" I Hate You"

Wow did those words pierce my soul today! All beacuse I wouldn't let my 13 year old manipulate her way into staying with her friend this weekend.
I have planned this weekend and looked forward to this time since early July. Its a chance for me to get away and finally go and be "ME" for a change. Its a time for me to let my short hair down and relax with a group of widows and widowers who understand my feelings and really do "get it." My teenager has decided, on her terms, that maybe my plan isn't the right plan. So, in front of her friends father we had FALLOUT! Oh yeah...complete with tears and wailing and the whole bit. Did she really "think" that I was going to cave in at that point? Oh nooooooo...I was more determined than ever to stand my ground and make her obey the rule to a "T". Well after a minute or two Little Miss I-can-and-will-get-my-way, DIDN'T. Wanna know what sealed her fate? This little fatalistic statement....."I HATE YOU"
I know that it didnt carry much weight with her and that she didn' mean a letter of it, but, the anger that flew all over me made me as crazy as a loon. So she spent the afternoon in her room without the phone, cell or laptop and I intended for her to get back to reality and maybe to contemplate those piercing words.
Tonight she is back to her mostly sweet self and I can once again stand to be around her. Oh the perils of single parenthood...there's no where to go!
~~Rayne~~