Editor’s Note: We like to think of Twirlit as a site for opinionated women, whether you’re in the boardroom, trying out your entrepreneurial shoes, work as an assistant (but truthfully you run the office), or are a working mom. In the coming weeks, one of our writers, Jenny Hudock, will be telling you tales from her life as a single mother, writer, and very opinionated blogger. So, without further ado…
It’s funny, but I remember the first time I seriously thought about motherhood. I was fifteen at the time, the same age my teenage daughter is now, and my plan was to marry Tommy Lee, you know, the drummer from Motley Crue, and mother his children. Unfortunately, I missed my window somewhere between Heather Locklear and Pamela Anderson, and though my taste in rock stars changed with the frequency of most celebrity relationships, my desire to be someone else’s mother grew with me, and by the time I was twenty that desire was realized.
I call her the “Squeenager,” on account of the teenage tendency to squee when exciting things happen, like Edward Cullen stepping onto the big screen and batting his eyelashes before he turns all sparkly in the sun. I’ve learned over the last two years there are hundreds of reasons to squee when you’re a teenager, many of which have been long since forgotten by those of us who’ve left our twenties in the rearview mirror.
These days, I listen to her squee about actors and rock stars and try to imagine crushing on them when I was her age. There was the whole Pete Wentz phase, which was quickly followed by a crush on the Edward Cullen character in the “Twilight” books (eww, not the guy from the movie.) Most recently, she’s got a thing for James Marsters of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” fame, and can often be found gazing dreamily at the growing collection of Spike memorabilia covering her bedroom walls. At least I know she has good taste in men, which could be both dangerous at this stage in her hormonal growth and potentially rewarding in ten years when she’s ready to have children of her own.
I never expected to be a single mother, and certainly not a single mother to a teenage daughter. Circumstances throw curveballs at us in life, and if we’re strong, we adjust accordingly. I’m currently engaged to be married next fall, but things like dating and entertaining an active and healthy sex life take on a whole new meaning once you realize you are setting an example for an impressionable young mind you hope will grow and become a strong and able-bodied woman of the world one day. It isn’t easy, and maybe it’s a little cliche, but as 99% of all mothers will tell you, it is the most rewarding job in the world.
Not only do I get to stay up to date on all the latest fashion trends, as well as celebrity break-ups and unions, I’ve learned that squeeing when you’re my age is just as rewarding as it was when I was fifteen, especially when you’ve got a fifteen year old to squee with.
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Comments
Drew Beatty
December 15th, 2009 - 5:14:51 PM
If she has to squee, at least she is squeeing over someone as squee worthy as Spike! Even as a heterosexual man I can see the attraction.
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Chris Bowsman
December 15th, 2009 - 5:50:23 PM
Kudos to you for surviving 15 years of parenting. My wife works on the weekends, and I'm about ready to explode after 2 straight days of the kids by myself.
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Kate Sherrod
December 15th, 2009 - 6:14:41 PM
I always love hearing about the Squeenager's adventures. I am mommy only to a prissy border collie, so I am living vicariously through Ms. Hudock. More please!
3
christine
December 15th, 2009 - 6:25:38 PM
You articulate the joys of motherhood beautifully (not that I'd know personally). Look forward to reading more!
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David Sobkowiak
December 15th, 2009 - 6:53:15 PM
Squeenager is just as lucky to have you as her mother as you are to have her as your daughter. Your squee-sharing moments are likely the best you have and I'm sure it brings you closer together now, and will be great to remember when she has a squeenager of her own!
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Laura
December 15th, 2009 - 7:34:06 PM
That whole " setting a good example" thing is a bitch. I mean there is no way I could possibly be the person I hope my kids grow up to be. I don't clean nearly enough, I don't eat properly, I don't excercise enough. I just have to pray that I love enough, forgive enough and laugh enough for them to not notice the other crap I fail so miserably at.
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Mimi
December 15th, 2009 - 7:42:01 PM
Hi: Enjoy her as much as you can, because once they leave home, you don't hear from them much, as they have there own lives to live. You can only hope that they take with them all that you taught them and pray that they remain healthy and happy. Good article though, enjoyed it.
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Pearce Kilgour
December 15th, 2009 - 7:43:22 PM
I can relate in a few ways, being step-dad to a squeenager. I'm just thankful that she found Buffy and it's helped her passion for long epic stories. Nice revealing article.
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Patrick
December 15th, 2009 - 8:02:47 PM
That is so cool that you can relate to your teenager. It was hard for me with two boys and I had help from my wife! Now we have a 4 yr old and the third time around has been fun. They grow so fast, enjoy the special moments now, squee over the cool stuff, that is just awesome!
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JohnB
December 15th, 2009 - 8:12:31 PM
I don't have a "squeeager" yet, but my little one does tend to keep my mind tilted toward the youthful perspective, jarring the memory to recall those would-be forgotten days of carefree antics. Kudos to you for going at it on your own, it surely demands respect...
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Kody Boye
December 22nd, 2009 - 3:25:36 PM
She doesn't squee over Robert Pattinson? COME ON! He looks so... so... DIRTY! How can you not like that? hahahahahahahahahaha I can agree on the squee bit though. I have the tendency to do the same thing when something exciting happens to me. Then again, I'm easily excitable, and things like kittens, good movies and fluffy animals tend to do that highly easily, haha. I'm going to have to start following these. Off to read the newest one. La de da de daaa...
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