**The Teenage Years**
Because they saw parenting so differently, Diana and Andrew divorced. Each blamed the other in their own way.
*»Andrew never took responsibility for anything. From the moment Ethan was born, I had to handle everything myself,»* Diana would explain.
*»My ex-wife could never relaxalways controlling, fussing over pointless things. No wonder she was miserable,»* Andrew would counter.
Ethan, now fourteen, lived with his mother and saw his father once a weektwo weekends a month and Wednesday evenings after football training. Though Diana and Andrew had split nearly eleven years ago, neither had remarried. Andrew lived alone in his late mothers flat; she had passed seven years earlier after a long illness.
When Ethan stayed with his dad, especially this past year, Diana felt a small relief. But rest? Hardly. She still worried. To her, Andrew would always be irresponsible.
*»Jokes and funthats his thing. Hes brilliant at entertainment. But building something serious? Impossible. We were fine just the two of us. Then Ethan came along, and everything changed,»* shed tell her mother and friends.
With a baby, Andrew barely lifted a finger. No help, no effort. Diana embraced motherhood instantly, but Andrew never quite stepped into fatherhood. Resentments piled up until they split.
That was Dianas version. Andrew had his own.
*»We just didnt understand each other. I always imagined how amazing itd be to have a childto teach him, explore the world together. But Diana turned parenthood into a minefield of rules and fears. She was terrified of every sniffle, every germ. Eventually, I was afraid to even hold Ethan. And if I *did* help, it was never good enough. So I stopped trying.»*
*»Andrew, we should divorce,»* Diana announced one day. To his own surprise, he felt only relief.
They parted quietly, agreeing hed still see Ethan.
*»Whats the point arguing with someone who wont listen? Shes always right,»* Andrew thought.
Eleven years on, Andrew hadnt remarriedonce was enough. Professionally, though, he thrived. Ironically, his *playfulness* was why. He designed video gamessuccessfully, lucratively.
After dinner, Diana tidied the kitchen and headed to Ethans room.
*»Left the bathroom light on again. So carelessjust like his father,»* she muttered, ignoring the *»Do Not Enter»* sign on his door.
Inside, the usual scene: Ethan glued to his computer, barely glancing up.
*»Ethan, turning off a light isnt hard. Youre not a child anymore.»*
*»Yeah, whatever,»* he grumbled.
*»Thirty more minutes on that game, then homework. You *do* remember your maths test tomorrow?»*
Half an hour later, he hadnt moved. She snapped, forcing him to switch to his history textbook. He rolled his eyes, muttering under his breath.
As she prepped soup for the next day, peeling potatoes, she wondered: *How much longer will this teenage phase last? A year ago, he changed overnightdefiant, impossible. All kids go through it, but if this drags on, Ill lose my mind.*
Saturday came. Andrew arrived, and Ethan bolted from his room.
*»Dad! Finally!»* Andrew loved their weekends too.
*»Did you pack your schoolbooks?»* Diana pressed.
*»Oh my God, Mum, *again*?»* He grabbed his backpack and stormed out, barely waving goodbye.
Andrew caught Dianas parting shot: *»Help him with mathshes struggling. And *please*, no pizza *every* time.»* The door slammed.
In the car, father and son grinned.
*»So, whats the plan?»* Andrew asked.
*»Movies, then the park?»* Ethan smirked. *»And pizza first!»* They burst out laughing.
Now that Ethan was older, Andrew had figured him out. Bonding took effortshared time, light chats, no lectures.
*»Hows school?»*
*»Fine, Dad. Ive got it.»*
*»Course you do. But if youre stuck, well sort it.»*
*»Its just my history teacherpicks on me for no reason. Only decent ones the PE teacher.»*
After they left, Diana sighed. *Of course hes thrilled. Andrew only reconnected once Ethan got easier. The hard workhomework, chores, *parenting*falls on me. Andrew swoops in as the fun big brother. No wonder Ethan adores him.*
*»Brilliant weekend, mate. Off you go,»* Andrew said, dropping Ethan home Sunday night.
*»Thanks, Dadbest ever!»*
Monday brought a parent-teacher meeting. Dianas stomach twisted as the teacher slid Ethans report across the table. A few Bs, an A in PE, the rest Cs and Ds.
*»Hes in danger of failing history and maths. Bright, but lazyand glued to his phone in class.»*
Devastated, Diana stormed home. *No laptop until those grades improve. But how? Its nearly summer.*
She marched into Ethans room, snatched his laptop mid-chat, and carried it out.
*»No games till holidays. Fix these grades *now*. Have you no shame?»*
*»Mum, relax. You overreact *every* time,»* he shot backAndrews words, not his.
She ranted until the front door slammed. Ethan had bolted. Trembling, she dialled Andrew.
*»Hes *run away*probably to you. Hes talked about living with you before!»*
*»Calm down. Well sort this.»*
*»Dad, I *want* to live with you,»* Ethan pleaded when Andrew opened the door.
*»Me too, son. But your mum wont allow it. Not yet.»*
*»Please dont make me go back. Ill fix my grades, I swear.»*
*»Stay here. Ill talk to her.»*
To Andrews shock, Diana barely resisted. She seemed broken. He convinced her.
*»Rest up,»* he told Ethan. *»Well figure it out.»*
A week passedeasy, pizza-fuelled bliss. Until Ethan started skipping school.
*»Teachers off, Dad,»* hed say. Repeatedly.
Diana got the call. *»Ethans missed weeks. Hes failing.»*
Furious, she rang Andrew. *»Look what *your* parentings done! Im fetching him *now*!»*
At Andrews flat, she barely choked out words before Ethan fled *again*.
*»Your sons *failing*. Hell have to retake exams in July!»*
As Andrew calmed her, his own heart sank. Hed *trusted* Ethan.
Then, Dianas mum called. *»Ethans here. Says he cant live with you two. Let him stay awhile.»*
Relief washed over Diana. *»Hes safeat Mums.»*
Andrew squeezed her shoulder. *»Dont cry. We need a plan. My mum wouldnt have put up with me eitherI was the same. But bans and shouting wont work. We *have* to team up. Whens your holiday?»*
They went awaytents, backpacks, and schoolbooks in tow. Mornings were for study (Diana on history, Andrew on maths). The rest? Pure fun.
Outside school on exam day, Diana and Andrew held their breath.
*»He did it!»* Diana gasped as Ethan sprinted out, waving his paper.
*»Passed! *Yes*!»*
*»Well done, lad,»* Andrew beamed. *»Ice creams on mebest in town.»*
At the café, watching them joke, Diana felt no anger. Just lightness. Andrew caught her gaze.
*»See? We did it. Together, were unstoppable.»*
She knew theyd never reunite. But this? This was enough.
