Have you ever been in the position where you appear to be 'persona non grata'?
The Collins dictionary definition is "If someone becomes or is declared persona non grata, they become unwelcome or unacceptable because of something they have said or done".
I am definitely fulfilling that role at the moment, both in my parental capacity and in one or two work based scenarios as well!
Sometimes, I do think being a parent is the most challenging job in the whole world...and we don't even get paid for it! Finding the balance between nurturing, guiding and telling a teenager seems to be a constant challenge for me at the moment. I don't mind admitting that I think I am getting that balance wrong on occasions and possibly losing my balanve altogether.
I know our children don't come with instruction manuals and those that have been written by others may not take into account the huge differences between individuals - my two children are very different and therefore my parenting of them has been very different...I have no idea if I'm getting it right, even some of the time. Given that my older son is now 31, with a good career, happily married and a parent himself, I'd like to think I may have got something right.
But honestly, what does 'right' look like as a parent? I'm not sure I even know that.
When I first became a mum, I declared that as long as my children know that I love them, then I'm doing a good job.
Sometimes, when they get to teenager stage, with all those raging hormones, boundary challenges, clashes, frustrations and a greater recognition of their own values and beliefs, I do wonder if I'm even get the basics right - how do I best demonstrate that I love my teenager, no matter what?
Knowing this too will pass, I've got another 13 or 14 years to figure it out before my grandson starts going through the same challenges.
...and breathe!