ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

TEENAGER AFFLICTION © Mathew Dickerson 2013

As parents we all want our children to live a useful life;
To contribute to society and stay away from strife.
To help me out I use quotes from people much wiser than me;
But my teenage son rejects each one – he has to disagree!
Here… let me demonstrate for you and show you what I mean;
Each pearl I put before him will be countered by my teen.

Son, put ink on paper – ‘the pen is mightier than the sword!’
But Dad, ‘Actions speak louder than words’ is not to be ignored.
‘The best things in life are free’ is a thought without a flaw;
You’ve always gone for quality - ‘you get what you pay for.’

‘The more the merrier’ my wife chimes in, helping with my bout;
’Two’s company but three is a crowd’ so Mum can just butt out.
I need to call for backup because ‘many hands make light work’
Ahhh ummm but… ’Too many cooks they spoil the broth’ he delivers with a smirk.

I’m struggling here! Can I improve? ‘I’m never too old to learn’
’You can’t teach an old dog new tricks’ is my clever son’s return.
I believe ‘life is what you make it’, there is no guarantee;
Take a chill pill Dad and do not worry – ‘what will be will be.’

‘Fortune favours the bold' I say, keen to press ahead;
But Dad you said that 'fools rush in where angels fear to tread.'
Yes!!! 'Look before your leap,' I agree, sensin’ his hopes a fadin';
But don’t forget 'a faint heart, never did win a fair maiden!'

Arrgghhh! Can I ever win? Is there anything he will not oppose?
Wait… I’ve got a brilliant idea so let’s see how that goes.
My son, please agree with me that you’ll always oppose my view;
Now you’ve created a paradox, that line I shan’t pursue.

I have the Teenager Affliction – I can contradict you all day;
It’s nothing personal Dad, it’s just a part of my DNA.
Just accept that I will disagree with you from here to Kingdom Come;
But maybe that will change when I reach the age of twenty one.

So there you have it; teenagers are quite a contradiction;
A fact of life? Yes! We call it the teenager affliction!

A good generation debating twist there Mathew. Yep teenage years and hormones can be a volatile mix of a self-bestowed tome of wisdom!
Enjoyed it
Ron

Excellent Matt . . . can't wait till my kids are teenagers!.

Goodonya.

Marty

Welcome Mathew. There is light at the end of the tunnel - hang in there! Might be a bit after 21 though.

Heather

I assume you've all seen this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNdHQys_9Dw

Matt ... my kids are adults with families of their own but they still like to disagree with me.
Wazza

Stephen Whiteside wrote:I assume you've all seen this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNdHQys_9Dw

yep

I can't remember the person, who said that when he got older he was amazed at how much his father had improved in knowledge and sense.

I tell my son on a regular basis


" I brought you into this world and I can still take you out "


Bob

Mark Twain Neville.