Teenage girls borrow fashion from each other

When it comes to teenage girls, there's never enough clothes.

Becca has a ton of clothing. But that doesn't stop her from wearing some of her girlfriends' attire.

Our teenage daughter and her friends regularly borrow from each other.

Guys wouldn't even think about doing something like that. But girls seem to enjoy it.

They usually end up leaving some of their clothes at friends' houses. At least as it relates to teenagers, perhaps it does take a village to raise a child or at least the entire village's wardrobe.

Teenage girls are focused on fashion even when it comes to deciding what pair of jeans to wear.

They can talk at length to each other, but they often have little to say to their parents or other adults.

Becca can spend the entire weekend camped out in her room, watching videos, playing on the computer and chatting on the phone with friends.

When she was younger, she regularly visited with Mom and Dad. But these days, she's hard to find except when she and her younger sister get into a squabble or she wants her parents to get her some chicken fingers for dinner.

I've considered installing a telephone hot line to Becca's room so I can communicate with her when necessary. Maybe we should communicate by e-mail.

Fellow parents who have been through these experiences tell me that teenagers are a different breed.

It's a badge of courage for parents to cope with the trials and tribulations of teen life.

At times, you want to sit down and talk with your teenager. At other times, you hope for a little peace and quiet which can't happen when they are in the middle of a clothing or hair crisis or some other disaster.

Planning the family schedule is difficult.

Teenagers have a habit of telling you at the last minute that they need something at the store for an important homework assignment.

To hear them talk, it needs immediate attention. The fate of the free world seemingly hangs in the balance.

Becca often isn't ready to do laundry until 10 p.m. on a Sunday. It's then that she realizes that her favorite pair of jeans is dirty.

A pair of jeans and a T-shirt used to constitute her idea of a load of laundry. At least now she's willing to do a whole pile of her clothes at one time.

As a teenager, Becca is counting the days until she can drive a car -- she's already begging to start the car -- go to college and get away from her sister.

As with other teenage girls, shopping is a way of life for Becca.

Our younger daughter, Bailey, isn't mesmerized with shopping yet.

She'd rather ride horses at the Girl Scout camp or play sports.

And she's still young enough to enjoy an outing with her parents.

Of course, Bailey regularly points out that I'm old enough to join AARP. But at least she's still willing to be seen with me in public.

I've been told that teenagers eventually grow up. They wake up to the fact that maybe Mom and Dad know something after all.

Until then, I'll have to settle for the occasional greetings and the quick conversations that can occur only in the family taxi.

Mark Bliss is a staff writer for the Southeast Missourian.