This morning, I asked my 10-year-old son if he had a good night's sleep. Seems pretty simple, a cut-and-dried question, right? 

The answer I received was, “What do you think?” 

It was at that point I turned around with fire shooting out of my eyes and burning a hole into his head (or so it felt). Seriously, when did an answer like that become acceptable?! 

I admit that I had my share of talk back to my mom, but I believe I was in high school and not going into fifth grade. I know times have changed since back when dinosaurs roamed (or I’ve been told by my son), but I didn’t think attitudes towards your parents did! 

I started to think of several quirky comebacks that were used on my as a child but I stopped to think … where the heck is that stupid kid manual?!

My sister brought up a very good point this weekend. When you’re pregnant, there are many books describing in detail of what to expect when you’re expecting on a monthly and weekly basis. You’re feeling nauseous? No problem! Just look up that word in your index and there’s a plethora of information as to why and how to over come it. 

When your baby is born, there are even more books on how to care for your newborn and what to expect the first year. They’ve even started coming out with more books on the toddler years and at what age they should reach certain “goals” like tying their shoes. 

After they reach a certain age, well then, you’re on your own. Where are the books on what to expect when you have a pre-teen or the dreaded teenage years? Where is that manual on how to calmly discuss what they just did or said without smacking the back of their head like most of us want to do?

I’ve searched online and put the question out there – how do your raise a teenager? Most of the hits I received just stated to be supportive. That’s it? Be supportive? 

So when my child rolls his eyes at me or when my niece slams her door at my sister, are we supposed to just holler back, “I support you?!” I am open to suggestions.

Until then, I will continue to glare down at my son, quietly go to the cabinet to get some Tylenol and brace myself – it’s going to be a bumpy ride….