Why 15 is difficult, IMHO

IMHO means, 'in my humble opinion'.

Helena and I butt heads very often.

I have realized that most of the time, the friction comes from her wanting to go places and do things that do not fit into my time frame, or willingness to act as taxi service.

Yesterday, the 9th grade class went to Seven Peaks (a water park in Provo) to celebrate the end of the year and the end of Jr. High. The buses were scheduled to return to the school at 4:00 p.m. I arrived at 4:10 and waited because the buses weren't really there (no surprise). Finally, at 4:30 the buses arrived and kids started piling out. By 4:45 Helena called me and started right in on "my friends and I wanted to go...". She wanted to take off with someone else.

First of all, I had already been waiting there for over 30 minutes.

Second of all, she had just spent all day with these people!

From my point of view, I did not want to be treated like hired help to be dismissed so. In fact, you wouldn't treat the hired help that way for fear they'd quit!

From her point of view, it is frustrating to want the freedom of movement that comes with being older, but be unable to have it because you still have 6 months to go before getting a driver's licence! It is a bummer to have to have your mommy picking you up all the time!

You know, I think deep down we both understand each other's point of view. It is hard to be open and patient with each other in the moment, though. Tempers flare and words are spoken that would have been best left unsaid.