Have you ever said something and thought, “Wow! That was my mom coming out!” Sure you have. We can admit that pretty easily. But what about the times when you open your mouth and your 16-year-old self makes an appearance? Or even your 12 year-old-self? Or that bratty 2-year-old self throws a temper tantrum all up in the conversation? Yeah… that happened to me today. My 16yo Carole presented herself; but this time I said, “Not today, girlfriend!” and I nipped her in the bud.

What’s funny is that, I like 16yo Carole. She’s kind of cool, actually. She’s spunky; she’s a bit of a smart-ass; she’s witty; and she’s not burdened with caring about your feelings… because 16yo Carole is right (about everything) and you’re wrong! End of story.

Yeah, I am practiced at being 16. I can be 16 all day. I might even go so far as to say that I was so good at 16, that I chose to be 16 for my 17th year, most of my 18th year, and part of my 23rd year!

But this is what I learned… 16yo Carole had her time. She did it. Now she can retire and watch… and learn about being… yes, older and wiser. Today is not her day…. 16yo Carole is “played out!”

I realized (finally) that just because I am good at being 16yo Carole, and just because all of her 16yo responses to life’s circumstance are “comfortable” to choose, it doesn’t mean I should let her run the show. And if I keep letting her speak, in her 16yo voice… I could end up being her forever! Nobody wants that – ’cause seriously, that girl is cray-cray for real!  So she needs to sit her 16yo butt on down and let the grown folks talk! (SMMH=Shaking My Mature Head.:))