My sassy teenager paid me a visit this week.

This week my inner teenager wanted to come out. Not the responsible and polite one who did her homework and never got in trouble. The girl who showed up was the teenager I never got to be. She was playful and bitchy and did what she wanted even when the consequences seemed dire.

She came out with strangers who tried to tell me what to do. "I don't think so" is what she said as she sped away and gave them the finger. Turns out complete strangers on the road can end up being the Moms and Dads of kids in your son's hip hop dance class. Oops!

But what would a teenager do? She certainly wouldn't go in and apologize and say she lost her temper. Because after all these parents honked for 5 minutes straight as my kids got out of the car. Finger pointing is what sassy teens do best and the fingers were all pointing at them. So I did what any respectable teenager would do when confronted with the parents across the room....I ran back to my car and drove home laughing, hoping I can avoid them for the next three weeks until the dance recital. Wish this girl luck!

This sassy teen showed up in a more serious way in a conversation with a family member.

She fought to be heard and she wouldn't back down on her own needs. Hey, I'm part of this too she exclaimed. The back of her throat burning with the holding back she had done for months. She even got to wonder aloud if things would ever get better and if all hope is lost.

It felt good to question, to not know, to be scared, to be exhausted with the options. It felt good to finally admit that something is so broken and I don't know if I can fix it. I am only a teenager. I am breaking down under the weight of your resentment and I don't think I can carry it anymore.