Who brought Grandma?

It hit me like a ton of bricks. I know my age…I know it is creeping up there…But, last night, hundreds of screaming, wild, teen and pre-teen girls made me very aware that I am the adult here.

I was meeting Joe in town for a show and headed to my local train station to ride in. The station was hopping, which it never is for a 5pm train into the city. A group of moms in front of me asked about the train schedule, and we chatted for a minute. Then, one asked me, “Are you going to the show, too?” “Yes! Yes I am! I’m so excited…we’ve had the tickets for months. You, too?” “We’re just riding in with the girls and dropping them off.”

Dropping them off? At Rent? Ok. A little mature for kids alone, but whatever, right? Then I caught sight of the “I’m Mrs. Jonas” sign one of the girls was holding, and I looked around, horror-movie style, at all the “Mrs. Jonas” signs and sparkly t-shirts and hats and realized this was not a train of fellow Rent enthusiasts. In my excitement and anticipation, I actually believed I would be on a train where we’d break out in “Seasons of Love” during the ride…But no. The Jonas Brothers were in town, and it was likely the most exciting day ever for most of the kids here.

Yes, I just used the word ‘kids.’ The same word that made me cringe when my Grandfather used it to refer me in my teens or 20′s.

My long train ride was spent listening to girls of all ages discussing why THEY will be the future Mrs. Jonas. It didn’t seem like any of them had a preference for just which Jonas they planned to marry. Some were blasting music, most were putting on more lipgloss and just getting excited. Once I got into Boston, it took me 15 minutes just to get out of the train station. Excited teens, excited Moms and miserable Dads – everywhere! I have honestly never seen anything like this. As an aside, what is up with the neon leg-warmers that so many of them were sporting? I wanted to take a photo, but thought I might have been arrested.

It reminded me of going to see New Kids on the Block. Yes, I was a fan, but you already knew that. Getting ready for the show, wearing the T-shirts, deciding which one was going to fall madly in love with me when they spied me up in my nosebleed seats…You know how it goes…

I am a full generation older than these girls. My New Kids obsession was 21 years ago. 21 years! I can not even get my head around that fact. I could be the Mom to most of these girls!!! Will I ever be able to tell my girls about my New Kids days without them rolling their eyes at me, certain that the New Kids could never be as cool as their latest obsession? God, I hope not. But, then again, try being a grown-up when I was discussing NKOTB. I rolled my eyes. I told you that David Cassidy was NOT the same as Joey MacIntyre. It’s just different…and will continue to be different…

I’m in so much trouble.

Related posts:

1. Am I old?
2. A Confession
3. It’s Confirmed: I look like a Grandma

Tagged as: mom