If I knew then what I know now....

This was me back in 1982. I was 13. I thought I knew it all. The years from 13 - 16 were the worst. I know I didn't listen to half the things my mum told me. I argued with her day and night - in fact I think I almost went a few months not talking to her over something or other (funny how then, it was a matter of life and death and now I can't even begin to remember what it was all about). I know that almost every other day she used to tell me to "Stop Backchatting". I didn't think I was!

I remember saying to her "I'm never going to be like that with my kids".

Moving forward now to 2005. He is 16. He thinks he knows it all.

and yes, I tell him to "Stop Backchatting". He thinks he isn't! and he tells me that he "won't be like that" with his kids!