Understanding Teenage Drama Queens

My 12-year-old niece accused me of “thinking you’re better than everyone else” just because I didn’t laugh at one of her many riddle jokes at the Christmas table. Then my 15-year-old Allison informed me that I (imagine air quotes) “am squashing my personality and preventing me from expressing my true self” just because I wouldn’t let her use the screen name Wolf B*tch in one of her online games. The other day she called me a communist because I withheld her allowance due to her not completing her chores. Wolf B*tch? Communist? Can you say drama queen? Now I could see her calling me a capitalist but a communist? Communists don’t wear Gucci sunglasses. She went too far with that one. Now I’m insulted.

However, going too far is the name of the game with drama queens…and kings for that matter. My BFF’s 17-year-old son laid a huge guilt trip on her when she mistakenly put recyclables in the regular trash. He informed her that the fate of the environment is “permanently screwed” due her generations’ apparent lack of green awareness. She honestly felt terrible (actually badly, let’s not go crazy it was just a few empty Diet Coke cans) about her mistake but felt even worse when she was labeled an environmental menace by her son and his friends.

To make matters worse, they all think they’re terribly funny, too. Allison’s BFF thinks her antics are just hilarious. I often hear them repeating these ridiculous statements when they’re hanging out in my kitchen. Apparently, communist is the word of the day around here and her BFF thinks it’s just so clever. Kill me. I prefer a good Woody Allen Nazi reference any day. The next thing they’ll be telling me is that they actually think Russell Brand is funny, too.

However, she and Ashley (her BFF) have given each other much drama over the past few years. Allison called Ashley a control freak just because she reminded her to put her seat belt on. Ashley let out a huge sigh and claimed she just “couldn’t take it anymore” and that she “needed some space” from Allison till she could figure out what was going on between them. They fight like an old married couple. Drama with a capital D.

What is it with all this goofy, awkward drama? Are they experimenting with expression or merely figuring out just how far they can go with people? Or is it both? Is it hormones? Sometimes I think they’re trying to figure out their role in the social order. Friends of mine keep reminding me that it’s a girl thing due to menstruation but I think drama is quite prevalent with the boys too.

What do you think? How do you handle your teenage drama queens (or kings)? Share your thoughts in a comment.