"I hate you!"
"Whatever!"
"Like, ask me if I care."

Anyone who has raised or is raising a teenage daughter has probably heard these phrases. I have three sons and one daughter, and I have always said that the three boys put together are no match for her. She pushes every button I have. She finds buttons that I never knew existed.

The "talk to the hand" attitude, the hand on the hip, the rolling eyes, the head flipping and that nose to the ceiling motion are all a part of her everyday mannerisms. Some days I could scream, and other days, I look into her beautiful face and I see this woman emerging. That mother-daughter myth must have some validity because whatever I say, she says the opposite. Conversations can be tricky. I have to wait for the right moment, crackling over those eggshells to make sure that what I say will be taken the right way. You might say she is a little sensitive.

Teenage boys are good to their moms, and teenage girls can be, too -- when they want something. I can sense a scam a mile away -- having four children will give you this gift -- and my daughter is the master at attempting to fool me. The fact that she rarely gets away with it is no deterrent to her plots and plans. When she wants something, the sweetness that pours out of her is sickening; The girl really talks it up when she needs to. She usually begins by asking me if I got a new outfit, or by telling me how pretty I look. Even after all these years, she still thinks I won't catch on. I just smile, fold my arms and wait for it.

"Mom, sweet, nice, cute mom. Can I have some money to walk up to Brewsters for ice cream?" She looks at me and bats her long eyelashes, while balancing a golden halo above her head.

Before answering, I do a mental check of whether or not I grounded her that morning. Needless to say, she gets grounded a lot. She has that "open mouth, insert foot" syndrome. She has a hard time getting through the day without uttering something that gets her grounded. As her 5-year-old brother pointed out to her: "Robyn, I just don't like your tone." Out of the mouths of babes. I had to suppress the urge to point at her and giggle. It is amazing how everyone else can see the attitude, but her.

Even as I watch my daughter transform before my eyes, I am amazed at the struggles it takes to get there. There are trials we both have to endure on this journey to womanhood. Through it all, I am enjoying the ride, for the most part. The final destination will be worth the trip.

I will add that a sense of humor is a good thing to have when raising a teenage girl, and I do try to keep mine. Even as doors slam, and expletives are shouted through the house, I really try to look at the bright side: One day she will go off to college (I've already reserved the U-Haul truck for a graduation present). Shhhh!

• Dealing With the Ingratitude Attitude
• Cutting the Cord
• Gend er Equity in Schools
• Talk about it!