My Single Mom Life

Teenage pubescent angst that is.
I went to the bead store this morning. I made mention of this to both sons last night.
Sons, mom must go get large magnet bead in the morning. Will be back.
Ok mom.
I was gone less than an hour. Not even a full half hour.
I come home and there are 12 count 'em 12 frantic messages on the machine from oldest about how the school won't let him go home with Mikey.
Mom! Answer the phone! Moooooommm!!!!
I wasn't here dude, chill man.
I call the school. Tell them he can go. They say they will give his teacher the message. I think all is well, teen son-o number one-o will be happy.
Nope.
School never gives teacher message.
Son calls me quite pissed off.
You weren't home! Where were you! I was supposed to go. I explain. He goes ok. Hangs up. calls back, yells again and this time hangs up on me.
Grr.
He calls back again. Grr.
During hurricane number one last year otherwise known as Charley, Mark was sick the day before so all his books were at school. They used the school as a shelter.
We watched the news that night of the shelter and we actually watched on abc 40, people in HIS classroom going through books, desks etc cuz they were bored shitless being trapped at the school.
Ok? Following me so far? See where this is going yet?
His textbooks were stolen that night by shelter evacuees. Two of them.
When we learned this the day Mark went back to school, not only did I write a note but I called the school. No problem they said. We called, we explained, not his fault.
Yuh. How quickly they forget or maybe just never updated his records right?
So his last phone call to me was this; Mom! They aren't going to let me go to graduation ceremony on Monday cuz of those books! Either I find them or pay $165 for them or I don't go! They said I'll graduate but can't be in the march and stuff! Mom!!!
Chill little dude. Momma bear got your back. Relax.
So I call school. Hello? ****** Middle School, how may I help you.
Me: Text book and graduation policy person. Now.
Secretary: Yes ma'am.
Mrs. ****, media center.
Me: Hello, look I called you in August after Charley came through about stolen text books while you used the school as a shelter. You told my son he can't march or be in the ceremony. If I have to, I will call WWSB ABC 40 and get a copy of the tape showing evacuees in his classroom rummaging through students belongings.
Mrs. ****: Um, name of student?
Me: Mark C., grade 8 Chester, home base.
Mrs. ****: Yes, he has two missing text books, the cost is $165, can you bring a check?
Me: Did you hear me? I said I will get a copy of the tape from channel 40, local news station, proving that people were in HIS classroom rummaging through students belongings and the next day of school, his books were gone. He was absent the day before the hurricane so he was not there to clean out his desk.
Mrs. ****: You'll call abc 40 about this?
Me: Yes to prove to the school he is not responsible for those textbooks due to absence and then strangers rummaging through students belongings. We watched it on tv. I will call, get a copy of the segment and bring it to you because I am not paying for books stolen during a hurricane because the school didn't contain people to the gymnasium and instead allowed them into classrooms which should have been locked. A follow up story would be interesting wouldn't it?
Mrs. ****: No ma'am it wouldn't. He can be in the ceremony on Monday and graduate with his class.
Me: Thank you.
*click*

Heh.

Then he gets home, slams the door, goes to his bed, sleeps for 3 hours, comes out and starts yelling about having to mow his paid lawn job. $25 he gets for this and he's pissed off. Starts stomping, slamming, screeching, a few tears even came out.
I took about 10 minutes of this little performance before I put my foot down and yelled back.
Puberty or no puberty. I don't give a rats ass. You will respect me and talk to me like a rational human being and if you raise your voice one more time, you can forget all the fun graduation party things you were supposed to go to. 3-2-1, stop.

He stopped. He knows better.
He's off mowing the lawn.

I'm in for a long summer aren't I?