It was just another hectic school morning for mom Jessica Hartman and her three children—ages 15, 11, and 5. Her eldest, Emma, was running late, causing a ripple effect of chaos for the whole family. Anyone who has been a teenager, or is raising one, knows this scenario all too well. The sun rises with its relentless brightness, and those in their teenage years seem to battle with every ounce of their being to stay nestled in their beds, ignoring the calls from parents urging them to face the day ahead.
On this particular morning, a frustrated Hartman decided to pen a note to Emma’s school, humorously attributing her tardiness to a condition she dubbed “teenage-ism.” This amusing declaration quickly gained traction online, resonating with parents everywhere.
“To Whom It May Concern: Emma is late today due to a condition known as teenage-ism. This affliction affects adolescents nationwide, and unfortunately, there’s no known remedy,” she wrote.
In her blog, Hartman elaborated on how mornings like these can quickly escalate from frustrating to downright explosive. She recounted how she was delivering her usual lecture about punctuality when she noticed Emma had plugged in her headphones and was staring blankly out the window, completely tuning her out. That moment was the tipping point; Hartman, in a fit of exasperation, snatched Emma’s phone and tossed it out the window of the car.
Yes, she threw the phone out the window!
What I find particularly amusing is that she unplugged the headphones first. Somewhere amidst her irritation, there was a flicker of logic—perhaps channeling a scientific approach that said, “Unplugging the headphones might help the phone fly farther.” Thanks, Science!
The symptoms of teenage-ism are plentiful, but that day, Emma was particularly afflicted by an overwhelming reluctance to leave her cozy bed and a propensity to talk back to her mother.
Upon arriving at school, when Emma needed a note to excuse her tardiness, Hartman decided, as many parents might, that this behavior wouldn’t be excused. Instead, she wrote a note explaining that Emma was suffering from a flare-up of “teenage-ism,” characterized by her unwillingness to rise on time and her sassy retorts.
It’s worth mentioning that Hartman did retrieve her daughter’s phone from a neighbor’s yard afterward and kept it as a consequence for four days. She made it clear that Emma is a good kid, just having a rough morning. “I don’t want anyone to think Emma is a bad kid. She’s an honor student and an incredibly talented musician who can master any song after hearing it just a few times. I’m very proud of her, and I love being her mom. She just had one of those days,” Hartman shared.
We can all relate; every parent has faced similar struggles. The teenage years are often marked by conflict and attitude, an essential part of growing up and establishing independence from parents. Hartman aimed to teach her daughter an important lesson: “I want my children to understand that regardless of their mood, they are responsible for their actions and must consider how those actions affect others.”
For those parents who have found themselves in Hartman’s shoes, her note served as a welcome dose of humor in the challenging journey of raising a teenager.
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In summary, every parent can relate to the trials of raising a teenager, especially when faced with the quirks of “teenage-ism.” Jessica Hartman’s humorous take on her daughter’s tardiness not only provides a laugh but also highlights the importance of teaching responsibility—something we all strive for as parents.
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