(Inside: Parenting humor and stories you’ll love. Parenting is hard and amazing and crazy and funny. Sometimes, you gotta love laugh.)
You might be parenting teens and/or tweens if you can relate to these stories…
When you cannot nail the cool parent role
“Sure,” you tell your teenage son you can pick up his friend and take him to lacrosse practice.
You haven’t met this friend yet, but it’ll be fun to get to know a new friend of your teenage son. This car ride’s going to be great, after all, you’re good with people. Daily, you’re awesome at connecting with coworkers, even the quirky ones. You’ve always had pizazz and people skills – the center of attention, you can pull off. Everyone likes you, and you like everyone.
So, you pick up your friend’s kid. He lives in the cutest old home out in the country. You admire his home and chat about the chicken coup you spied. You asked him about what his parents do. One is a pilot but rebuilds a car on the side. That’s what’s in the old shed, he nods at. “Wow!,” you exclaim, “Tell me more about that…”
He gives short teenage responses. But, it’s all good because you are on top of this conversation. After all, you’re great with people. You ask great questions. And when there’s a lull you tell great jokes.
Joke.
Joke.
Joke.
You are Chandelier Bing.
Except…
You are Chandelier Bing…
You drop your son and his friend off at the high school feeling good about yourself. Man, momma, you nailed that car ride. You asked great questions, you were funny, you engaged this new friend of your son – I bet your son and his friend think you are the coolest. (Because you are.)
Later that night, you bring up the car ride. You don’t need a pat on the back, but every now and again people could recognize your gift of gab.
“Wasn’t that fun?” you say to your son.
“Your friend was interesting. Wasn’t that conversation great?”
Your sweet son who adores you times a million. This kid loves you to the moon and back shakes his head at your assessment of the car ride conversation and says, “Mom, you embarrassed me.”
Turns out your kid doesn’t want you to be the “cool parent,” he just wants you to be a parent.
Next time you drop this kid off at practice, you don’t say a word. And you let the teens lead the conversation. Which turns out to be way more interesting anyway. I mean, that happened during lunch. Omgosh – good info.
The pressure’s off mommas, our kids don’t want us to be cool. They just want us to be their mom.

The moment you officially become a mom (It’s not what you think.)
You’re not driving a mom van. No way. Even if you have two kids in car seats, you just can’t. The mom van image – it’s not you.
You are more of a…
car #1 girl.

Or a car #2 girl…

You can imagine yourself cruising to your high-powered penthouse office job in a convertible. Your skirt suit and heels look good coming out of that kinda car.
Okay, your office isn’t in a penthouse suite overlooking NYC (Hello, midwest), but you could get that kind of fancy-important-amazing job if you wanted. Totally, could – but not if you’re driving a mom-van.
Now, you realize every other parent has a van. People with vans are nice. People with vans have college degrees.
You even know a lawyer-working-mom who drives a minivan and is successful. (Life is weird.) But still, you have a mental block regarding van-life, so you will not budge. That image is not you. You are sleek and cool and do not ever wear spit-up as perfume. You know you might have weird-mini-van issues, but everyone has their quirks, so people just need to love you as you are.
But, there is a practical side to you, so you spend the parenting babies years, not in fancy cars, but in a solid Ford Fusion. It’s tight, but your two-car seats fit. The diaper bags, strollers, groceries, and two kids all work in your family-friendly sedan.
Time passes and you’ve gotten through the baby, toddler, preschool, early elementary years in your beloved Ford. Okay, maybe not beloved. Beloved would be car #1 (dreams!), but you are a positive person and know to appreciate your non-van car.
Now your kids are tweens.
Everywhere you go, they want to bring friends. Like, multiple friends. But you don’t hate this idea because you learn so much from the car-ride chatter.
Your kids now also have hockey bags, lacrosse sticks, and dance uniforms. (How does all the dance gear dominate?)
You want to join the carpools. You need to fit at least seven and if possible eight total living, breathing humans in your car.
Your check engine light has gone on one too many times, so it’s time for a new car.
Your identity is still strong – you shop car #1 and car #2. (Still dreaming!) You consider the new version of your Fusion.
You hem and haw. You think a lot. You google how many other attorney-moms drive vans. (Again – not you, but it could be.)
The decision point arrives and you complete your vehicle purchase. You exit the dealership driving……a van.
Congratulations, you’ve officially become a parent.
PS – if you never get a van, then the day you shop July Amazon prime days for your Broomba, which you purchase, throw in a closet, and give yourself for Christmas. That works for your official parenting inauguration day too.

Your turn: tell your stories full of parenting humor
My life is surrounded by tweens and teens. I’m raising three, my friends are collectively raising a billion and I teach high school. From my life (and antics my fellow moms and high school students share with me), these are my stories. (As always – because I love my people, I’m careful with what and how I share their stories.)
What are the funny things your tweens/teens have done? Leave your stories in the comments.
Join our community of moms raising tweens and teens
Your brain bounces between your day at work, what time(s) your kids need to be at practice, your teen’s missing school assignments, that you haven’t called your mom lately, the load of the laundry to be switched, “What’s for dinner?” and “Why are 3 of my brain-tabs frozen?”
You are raising tweens and teens – the unique parenting phase where everything gets easier…and harder.
We’re finally believing all those “they grow so fast” comments. This is your last hurray with kids in your home and you want to love every minute.
You’re taking a second look at your career, your hobbies, how to share your gifts and talents.
Parenting grows your faith and then makes you wonder where your faith is.
You long for friendships and deep relationships, but you’re just so busy.
You’d love a quick place to connect and feel encouraged.
Join the hundreds of other women who’ve signed up for Empowered Moms and Kid’s inspirational monthly emails. You’ll look forward to opening them. (Plus, it’s free and you can unsubscribe at any time.)
Read more in the parenting humor series
Mommas, sometimes we just gotta laugh. Omallthethings – it just will never go all in the perfect direction, so we lay down some of that coveted control and laugh. I don’t know about you, but after a good laugh, my head feels clearer.
Can you relate to some of these stories?
Funny Mom Story: Disastrous Day Turned Parenting Win (Part 1)
Funny Parenting Stories: Raising Tweens and Tweens is the Best (Part 2)
Funny Stories about Parenting: Laugh Your Way Through Raising Tweens & Teens (Part 3)
Parenting Humor: When You Just Gotta Laugh (Part 4)


Cheryl is a mom of 3 boys, wife, speaker, high school teacher, and author of Empowered Moms & Kids. She has a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and is passionate about learning and teaching. On www.empoweredmomsandkids.com you’ll find inspiration and encouragement for moms raising tweens and/or teens. Read more in the “about” section of this page.