The Waterkooler

As the dog days of July come to an end and we're greeted with the month of August, a pervasive thought enters every parent's mind: back to school. Yes, the thought of it brings a smile to the face, doesn't it?

Me: Are you doing the laundry today?
She: I don't know.

Me: It's your scheduled day.

She: Yeah but do you need laundry done?

Me: It's summer. We always need laundry done.

She: I know, but are you out of clothes?

Me: Well, there are a few shirts in there that I would like to wear this week, and I'm almost out of underwear.

She: Yeah, but you don't need them, you work from home.

Me: Your dad doesn't work from home and he needs shirts.

She: Yeah but he's married to you, so there's no one at work he needs to impress.


By the way, teenagers do not have more energy than we do. They simply do a better job at conserving it. Case in point: my step-daughter's schedule for the beginning of the summer:

12 PM - Get up, wash face thoroughly. Brush teeth.
12:30 PM - Have breakfast.
1 PM - Stretch
1:30 PM - Exercise
2:30 PM - Shower
3 PM - Have lunch
3:30 PM - See friends (swimming, suntanning, etc.)
6:30 PM - Have dinner
7 PM - See friends (movies, shopping, etc.)
11 PM - Chat with friends on internet.
1 AM - Go to bed.