teen problems
Family Relations
Classroom Topic
“Alright everyone. Today’s lesson is on family relations,” Mrs. Finke told her class. After a brief introduction into the subject, she had all the students work in groups to share their insights into the matter.
When they had finished, she asked the class for feedback. Almost everyone raised his or her hands. “Okay Wim,” she said to the one boy in the back of the room who hadn’t raised his.
“What did you learn?”
“Uh…well…I…” he began.
“Stand up, please.”
As soon as Wim got up from his chair, Mrs. Finke instructed him to go to the front of the room. “Alright. Now tell the class about your family.”
My Brother
“Uh…well…uh…my…my mom and my brother Kees had a lot of…uh, ‘discussions’ with each other last year.”
“Speak louder so that we can all hear.”
“FOR EXAMPLE, Mom would tell Kees: ‘I want you back home by 10:00! Remember TEN O’clock!!’
“And Kees would say. ‘Don’t worry, mom,’ as he stepped out the door.”
“As it happened, we didn’t see him until the following morning.
Arguments
It seemed that most of their interactions were arguments and disagreements over practically everything. A typical scene would play itself out like this:
“Now Kees! STOP all this…this…foolishness and nonsense!”
“Oh, Mom. You’re so old-fashioned. You know, you’d NEVER survive in today’s world—the real world.”
Things came to a head one summer day when Kees asked Mom if he could have some money. How much? Oh, about seven hundred dollars, preferably a thousand. And whatever for? He wanted to take a trip to Slovakia.
Trip Abroad
“All my friends and classmates are going on summer vacations,” he said. “I’ve never been to Slovakia before. In fact, none of my friends have. So I’ll be the very first.”
You see, Kees had developed a keen interest in the country after having spent the past few months learning about it, mostly through the internet.
Money Concerns
Mom flat out told him that we didn’t have that kind of disposable money. “Things are tight at the moment with our mortgage and other bills,” she explained.
And though Mom was an office manager, dad had only recently started working again, as a director of a dance and performance studio.
But Kees pleaded with them. He just absolutely had to go to Slovakia. He reminded Mom and Dad about how they had taken trips abroad when they were young.
The Deal
Eventually a deal was struck: they would give him the money; in returned he’d have to get serious about school and earn excellent marks in the upcoming year, and then get a summer job. “Sure. No problem,” said Kees.
Dad ended up having to borrow some money from friends and relatives.
In the days leading up to his departure, Kees could hardly sleep at night. He spoke of little else besides the trip.
Departure
The day finally came when we saw him off at the airport. “Take care,” said Mom. “If you need any help, just call.”
“Don’t worry about a thing. I’m a big boy now; I can take care of myself,” Kees said. “I’ll be back in two weeks. Bye now.”
The Front Door
The keypad of our front door began unlocking. I momentarily panicked—it was too early for mom and dad to be back home. The door opened, and—in stepped…Kees.
It had been only four days since his departure.
“You’re home early,” I said.
“Yeah,” he replied.
“How come? What happened?”
Kees said nothing. Instead he went to the kitchen and pouring himself a glass of milk. After drinking it, he went upstairs to his bedroom.
For the next few weeks Kess hardly spoke at all. In fact he seldom ventured out of his room. He just sat in front of his computer….
Excellent Student
But as promised, the following semester, Kees did do all his homework. And more. He spent an inordinate amount of time pouring over his notes, doing his math problems and writing up his assignments. And he did receive top marks in school. Mom and Dad were very pleased.
Homework
“Oh, no. I’m going to miss the conclusion of my favourite show—again,” I dreaded one afternoon. As usual Mom was going enter the front door, tell me to turn off the TV, and go to my room and do my homework…and then she would turn the set back on and watch La Hacienda.
Not wanting to be nagged at—again—I forced myself up, turned off the telly, went upstairs and began working on my chemistry……
TV
Shucks. I missed the best part of the show—for nothing. Mom didn’t come home until late in the afternoon, just enough time to prepare supper.
“But in the months that followed, I gained a virtual monopoly on our living room TV!”
1. Kees and his mother got along well with each other. True or false?
2. Who was the writer?
3. Kees’ parents were very enthusiastic about his going to Slovakia. Yes or no?
4. After Kees returned, did everything go back to normal?
5. Do you or have you have similar relations or interactions with your parents?
A. Do you know anyone similar to Kees and, or his mother? Describe them.
