You know, not only do we women have to deal with the pain, discomfort and moodiness of our monthly cycles, but then we have daughters and we have to relive it all over again. Ugh.

It is not a pleasant Monday morning in the Kasper house! As a matter of fact, last Monday sucked too (that was because of the concert tix disappointment)! Thank goodness I don’t work until this afternoon, I don’t have to deal with getting myself ready as well as deal with the meltdowns. “Come help me, Go away, cut my hair off”…. UGH!

After tantrums and yelling (teens really are not much different than toddlers…. just BIGGER) Tara is staying home.  I really did not know what other option there was. I mean, I can’t carry a screaming teenager to the car like you would do a toddler! We were at a stand off. She needs to make decisions and deal with the consequences. She’s not in jeopardy of being “truant”, and her grades are okay (for Tara).

These types of mornings not only get Tara and myself upset, but my mother (she’s 87 if you recall) as well. This morning she got up and dressed and walked out of the house. I realized after a few minutes that she was walking around outside. It’s quite chilly, I felt so guilty when I saw her with her walker walking down the sidewalk.

Trying to keep both generations happy at the same time is so hard. This living situation has really damaged the grandmother/granddaughter relationship between Tara and my mother.  Tara is a much more outspoken teenager than I ever was, and much more dramatic.  Things I say that I think might help, only make it worse. So I tend to just stay quiet until I have option but step in.

This year has been far better than last year. Most mornings we get out of the house with little drama and on time, but the days that are bad are really bad.

I’m feeling like FRIED bacon this morning in the middle of this generational sandwich I am in!

Tara turned 15 yesterday. We had a very quiet weekend, with just one friend over. As I said on Friday, there was supposed to be a concert involved, but that did not work out. There is another on March 31st that hopefully will make up for it. There was no cake involved, just a birthday bagel (for the record, Tara does not like cake), nor was there a special birthday meal. She wanted Lo Mein on Friday. She did not want to wait until Sunday. That’s how Tara rolls.

If you read on Friday about my niece’s missing dog, Bella, the story had a very happy ending on Saturday. Bella had continued to be sighted, and a total stranger to my niece paid for two “publications” of the Pet Amber Alert, the second that included phone calls to local homes and businesses. He did this out of the goodness of his heart, and it helped them to know where to concentrate the search on Saturday. They had left some of my great-nephew Gavin’s close in the area, so Bella would know they were there. It took quite a bit of effort and some time, but they were finally able to catch her. She is back home and recovering from the ordeal.

Heather at Acting Balanced, has started a Meet Me on Monday based on Java’s MMOM at Never Growing Old.

1. What is on your bedside table? Too much junk. A lamp, water bottle, iPhone, tissues.

2. Hardback, Paperback or E-Reader? I prefer hardback, don’t have an E-Reader yet.

3. What is your ‘go to’ drink of choice? Coffee in the morning, and generally water. This morning something a little stronger might be nice (just kidding I rarely drink!!!)

4. How do you like to spend your birthday? As I get older, I prefer quiet birthdays. I mean, I celebrate another year of living, but no need for a big fan fare. A nice lunch or dinner out… that’s enough for me.

5. Finish this sentence – I would never be caught dead in … a bikini.

Well, I’ve got to work this afternoon, so I better get some things accomplished around home this morning so I can relax for a couple hours before I go in at 4pm. I did not sleep all that well, as I knew Tara was not feeling great and already stressing about the day last night. I’ve got laundry to do and I hope to get back to a scanning project I started yesterday morning.

Thanks a-LATTE for stopping by!

Martha