The Etch A Sketch Years

I am the parent of two teenagers. One is a 14 year old young lady. The other a 17 year old young man. This particular entry has to do with the elder child.

I know that I have spoken to him about relatively easy things to remember. Things that require some, but not much, thought. Now those of you with teenagers will relate to this - Have you ever wondered what happened to the various requests that you have built into your children over the years? I mean, this is not recent stuff. It usually consists of areas and issues that have been the topic of many requests and corrections over the years.

For instance, I know that many of us, as parents, have communicated to our kids a simple request like, "Please don't leave food in your room." Now this is not just controlling parenting. This is because, at least in our part of the U.S., the deep south, we have ants. Ants happen to like easy meals and aren't easily deterred once a food source is readily available. In addition to ants, there is mold, and in the slow process of food becoming petrified, it stinks as it rots. I would think that these are fair and reasonable reasons to not allow dirty dishes and half eaten bags of snack foods in the room.

As I was relating some of these thoughts to a friend she hit upon the perfect metaphor - teens are like an etch-a-sketch. If you have ever played with or owned an etch-a-sketch, you know exactly what she is talking about. If you haven't, click on the link above and discover the wonder of this toy. The main point for this discussion, is that the etch-a-sketch, when you have a picture that you no longer want, when turned over and shaken, erases all evidence of the work that you have produced.

In a similar way at some point in a teens life, they get turned over and shaken, thereby erasing much, if not all, of the "imprint" that has been made.

"Jason, please put your glass on a coaster and not the table."

The sound of the Etch-a-sketch shaking, "Why? It's OK there."

"Hey Jas, could you not park behind Jen's car in the garage so she can get out if she needs to?"

Shuchaka-shutchka-shake - "Is she going out later?"

"Could you please clean the bathroom, specifically the toilet, since it's all yellow and nasty?"

Shuchaka-shuckaha-shake "Is anyone coming over?"

"Did you remember to get that ___________________ (fill in the blank) that I asked you for?"

Shuchaka-shutchka-shake "Huh?"

It actually makes for some great moments of disbelief, wonder, and amazement. I can only hope that some day there is some deeper imprint that resurfaces after some time of amnesia.

For now I just hear the sound, Shuchaka-shutchka-shake.

WH