Here’s one of many conversations I had the other day with my oldest daughter Zoe, via text, on the first day of her summer vacation. I realized quickly I needed to get a handle on this, or it was going to be a LONG summer.

Especially for me. I thought about contacting Uber.

Zoe: “Can you pick me up at 1:30 or should I be dropped off?”

Me: “Dropped off would be great.”

Zoe: “K”

Thirty minutes later…

Zoe: “Can you pick me up now?”

Me: “I thought you were getting a ride home.”

Zoe: “I was. OK. Can I go get my nails done?”

Me: “No, that’s not necessary.”

Zoe: “PLEASE. It’s the first day of summer.”

Me: “No. Don’t ask me again.”

Zoe: “K. Will you take me to the pool when I get home?”

Me: “?????”

Zoe: “PLEASE.”

I don’t mind driving my kids around. Really.

I fully understand it’s where I am in my life, and I try to enjoy it. I also remember how badly I felt last summer, when I was going through chemo, and wasn’t able to drive them around very much. This is also the last summer before Zoe get’s her drivers license. Which means, it’s probably the last summer I’ll ever be Zoe’s chauffeur.

I actually like being with my kids and getting to talk with them while we’re in the car. We have a lot of great conversations riding around town. Sometimes, if we’re having a particularly good conversation, I drive really slowly on purpose, and force them to be locked in the car with me for a longer amount of time.

Hey, what can I say? I take what I can get.

But what I do mind, is teenage plans that change literally five minutes after we’ve made a plan. And I especially don’t appreciate not being told about these plans, or politely asked how I will be impacted. It’s not like I’m just sitting around the house, eating chocolate, and watching Netflix.

I know I’m not the only one who experiences this. A friend of mine said today she really wants to hire Uber to drive her kids around this summer, and I think she might be on to something.

But I figured out a better way. And I’m actually impressed with myself. I realized I have complete control over my phone. I can answer or ignore any text message I get.

Yes. Really! How great is that? I can IGNORE them.

I’ll let you know how this goes, but I think I’m on to something here, and I recommend you do the same.

Find meaning each day,

Dara