[Shared by Stressy Mummy]
There are many things that mystify about teenagers. Why do they lose the ability to speak properly? Why they feel the need to leave their dirty underwear in the middle of the floor? But the biggest mystery for me is why they will not wear a coat!
Now I was a teenager once. It was a rather long time ago now but I do have some vague memory of the onset of teenagedom and the hormonal chaos that ensued. During those years, I was prone to making some very bad fashion choices and I am always thankful that cameras were not used as frequently as they are today, but common sense did occasionally prevail and if it was cold, I mostly wore sensible clothing. Of course there were nights out when I didn’t, but then you couldn’t really go to a night club sporting scarves, gloves and your best and thickest woollies.
But did I wear a coat when it was cold? Yes I did! What do you think I am, stupid? So why is it that my sixteen year old son has not set his arms inside anything that resembles a coat for many years now? It can be freezing outside and he is walking to school in a shirt. A shirt!! There he is like a ninny with his teeth chattering and his body shuddering but he is apparently “fine” and “not cold”.
I used to get mildly annoyed about it. We would have a somewhat heated discussion about it and I would tell him that if he caught a cold it was his own fault and not to come moaning to me. Then I started more and more irritated about it and more and more determined to force him into a coat.
I failed.
Anyone with teenage children will know only too well that trying to convince your teenage offspring to do something will only make then dig their stroppy heels in a little bit further and you might as well be talking to the wall.
But, forever hopeful, I have tried everything. Reason. It is sensible, oh look your mate … Is wearing a coat, you’ll be ill. Threats. If you don’t wear a coat I will stop your pocket money, not let you out. Bribery. I’ll happily buy you a Super Dry coat which will cost lots, but its worth it if you will JUST WEAR A COAT!
All failed.
There was a brief glimmer of hope last year when he came back from a shopping trip with a large carrier bag, muttering something about a coat. I was overjoyed at his finally seeing the light. More fool me. Out of the bag came what he calls a coat, I call it a rather thin hoodie.
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| A jacket! Really? |
He has gone through three winters coat less and this year as he is now officially taller than me, I have given up. I now a accept that if he wants to freeze his sorry backside off then that is his choice. If he gets colds and the flu, I will not make any reference to his clothing choices nor will I tell him “I told you so!”. Well … may be.
He did make me smile the other day though when he told me that he wouldn’t need a coat this winter as he would be driving to school in the car I’m going to buy him.
I think I’ll go buy him a hoodie instead!
This utterly baffles me. I often walk to work in torrential rain, with waterproof trousers and a waterproof coat on and yet I will still walk past school kids in just a blazer or jumper.
Are they bonkers or something? Do they sit at their desks sopping wet all day? I just don’t get it.
Now I don’t feel such a bad mother, because no amount of moaning will make either of my teenagers wear a coat!!