One transgression at a time.

So I’ll go ahead and zero in the microscope on my own family. Teen boy to be exact. He’s one of those cases where my husband and I are constantly on the front lines of the manners battle field. Usually wondering how and when teen boy turned into such an ass.

Now I know to count my blessings. The boy has good grades, hasn’t given us any major trouble…. BUT, OH. MY. GOD. If the kid could think for one second before he opened that mouth our world would feel like a breezy day in a field of wild flowers. Instead of the jagged rocks of irritation hell.

Son, please go clean the bathrooms.

Your mother cleans the bathrooms.

Don’t be a smartass.

Your mother is a smartass.

The other day he invited two friends over for dinner. Now, according to my daughter, who has been stuck in the car with them all, these two boys are as sassy and as thinks-they-are-funny as our boy. However, at dinner at our house, they were well-mannered and quite capable of interesting and appropriate dinner conversation. When I was asking my son to help them serve themselves he said something rude and sassy to me, thinking he was funny.

I did not want to knock his head off in front of these two kids I barely knew. So instead, I stood there and let my blood pressure sky rocket and my head turn into a purplish cartoon image of itself.

Son, I don’t want to embarrass you in front of your friends, so I would appreciate it if you think before you open your mouth.

To his friends I said

You met his sister, right? So you know they were taught manners, even though Son is not representing the family well right now.

One of his friends turned to me and said,

He seems to save it for you. Our parents all like him and he doesn’t act like this at all around them.

I asked Son later that week, on a day where he was being pleasant and lovely company,

Why or why do you act like such an ass sometimes at home? I miss this you.

To which he replied

Sorry. I like to try my comedy on you guys cause I know you’ll love me even if I piss you off.

The many sides of Son , as seen through before he leaves for prom pictures.

Obnoxious Son.


Cracking himself up Son.

My Boy.

For more spins, head on over to Sprite's Keeper.

For more Friday Fotos, head on over to Candid Carrie's.