How you know your teenager is settling in

Once again if you are just joining me, I decided not to have children.  I am a teacher and I love children, but I love the ones you can give back.  Like my students, my bonus daughter (step-daughter), my nieces and nephews, I can make a big impact in their lives.  However when it comes down to it, I cannot be blamed for how they turned out.

This is the same thinking that brought me to hosting a foreign exchange student.  I will have 5-6 months to make an impact on his life and provide opportunities for him, but in the end, I give him back.

It has been a week and a half, and I feel like we are all beginning to settle in.  Here is how you know your teenager is settling in and how to know you are settling in to your teenager.

1. You find yourself wanting to scream, "WHO IS GOD'S NAME ARE YOU TEXTING?" when the phone is buzzing early.  Or late.  Or often.

2. He tells you that he is hungry and then says, "No," every time you offer him something.

3. He will not eat leftovers.

4. It's a fight to keep the words "Shouldn't you be doing homework" from coming out of your mouth on week nights if he is doing anything except homework.

5. He makes fun of your narcissism, but flinches afterward.

6. You slam on the brakes while driving and baseballs fly forward, rolling out from under the seat.

7. He makes you smile when you are having a bad day because kids instinctively know when you need them.

8. The cat believes she is entitled to whatever he is eating (milk, cheese, turkey, ham, these are the things she has demanded)

Also, I know this was my idea, but I am pretty sure that when papers were signed, my husband's name was on them too.  Last night I got a lecture over the phone about how the kid needs Business because Art will never get him anywhere.  "You know," I replied, calmly (because I am ALWAYS CALM), "you can talk to him about it when you get home." Also, he has not taken him to school once.  Or picked him up.  But it's cool.  If we are ever robbed at gun point and Finn can only pick one of us to save, I am pretty confident it will be me.

(There are no pictures this post because Finn has started reading the blog. And I promised him no more pictures.  But my fingers were crossed, so this is a false show of faith.)