Life's Sucker Punch

yet I'm still standing. Was having a great weekend until this morning. Out to breakfast with my niece when I had to do a double take. A tattoo. on her backside. Problem is, she's 20. I have a standing rule with all my nieces and nephews - no tattoo until you are 25 or I cut you off financially. I know - it doesn't sound smooth or nice but it's a deal breaker with me. And they all know it. Unfortunately today, I had to enforce it and give the consequence. And man, it is ever so hard. Don't get me wrong - I believe in the rule, totally. A teenager's brain is not fully developed until they are 24 or so. They do stupid things, based on immediate gratification. A tattoo is a life-long choice and not to be made on a whim. I won't be around in 40 years to see what all these kids with tattoos will look like...

But anyway, so I had to pull the car and cell phone and now she doesn't have a way to get to work. It is so hard to stick with this but I have to. It's not a choice. I just feel sick inside and a bit angry too. What else is there to do? I really don't know how single people parent teenagers because to me it's such an amazingly hard, emotionally draining challenge.

I did get some stuff done today - had a nice meal at Pei Wei *yummo* and a bit of shopping at Whole Foods. What a treat! And then delivered stuff to Turning Point, the local homeless shelter. And paid the dues for the pool so we can swim! It's back to the grind tomorrow - let's hope its a quiet week this week and I can get alot accomplished! I am going to Dallas on Friday for the Great American Scrapbook Convention - my first! Can't wait!