Mother Knows Best

Mother Knows Best

Karen came home from school rather upset.  "Boys are stupid" she said as she
plopped down her books and reached for a cigarette.  Her mother was well aware
of the turmoil's of teen dating, and she knew her daughter was no exception.
Karen's complaints were typical of any fourteen year old.  Judy listened with
half an ear as her daughter relayed the latest turmoil in her young life.

Karen was visibly upset as she chained into a second cigarette.  Her drags
were not of enjoyment, but those of needing relaxation in a desperate way.
She soon chained into a third as she further explained her complaints.  Judy
understood that although the problems might seem as a minor speed bump in life
to an adult, it was a major event at this moment in her daughters' life.
Watching Karen continue to chain into a fourth cigarette she knew her daughter
had a serious problem.  

Judy was by no means upset that her daughter smoked; in fact she was glad
Karen had found something to help her relax.   Judy was always more than happy
to supply her daughter with cigarettes and had never before commented on her
smoking, but today her motherly instincts kicked in.

"Honey I know its not what most parents would say, but are you smoking
enough?"

Her daughter had a rather puzzled look on her face.  "What do you mean mom?"

"Well you seem to only smoke when you are upset, and not throughout the day.
If were have more cigarettes throughout the day you would be more relaxed to
deal with these situations as they happen."

Karen took another drag off of her cigarette and nonchalantly replied, "I
guess so mom." 

Although Karen had always been a good kid, and didn't need much mothering,
Judy knew this was her time as a parent to intervene.  Over the next few days
she insisted that her daughter have a cigarette even if she didn't want one.
Her intake slowly increased, and she was soon smoking more than a pack a day.
Judy could see a noticeable and refreshing change in her daughters demeanor,
but her true success was yet to show.

It was yet another day of teenage turmoil as her Karen came home from school.
She once again lit a cigarette as she plopped down her books and began to
relay the latest of her tragedies.  The former irrational statements were
gone, and she approached her problem in a calm manner.  She soon chained into
a second cigarette, but just as she normally would and without the urgency of
before.  Her predicament was no less than before, but she dealt with it much
calmer.  Judy sat back and listened with a sense of accomplishment, and
thought to her self that mother truly does know best.