I have been M.I.A. and the reason is...hormones. Oh friends, I am not talking about me! Goodness, no. Hormones have entered our home in the form of a "pre-teen". Let me tell you, it's like a slap across the face. It's like I have a bullseye on me and I am under fire. My husband doesn't like me using my farm girl words (I love Jesus, but I cuss a little...confession!) but let me tell you that preteen hormones are the devil. They are another word for a "female dog". I really want to tell this unwanted house guest to hit the road, Jack. Don't you come back! But, alas, I love my kid and therefore have to endure it in ALL of it's raging glory.

Seems like yesterday we were strolling through Target (this is where all good memories are made) and she looked up at me with her big blue eyes and told me, "Mommy, I will always love you. You are the best ever." I remember telling her, "Oh, but honey when you are a teenager you will go through a stage of no longer liking mommy." she looked at me VERY seriously, "That will never be me!"

Liar Liar pants are in need of a fire extinguisher.

It sneaks in, super stealth like. You have no idea it's happening and then...BAM. "Female dog" slapped. This year we are a fifth grader. Beginning of the year was fine. And then just before December it appeared. Mood swings, door slamming, snarky remarks, eye rolls and the deer in the headlights blank stare. Good gravy y'all. THAT is just the beginning. Verbal shutdown, screaming at your siblings, so loud the neighbors can hear it and "Mom, do this for me." When you are already in the middle of doing something else, but she needs it tomorrow morning and it is 9 p.m. at night. Apparently because money is made of paper, and trees are all around us she thinks one of those bad boys is sproutin' out dolla' dolla' bills y'all. "I need you to buy me...", "I need money to go...", she told one of her friends that "I can't go because my parents have no money." This was said because we had told her if she wanted to go AGAIN (ice skating) she needed to use her own money this time (we had paid the last 4 weeks in a row)

OR, while you are concentrating on another child, then that is the most optimal time to insert attention seeking BAD behavior so that you then become the focus.

On the flip side of the hormones, we still see glimpses of that incredible kid that is hiding beneath the dark cloud of doom. She comes out in spurts and we get overly excited that, "SHE'S BACK!!" and then "FEMALE DOG" slap once again.

If this is just the start, I am nervous for what is to come. Better yet, I am scared to death for the youngest to be a fifth grader. She is even more spicy than her big sister. Lord help us all.