My lifestyle at his age was far wilder. Way the hell wilder.

::pulls up chair for Laura's lovely stories of sex, drugs and the seventies::

P-C, it weirdly sounds like a cult deprogramming the way they talk about it. Except they're trying to break you from the evil mind control of, uh...autonomy and singlehood.

Teppy, was that the Blue Monkey Sideshow or another sideshow? I saw BMS in Indiana once and they KICKED ASS. I would totally hire them for a party.

{{{Zmayhem}}} Hec, I am totally with you. I find myself yelling more now than I ever have in my life and that is NOT good. Liv is 10 times more challenging than Owen was at the same age in regards to discipline.

Laura, so you're telling me it doesn't get easier? I was sorta hoping that would happen.

I am truly impressed, P-C, with the way that conversation went and your ability to deflect escalation. We can pre-emptively kidnap you, probably, to keep you from being shanghaied into marriage. If you want, I mean.

if you or Dad had disappeared off the radar without direct contact for more than 48 hours, I'm pretty sure he'd be worried and upset. Keeping the people who love you informed of your whereabouts and plans isn't wearing a leash or a lo-jack, it's adult behavior

Beverly is very smart.

Though I guess if I had said to my parents "hey, I'm at Meghan's house" and called them from her house (no cellphones in that day!) I would've been OK. (Except for the whole "skipping class" part of it)

I never worry about Laura's kids, no matter their shenanigans and lack of homework. They're extremely bright, they're capable, and they're very independent. Like their parents, they're motivated and ready to go into the world early. When they find what they want to do they'll apply themselves and shit will fall into place.

Indeed, David. The HS experience of 1968-1972 was quite a bit different than 2006-2010. I was so so bad. Don't know how my parents survived it all, or how I did for that matter.

*remember high school years*

*jams fingers in her ears and runs away singing lalalala*

Don't know how my parents survived it all, or how I did for that matter.

You didn't just survive it; you survived it in style! Also, for somebody with as much life experience as you've got, you're really quite sunny. Not cynical at all, and you've been through a lot.

::was A Good Girl in high school. no, really. will ALWAYS regret it::

Apparently I have a different parenting style, but I do value the communication I have with the boys and hope that by working with them they might listen to me about important things, or at least value my opinion.

I hope that works! And I hope the boy's just watching the game. And eating nachos. Because nachos are good.

I am truly impressed, P-C, with the way that conversation went and your ability to deflect escalation.

Thanks! I'm a bit proud of myself too. It was easy to stay calm when she was staying calm as well.

Of course, I did just get this e-mail:

HI SUNIL CAN YOU PLEASE COPY THIS PAGE KEEP ONE IN CAR, ONE IN YOUR OFFICE, AND ONE AT HOME. SO YOU CAN READ THEM 11 TIME EVERYDAY. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHEN YOU SAY THEM BUT NEED TO SAY THEM. DO THIS FOR ME PLEASE. MOMMY

PATNIMA MANORAMAAM DEHEE
MANOVRUTANU SARINIMA
TARINIMA DURGA SANSAR
SAGARSYA KULODABHAVAAM

I can't even pronounce the mantra correctly! At least I know the tune. Okay, got it. For kicks. I'm not going to say it eleven times a day because I sure as hell won't remember to do that, but maybe I'll say it every now and then as a good-faith effort and tell her I'm trying. Or something. I'm not fasting though; that takes more work.