When her daughter asked for a note excusing her lateness to school, this mum complied and fiendishly managed to sum up exactly what it’s like to have teenagers.
Nicole Poppic, 34, from California, US, decided to explain the honest truth as to why her 14-year-old daughter, Cara, was late for school.
And just in case that didn’t embarrass her daughter enough, she decided to post it on Facebook, too.
“This is what happens when you are tardy as a result of your own poor choices and you ask me for a note to excuse your tardiness,” Poppic wrote in the caption.
The note began: “Cara is tardy this morning as a result of a condition known as teenage-ism.”
“Adolescents across our great nation are afflicted and there is no known cure,” the note continued.
“Symptoms are multitudinous, but this particular morning she suffered from an inability to remove herself from her bed, and also felt the need to talk back to her birth-giver.”
Poppic added that her daughter seemed “to be recovering her senses” after she saw her phone fly out the car window.
“Please call me if there is another flare-up,” she finished the note.
Nicole Poppic and her daughter Cara
The late note ended up being shared more than 30,000 times on Facebook in three weeks, much to Poppic’s amusement.
Recalling what happened, Poppic told Today Parents that Cara had got up late for school, which made her brother and sister late, too.
When Poppic was lecturing her daughter about the ordeal in the car, the 14-year-old put her headphones on and started staring out the window. So the mum grabbed her phone and threw it out of the car (as you do).
“Parenting a teen is both challenging and rewarding,” she said.
“Watching Cara grow and change brings great joy to my life, but with that growth, there have been growing pains.”
10 Ways Toddlers Drive Us Mad
They're very fast. When they want to be.(01 of10)
Open Image Modal"Come on QUICKLY please! We're really late.”
Child goes into slow motion mode. Or worse, bends double, hangs arms to floor, and goes into robot-which-has-lost-power mode. (credit:Elizabethsalleebauer via Getty Images)
They have a lot of questions. When they remember them.(02 of10)
Open Image Modal“Mummmy…?”
“Yes, darling?”
“…Mummmyyyy?
“Yes, darling what is it?”
“………Mummmmmmyyyy?”
“YES?! What do you want?!”
Child exits room. (credit:Elizabethsalleebauer via Getty Images)
They have amazing attention spans.(03 of10)
Open Image Modal“Mummy, PLAY HIDE SEEK! Pleeeeease!”
“Okay, you count, I'll hide.”
Ten minutes later, emerge from behind kitchen door to find child has forgotten all about hide and seek and is looking at a book. (credit:Jamie Grill via Getty Images)
They're good at finding things.(04 of10)
Open Image Modal“Please go and get your shoes.”
Child returns five minutes later. With a place mat. (credit:oneblessedmama via Getty Images)
They're always careful with your things.(05 of10)
Open Image Modal“Mummy, this your glasses?”
“Yes you know you're not supposed to touch…”
SNAP! ?#@*&%!!! (credit:Judith Wagner Fotografie via Getty Images)
They know exactly what they want.(06 of10)
Open Image ModalIn the supermarket. “Mummmy? I need a weeeee.”
“But you had a wee before we came out.”
“Need a WEEEEEEEEE!”
Ten minutes later, shopping abandoned, supermarket traversed, cubicle awaited, trousers/pants removed, child balanced on toilet.
“So? Are you going to do a wee?”
“No.” (credit:Westend61 via Getty Images)
They love eating broken biscuits.(07 of10)
Open Image Modal“Mummmy? Biscuit please?”
Hand over packet of biscuits with instruction to take just one. Child drops packet of biscuits twice.
“Not this one, iss broken. Not this one, iss broken. Not this one, iss broken. Not this one, iss broken…” (credit:christie.nelson)
They have limitless energy.(08 of10)
Open Image Modal“Swings, mummy! Swings, mummy! SWINGS, MUMMY!”
Concede child needs fresh air and exercise. Dress child appropriately. Attach child's coat. Attach child's wellies. Ensure child has a wee. Pack essential snacks and juice. Put on own coat and shoes… discover child asleep on sofa. (credit:Jill McAdoo Photography via Getty Images)
They never change their minds. Ever.(09 of10)
Open Image Modal“Mummy? Make scramble egg?”
Spend 15 minutes helping child break eggs and stir them VERY slowly until partially mixed. Wipe egg off all kitchen surfaces. Spend 15 minutes helping child stir eggs in warm pan until eggs are massively overcooked.
“Right, time to eat your scrambled egg!”
“Want CocoPops.” (credit:Paz Ruiz Luque)
They show you their love all the time.(10 of10)
Open Image ModalExit lounge to go to the loo. Return to find entire room covered in flour. Recognise hysteria bubbling up through torso at sight of completely white child/sofa/carpet…
“I luff you, mummy!”
Deeeeep breath.
"I love you, too.” (credit:Liam Norris via Getty Images)