Teenage tides & the tantrums of three

UNDER ONE ROOF, ADOLESCENCE AND THE TERRIBLE TWOS COEXIST.

Today, Dominykas turned 14.

Peak adolescence.

I once read a perfect analogy in a book: if it’s hard to understand their feelings, imagine one foot planted firmly on the solid platform of adulthood, while the other foot swings wildly on the swings of childhood.

What does that feel like?
I n c o m p a r a b l e.

But.
It’s okay.
I don’t sigh.

Once, when a mischievous, half-grown boy—already hinting at “that ugly adolescence”—merely smiled and said:

Mom, I’m a fisherman.
And just like that, many of life’s little annoyances are fished out.

Still, I watch every day.

Trends change, hairstyles get perfected each morning.
The scent of cologne drifts down the stairs, following the eighth-grader’s footsteps.

Once, after checking his hairstyle, I ask:

You wash it every day with shampoo, right?
No, — he snaps.
Why? — I counter quickly.
I don’t have proper shampoo. — I catch his answer.
Instantly, I appear with Dad’s 3-in-1 bottle.

Here, use this. — I offer.
I really cannot wash with this, — he shakes his head full of hair.
Why not? — I stop.
A pause.

Well, look at Dad…
What’s wrong with Dad? — I’m curious.
He’s bald… — apparently Dad’s hair fell out from that shampoo.
Protect the highest above from such cleansing consequences! — I smile, walking away with the cursed bottle, promising to buy something gentler.

P.S. When you’re 14, and you have a little brother…
You have to accept that your birthday cake looks like this.

After singing “Happy Birthday” in the morning, one family member loudly reminds you that cake always follows the song. No exceptions. And “we’ll eat it later” is simply not negotiable.

Adolescence & the terrible twos live under one roof with us.

Never dull.
Never sad.

Mua,
V.