I often have a houseful of teenagers in my home on weekends. I don’t mind. It’s a great way for me to observe and eavesdrop on conversations. Hey, it’s for my young adult writing. Don’t make it weird.

Anyway, a couple of weekends ago, I noticed two of my daughter’s friends sitting close together. The long gazes that boy and girl shared bordered on “super cringy” for everyone else.

After everyone left I told my daughter. “Now you know you’re going to have to stay neutral when those two break up. Right?”

At first, she tried to play dumb, like they weren’t going out. I just raised my eyebrows until she finally caved. “Okay, they’re together. But they really like each other. I don’t think they’ll break up.”

My years of high school dating experience said otherwise but it wouldn’t hurt anything at this point if she kept those rose colored glasses on. “You’re welcome to believe that. But if it does go south, stay neutral and stay out of it, or you’re likely to lose not one, but two friends.”

This week she stomped into the house after school. “How did you know those two would break up?”

“Oh, just my crystal ball.” Yes, as a mom, I tend to try funny before allowing any gut wrenching serious to take over. “More importantly, what did you do about it?”

“I did just as you said. I stayed neutral, and boy am I glad! Everybody’s in upheaval over it. Each of them is going to all of their friends trying to get them to take their side.”

“And they will… Just continue to say you have no opinion on the subject, no matter how many friends press you. It’ll all blow over in a couple of weeks.”

“Are you sure?”

I pointed to myself. “Crystal ball, remember?”

Not really. The older I get, the more I realize I’ve watched or lived through every high school scenario. If only I’d had this super power in high school, I could have avoided so many social landmines. At least my daughter can benefit from my past. Well…if she continues to listen to my advice. But I also know that becomes sketchy the older a teenager gets.