Today as I met my kids at school, both kids rushed to speak to me at the same time.

“I call the iPad!” they both yelled at me as quickly as they could the minute they saw me.

Not “hi” or “how are you?”- they were both too busy claiming use of our iPad to play Minecraft or watch Netflix. I wish I could tell you I was surprised, but I wasn’t. We’ve banned all electronics in the morning and most nights the kids have a very narrow window of time to use them, so (sadly) that time is highly coveted.

As we walked to the car, I reiterated to the kids our ground rules. No one gets any electronics until their homework is done. After that, the kids can take turns just as we’ve done every.single.day. for as long as I can remember.

Well, the Bean clearly remembers living another life because that child raged at me on the way home. I wasn’t fair, my rules weren’t fair, I loved Scorch more than I loved her, I should apologize to her for being such a mean mom and on and on and on. She built up such a head of steam that I couldn’t help but laugh on the inside. When we got home, we had a long conversation about respect and love and sucking it up even when you don’t like it because rules are rules.

She still wasn’t over being mad and she continued to be a stinker. I wasn’t allowed to touch her OR make eye contact with her once we got home and she needed help with her homework. I could NOT laugh at her and Scorch wasn’t allowed to speak to her. This child was pissed.

And I’m so damn thankful for her.

I’m thankful that she doesn’t take any crap (even when it’s not crap – it’s the family rule), I’m thankful that she speaks up loudly when she thinks things are unfair and I’m thankful that I get to help guide her into adulthood. I hope I can teach her that there is a time and place for her anger and how best to voice it. I hope I can teach her how to find her true passion and how to pursue it relentlessly.

As crazy making as it is, I’m thankful I can be the Bean’s soft place to land. She knows, despite what she may say, that she is loved beyond measure and because of that, she can vent her anger at me and know that I’ll still love her even when my feelings are hurt and apologies are needed.

I’m just thankful to be the Bean’s mom. Always will be, even when she’s raging.