Lessons learned!

As ALL YOU DEVOTED readers know, my precious daughter J just turned 13! Well-the teenage years are here but I am not up for the ATTITUDE! I have clenched my teeth through little snide remarks that I should NOT have ignored. Remarks that I have basically been just TOO TIRED to deal with. And it shows. Today, before a family outing to a yearly crafts festival our family goes to every year, J pushed it! I told her to get in her room and pick up the pile of clothes at the end of her bed THAT WERE CLEAN but she did not have put away. I proceeded to also tell her I was tired of seeing the piles of clothes in her room. Her remark, "Then just don't look in my room." WHAT?? My DH and I looked at each other and he knew before she knew that SHE WAS GOING TO GET IT! I followed her into her room ( I didn't cuss this time) but in a not so lovely tone told her what I thought of her remark. I can't tell you word for word, and there is no need. I saw the tears form in her eyes and I was fine with that. I hurt her and I was not proud but I knew it must be done. I took her cell phone away (her father pays for) for the day. This is J's currency (Dr. Phil would be proud). She LOVES her cell phone. I told her that just because her dad pays for it does not mean she gets to use it at my house. I then called her dad in front of her and let her know what she said and that her cell was OFF LIMITS that day so if he needed to get a hold of her, he could call me. An amazing thing happened-he agreed with me. J is his princess. He is a good father but tends to SPOIL her BEYOND belief. He sees where we need to crack down and he is working with me. I told him I appreciated his support. J learned a lesson today. She was a great person to be around all day. We had a nice family day. A lot of laughing and joking with her sisters and DH and myself. And several unexpected hugs from her today. Some would say she is just buttering me up! I sense a respect and apology from her. I know there will be many more moments such as today. I hope for her she chooses her words wisely from now on. I love her beyond words but there are LESSONS TO BE LEARNED!