I want her- not you mom

Now that mom is here, we got Indian channels on television. She doesn't watch a whole lot of tv, but it's still a much needed entertainment option for mom.
The other day, i had the pleasure of not watching this indian reality series where they were showing a real life family scuffle- the wife/mom was quite tired of having a female relative over, and wanted her out. The relative in question, she couldn't leave because the kid (teenager) wanted her there. They asked the 'kid' in question, and he says, my mon is never around (she worked), and never helps me with homework or encourages me to do anything or is involved with what's happening with me. I want to stay with my aunt and not with my mon.

Now, earlier, my take on this episode would've been just a general dislike and disapproval at the degenerate content of prime time shows. Dealing with incessant family drama, propagating backward thinking and social fear mongering.

But now, being a parent I had another take on it. (I do still dislike such shows and usually can't stand to watch through them- but in this case, I didn't have the 'pleasure' of watching it- I just heard about it.) My first thought was - it must be hard for a parent to hear from your child that I'd rather stay with someone else instead of my mom- for whatever reason. And not being able to spend as much time as you'd like for any reason is as much a difficult choice for a parent to make as a child to go through. I somehow like to think it's easier on the child because they get busy with other stuff - caregivers, grandparents, siblings, school- whatever fills their days. That may be a little bit of wishful thinking too. Knowing or at least feeling that your child is having a great time away from you, makes your own separation anxiety ease off a tiny little bit.

On the other hand, it's probably not too out of place for teenagers to rebel against much of what their parents do; feel that they're being oppressed or somehow wronged in all sorts of imaginative ways. I get that. But it's a lot easier to swallow when there isn't another person involved - when it isn't I want her- not you mom!

I wonder how I would react to something like that. And I really don't know. I just feel crazy in love with this little girl, and I hope when she grows up, she's as close to me as she is right now.