Teen Meltdown Versus Dad Ego

When these two powerful forces collide, there’s only one winner…common sense

Photo by Martin Sanchez on Unsplash

One day I was roaming around the house (like I live in a mansion…I don’t) and I hear loud bangs and bumps coming from my daughter’s room.

WTF is going on in there?

I knock.

She answers, through the door, “Yes! What is it?” As a parent, I don’t think I’m alone here, but I hate talking through doors.

I ask, “Uuuh, honey, what are you doing?”

She fires back, “Ugh, I’m looking for something. Leave me alone.”

Easy, dad ego. Nuh, nuh, hey! The door stays on its hinges, okay? It’s not about you.

She’s trying to solve a problem while frustrated and she doesn’t have time to deal with your wounded parent brain.

I walk away without saying a word. Minutes later, more bangs, more bumps…then a boom. That’s it!

I knock again.

“WHAT?”

Hmm, WTF is she talking to?

After my pause, “Okay, honey, open the door.”

Her wide-eyed, sunken teen face was priceless.

She says, “I can’t find my air pod!”

Now, mind you, as I walk in, she’s playing the “find me” tone to locate this thing.

Her mattress and box spring look like unshuffled playing cards off the bed frame.

Her floor looks like a Hollister store threw up on it.

We hear the tone and neither of us can find this silly piece of plastic.

Dumb dad question: Is the tone coming from your phone or the lost air pod?

She says it’s coming from the air pod…great!

I tell her to go into the bathroom.

The sound follows to the bathroom.

She says, “I don’t have time for this right now.”

Isn’t she the cutest?

So I ask, “Do you have time to check your pockets, maybe?”

Two seconds later in her back pocket…the “lost” left air pod.

“You see, honey, all your anger and frustration kept you from finding what you were looking for…in your pocket!”

Then I said what any good dad would say, “You’re welcome. Now, clean your room.”