Parenting
The Extraterrestrial in My Home by Lily Harper
Originally Published: Jan. 29, 2014
At one point, there was an extraterrestrial residing in my house. He didn’t have oversized, glowing eyes or multiple limbs. He didn’t shed his skin at night to reveal a translucent form, nor did he consume food through a nostril.
However, his mood swings were frequent and dramatic. One moment he could be laughing uncontrollably, and the next, he would be screaming at the top of his lungs and slamming doors. His communication style was a puzzling mix of eye rolls, shoulder shrugs, and the occasional grunt, often accompanied by words like “whatever” and “yeah.” And when it came to meals, he inhaled food as if it were about to vanish before it reached his mouth.
If you have one of these beings in your home, you know exactly what I mean. I’m talking about the teenage boy—specifically, the one who isn’t quite old enough to drive yet is far too old to be seen with Mom in the car. “Just drop me off here, Mom. That’s close enough,” he insists, as if being in the same vehicle as a real, live mother is a fate worse than death.
His hormones surged through him like a wild roller coaster, transforming him into a being that couldn’t relate to his perfectly normal family. He could polish off an entire package of cookies, two pot pies, and a burrito, washing it down with a quart of milk—only to complain afterward that there was nothing left to eat in the house.
He left bowls of Jell-O under his bed, allowing them to mature into questionable fungal specimens that no one should have to endure. In his world, he was the main character, while everyone else was merely a supporting cast, completely misunderstanding his existence.
As time went on, I accepted his role as an alien inhabitant. I watched him grow taller than me, transitioning from footie pajamas to jeans, and from the Muppets singing “Sesame Street” to the latest rappers dancing in the streets. I went from giving baths to imaginary friends to reminding him to shower before heading to school.
And honestly? It was all manageable. Except for the moments when his transformation into a young adult sent me spiraling. The sight of his clothes thrown around, an empty package of my favorite crackers, or those classic eye rolls would send me into a tizzy. I would look in the mirror and see an alien face staring back at me. What was happening to me? I’d scream in frustration, ranting and raving without making much sense.
Logically, I understood it. He had reached the age where my own memories began to form. I could recall the heartaches—the dreaded pimple before a big date, the late-night phone calls, and that rush of excitement when a crush walked by without even a glance. The indecision, the insecurity, the relentless drive—it was all familiar. But understanding didn’t make it any easier.
A simple “Thank you, Mom,” a kiss on the cheek, or an “I love you” would have been nice. And you know what? Those moments did happen. Out of nowhere, he would plant a soft kiss on my cheek. Of course, just as quickly, he would revert to communicating with his imaginary spaceship.
Sometimes I found myself wishing for an alien spaceship to come and take him away. “Let him grow up,” I would plead, “and then bring him back. Taller, wiser, and with kids of his own.”
Eventually, my wish came true. He grew up. I walked into his empty room, listening to the echoes of his former life—the beeping of video games, the whispers late at night, the heavy bass resonating from the doorway.
Standing there, amidst what was once his universe, I realized how swiftly time had passed. He had moved through my memories and embarked on new adventures, some I had experienced, others I hadn’t. Now, he was facing his own version of the extraterrestrial existence. An alien now lived in his house, devouring all his food and wandering around as if nobody understood the complexities of his life.
But you know what? This new alien loves that kid just as much as I do.
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Summary:
Navigating the teenage years can feel like living with an alien in your home. From their unpredictable moods to their odd eating habits, teenagers can often be a mystery. As they transition into adulthood, parents may find themselves reminiscing about their own experiences while grappling with the changes in their relationship. Ultimately, love remains the constant that binds them together, no matter how “alien” things may seem.