We’re expensive, arrogant, and oblivious to the real world. We like to watch shows that are overly dramatic and plain ridiculous. We shop at the stores that everyone else our age does and always feel better after treating ourselves. We are the average teenagers –both my mother and I.

I don’t think that there was a moment when it hit me that my mother was very tuned to what was “in.” I had noticed things over time, but never really thought about how my mom acted. She had watched “American Idol” religiously (and not just the try-outs like I did), started wearing jeans, and shopped at the same stores I did. It wasn't like my mother was trying to be me; she just ended up liking teen-oriented stuff. No big deal; hey, it even benefited me in some ways —but then it started to get annoying.

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