Snogging

My kids are at that age... and apparently I am my mom's age now.
You know it, it's the exasperated, "You two would argue with a brick wall!" and
"Don't make me come in there!" as well as all of the other things Mom said that I swore I wouldn't.
AND to make it worse, there's the Grand Canyon appearing between my eyes. I used to think those faint lines were from years of sunbathing at beautiful Lake Powell, but I haven't seen the sun for about a year (The U.K. opted out of having summer this year) and they're much deeper now. Sunglasses can't save me now.
I'm afraid these lines are the Don't-make-me-kill-you-can't-you-see-by-this-look-on-my-face-that-you're-
living-on-the-edge-mister?! lines.
I realized tonight during our dinner prayer that I make this face almost on a permanent basis . Do you know how irreverent a room can get when one little boy lets one rip? It's hard not to laugh right along with them, but I have to teach them how to behave in public right? I mean we wouldn't want him trying to fart along to the elevator music would we?
Tonight J2 told me, "I like your hair... I like how it goes back on this side and it's poofy on that side (??my hair is poofing?!)" My lines are showing again, but they've taken on a lopsided, confused look. "...and you've made it go up (I curled it today), it doesn't usually do that, I like it".
"Well," I stammered "I am letting my grey grow in and I thought I should at least look like I cared about my appearance, so thank you". He's observant. He's complimentary. I am molding the perfect future husband!
Then he adds. "Most old people keep their hair short".
But the biggest issue here (causing Mom to grow old quicker) is the bickering. They WOULD argue with a wall, I know now why that phrase has lasted through the ages.
"You like Emily."
"No, I don't."
"J2 loves Tabitha."
"So."
"J2 and Tabitha were snogging".
Hmmm, now they have MY attention. "You and Tabitha been snogging?"
"No! Gross!"
Ahhh, the answer I want to hear from a 9 year old.
Snogging here is kissing. Serious kissing. I'm not naive. I know that there is a huge difference from his 9 and my 9--only 20-some-odd years ago (stop)-- but I like that he still thinks like a little boy. I know it won't last much longer. Probably about as long as my remaining tan lines will last here in England.