Scene: living room, homework time.

Me: That’s too loud.

Liam: oblivious

Me: Turn that down please.

Liam: oblivious

Me: Turn that DOWN.

Liam: But I’m wearing headphones  (tone: you unreasonable idiot)

Me:  Then you did hear me. Turn that music DOWN. You’re going to hurt your ears.

Liam: eyeroll and the sigh of long-suffering. Tinny drone diminishes infinitesmal notch.

It’s official: my son has become a pre-teen and I’ve become my mother.