My 12-year-old son and I do not always see eye-to-eye. Show me a mother who says she DOES see eye-to-eye with her 12-year-old son and I will show you a faker….or a really short woman. He is irritating, frustrating, scary, the spitting image of his father (which is confusing), and has a sense of humor that is almost impossible to understand. And every now and then…he’s still my little boy.
Last week my father treated Bill, Sam and me to a Boston Red Sox game at Fenway Park. On the way there, while sitting in the traffic we are no-longer accustomed to, Sam started playing the ABC game with the signs on the highway. I decided that he would not think it was “cool” if I started crying about the idea of him remembering this game we used to play when he was little. So instead I played.
As usual, A-R were easy to find aside from a short pause while we waited for a Jeep to go by since we couldn’t find the letter J anywhere on a billboard. But man, did we get stuck on Q! When it was clear we weren’t passing a Qdoba or Quiznos anytime soon, we decided to cheat. Everyone in the car started looking for things that started with Q, since we clearly weren’t going to actually find the letter. When even that failed, we started changing the names of things to make them sound like Q words. (Perhaps I wasn’t the only one hanging desperately onto this rare mother-son moment free of eye-rolling and the dreaded 12-year-old shrug.) Our conversation deteriorated until we were all giggling. Sam pointed to a sign on a passing truck and read it in a ridiculous, Elmer Fudd voice: “Mom! Wook! That twuck says 'Wowld Headquwatews for Wefuwbishing!' " (“Mom! Look! That truck says 'World Headquarters for Refurbishing!' ”)
Having successfully found the elusive Q, we moved on and finished the last 9 letters before we reached the ballpark. The car game had done the trick, though, and we had an amazing evening watching the Red Sox cream the Padres. Sam was talkative, expressive, funny…and happy. Really happy. That part was even better than the fact that we had seats 10 rows behind home plate. (Thanks Dad!)
Of course, the next day, he went back to being a regular 12-year-old: buried in his ipod touch, talking on the phone to his friends, rolling his eyes at his uncool mom. I even got the 12-year-old shrug.
A few days later we were again driving in Boston and were stuck in a horrendous traffic jam. Since my parents do not own a car large enough to transport my entire family, Sam and I were riding in separate cars. As we approached the front of the jam, we could see the source of the trouble: construction vehicles and pavers were working on the highway. My phone rang Sam’s dedicated ring tone and when I answered he was giggling.
“MOM! Bill says he figured out why there’s so much traffic! They’re [giggle] wefuwbishing the road!”
For once in my life I pulled out cool-mommy just in time and responded in a way that kept him laughing until we reached our destination:
“Oh Qwap.”
© Jody Hoffman 2011
First of all, cutest story ever. Second, you are totes a cool mom, Sam just doesn't always realise it. Jod, you're a kick-ass mom and you know it.
Posted by: Lauren! | 07/09/2011 at 09:46 AM
hahah that's cute! thanks for stopping by my blog! following you back!
Posted by: Rachel | 07/08/2011 at 10:51 AM
Awww... I guess this is your last year before he becomes a teenager! You seem like such a cool mom! Thanks for sharing this post.
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Posted by: Lexie Lane | 07/08/2011 at 10:22 AM
Your blog is so cute! Thanks for visiting my blog. Have a great weekend!
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http://4mykiddos.blogspot.com
Posted by: Sabrina | 07/08/2011 at 07:46 AM
Hi,
I'm a new follower...I laughed all through this post. I so remember being the dreaded 12 yr old, the dreaded 13 yr old and so on lol. Thanks so much for stopping by.
Posted by: [email protected] Stitches & More | 07/07/2011 at 10:12 PM
Thanks for stopping by my blog! I'm following you back!
Posted by: Brynna | 07/07/2011 at 11:31 AM
Love that! looks like you guys had fun!
Thanks for the follow. Following back.
http://andthelittleonestoo.com
Posted by: Ashley T | 07/07/2011 at 11:12 AM
Stopping by to follow you back, great blog!
Posted by: Regina | 07/07/2011 at 10:15 AM
Great Blog! Thanks by stopping by my new blog! I am returning the follow!
Posted by: Angela | 07/07/2011 at 09:58 AM
Great blog - love BOSTON and the Red Sox, sounds like a fun time?
Following you back - can't wait to read more!
Posted by: Jess Lane | 07/07/2011 at 07:42 AM
Returning the follow! Thanks!
http://thehairjeanie.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Jeanie | 07/06/2011 at 09:17 PM
Great blog and post! Thanks so much for stopping by and for following! I'm now following you back and am looking forward to getting to know you!
Posted by: Marguerite | 07/06/2011 at 08:49 PM
Thanks so much for stopping by Sweet Diva! Now following you!! =)
Posted by: Jill @ Sweet Diva | 07/06/2011 at 07:49 PM
Thanks for following! Too funny!! Oh the joys of being a mom. I haven't even hit a year yet and I can only imagine!
Posted by: Sarah | 07/06/2011 at 07:40 PM
Following you back from www.mommydigger.com, love your blog! Cute story lol!
Posted by: Brynn | 07/06/2011 at 07:31 PM
Thanks for stopping by! I'm following back! I love your blog! & thanks for the cute/funny comment! I look forward to reading & catching up!
Posted by: Heather | 07/06/2011 at 06:55 PM
Great post. I actually found 12 year old boys easier than 12 year old girls BUT it changed as the boys got older. My challenge was when my son was in high school and then you have that push for independence and that fine line that is so hard to find and follow! Good luck though, I look forward to reading about more!
Posted by: Meryl | 07/06/2011 at 06:21 PM
What a great story!! Glad you had a great game too! Thanks for stopping by, I am following back. :)
Posted by: Michele | 07/06/2011 at 05:10 PM
Hello from a new follower on the Blog Hop! My husband is a HUGE Red Sox fan - we have never been to a game.
Thank you SO MUCH for stopping by Put A Little Umbrella In Your Drink! I hope you will come back soon!
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Posted by: Lesli | 07/06/2011 at 04:10 PM
I really enjoyed this, especially since I am the mom of a way to cool for me 13 year old! Following back;)
Posted by: Jessica K | 07/06/2011 at 02:17 PM
Thanks for visiting my blog. Stopping by to follow your blog...looking forward to reading your posts.
I love this post -- I thought I was the only person dealing with a twelve year old who thinks she knows it all! UGH! LOL
Posted by: Sandra | 07/06/2011 at 01:56 PM
Love that game! My boys haven't seemed to tire of it yet and they're 10 and 12.
Following back on this Welcome Wednesday! Great blog!!
Posted by: Jules | 07/06/2011 at 01:48 PM
Thank You for stopping by my blog. I am following back.
Posted by: Nishana | 07/06/2011 at 01:43 PM
Lol! And I thought I was the only one experiencing 'teentude'!
Posted by: Melinda | 07/06/2011 at 12:32 PM
Stopping by to follow you back...cannot wait to read more...you have a great blog:)
Posted by: Angela | 07/06/2011 at 10:12 AM