There is a reason that in the old days girl children were sent off to finishing schools when they were about 12 and only returned home long enough to try on the trousseau before the wedding took place and she was whisked away to spend the rest of her life nagging some poor unsuspecting guy to death.
If not for this quaint little custom I firmly believe that the human species would have died off long, long ago.
There are 2 reasons for this...
1) if the girls had remained at home throughout the teen years... and please remember that beating children was still very much legal... well, I doubt many girls would have made it to the age of marrying off. Which is sad as they only had to make it to 14!
2) by sending girls to live in all-girl boarding schools where they had no contact with guys of any age, but most especially anyone they would actually be interested in hanging out with, made them so starved for attention from any guy that they were much more amenable to an arranged marriage.
Of course, now that teen aged girls are totally horrendous beings, and beating them into submission is not an option, Swiss finishing schools are no longer in fashion. And let's face it, even if they were who on earth could afford to send their whiny, bratty, spoiled little angel to one anyway? Other than the obscenely rich and famous that is?
And then there is the Grand Tour. This is something that those of good breeding and culture did every year or so beginning around the turn of the century and on into the late 1920's...The Great Depression and all that.
Bribery is what the Grand Tour was. Honest to goodness basic bribery. I mean what girl doesn't want to go to Paris and Milan to buy their clothes? Who wouldn't be thrilled with the thought of meeting a rich and handsome guy with an accent who would sweep them off their feet?
Yep, sure wish that kind of thing was still done, or at least affordable enough to come back in style.
But no, instead we get to ground our children. We deprive them of their possessions until they earn them back with good behavior. Like a PlayStation or Xbox 360 or iPod can even come close to the bargaining power of a trip across Europe.
And the sad part is that this generation of bratty, spoiled teens has no idea what they are missing...
guess it's cuz they aint got no breeding or culture.
Get PINK ON PURPOSE
GET PINK ON PURPOSE
Showing posts with label parenthood. Show all posts
Showing posts with label parenthood. Show all posts
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Monday, December 27, 2010
The End is Near... THANK GOD!!!
It has been a rough 6 weeks at our house.
Or rather I should say for TeenBoy and SIX.
First SIX breaks his arm in the second to the last play of the last game of the year... 3 days after his 12th birthday.
Then TeenBoy puts his hand through his bedroom window because he missed the lamp shade he was trying to kill...
And then he fell through the attic to the second floor hall- taking out a light fixture and the smoke detector along the way... just missing the stairwell... Thank God - seriously Thanks, he could have been killed!
And then?
Silly us. HeMan Hubby and I went to a Christmas Open House. Or so we thought.
About an hour and half into the party the cell phone rang.
It was SmartGirl.
SIX and TeenBoy were horsing around in the house so she yelled at them.
Did they stop?
Heck No.
They took it outside.
Into the snow.
In t-shirts and shorts.
Without any shoes on.
SIX slipped on a patch of black ice running across the driveway.
He couldn't catch himself... broken hand - remember?
Cracked his chin, took out a hunk of skin to the bone.
The call came in at 9:12pm.We were in the car by 9:26pm for the 45 minute ride home.
He was at the ER by 10:45pm. We left the ER at 1am with 5 sutures in his chin leaving behind a basin full of the asphalt they took out of it.
Do you know what SmartGirl and ManBoy said?
We took too long to get home... what? Found our coats, said goodbye, dislodged the vehicle from the parking mess then drove home, changed clothes, gathered SIX into the car, drove to the ER and checked in a mere hour and a half later???
When they are parents I hope they each have 4 boys... all a year apart... and really good health insurance.
Or rather I should say for TeenBoy and SIX.
First SIX breaks his arm in the second to the last play of the last game of the year... 3 days after his 12th birthday.
Then TeenBoy puts his hand through his bedroom window because he missed the lamp shade he was trying to kill...
And then he fell through the attic to the second floor hall- taking out a light fixture and the smoke detector along the way... just missing the stairwell... Thank God - seriously Thanks, he could have been killed!
And then?
Silly us. HeMan Hubby and I went to a Christmas Open House. Or so we thought.
About an hour and half into the party the cell phone rang.
It was SmartGirl.
SIX and TeenBoy were horsing around in the house so she yelled at them.
Did they stop?
Heck No.
They took it outside.
Into the snow.
In t-shirts and shorts.
Without any shoes on.
SIX slipped on a patch of black ice running across the driveway.
He couldn't catch himself... broken hand - remember?
Cracked his chin, took out a hunk of skin to the bone.
The call came in at 9:12pm.We were in the car by 9:26pm for the 45 minute ride home.
He was at the ER by 10:45pm. We left the ER at 1am with 5 sutures in his chin leaving behind a basin full of the asphalt they took out of it.
Do you know what SmartGirl and ManBoy said?
We took too long to get home... what? Found our coats, said goodbye, dislodged the vehicle from the parking mess then drove home, changed clothes, gathered SIX into the car, drove to the ER and checked in a mere hour and a half later???
When they are parents I hope they each have 4 boys... all a year apart... and really good health insurance.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Thanksgiving 2010 Part 2
don't forget to read Part 1 below
Thanksgiving is a week-long holiday that begins with Parent-Teacher conferences on Monday.
This happens every year.
Some years they go much better than others.
This year was a 'better' year... sort of.
After working all night I had to be at the school at 8am
with BratChild and SIX - who were too tired to get up on time-
for a student-led conference.
Which means they tell me how they are doing in school.
Yeah, that's so very helpful... lucky for me a teacher was available to answer my questions.
Thank You God!
After working all night I had to be at the school for a Team conference with ALL of BratChild's teachers at 11am...
because of the Math teacher... who did not seem to think there was a problem...
the other teachers did not agree ....
things should be better when school resumes!
Yeah! not a bad day after all...
Oops!
Spoke too soon...
TeenBoy lost his temper... you know, the way teen boys do.
And his poor bedroom window paid the price...
well that and his hand that, after a quick (yeah right) trip to the ER was stitched and bandaged and totally useless for a week...
Why? you ask... he was mad. Bad mom, I made him get off the computer...
good news is he doesn't have to worry about that anymore... No More Computer until.... Easter?
Yes, Thanksgiving is a week long celebration of family love and togetherness...
Please God, let me make it to the end without killing, or at least maiming , anyone!
But wait! There's more.... Look for the continuing saga of Thanksgiving 2010...
Part 3 and the story of the Midnight Madness sale that wasn't...
Mad that is
Thanksgiving is a week-long holiday that begins with Parent-Teacher conferences on Monday.
This happens every year.
Some years they go much better than others.
This year was a 'better' year... sort of.
After working all night I had to be at the school at 8am
with BratChild and SIX - who were too tired to get up on time-
for a student-led conference.
Which means they tell me how they are doing in school.
Yeah, that's so very helpful... lucky for me a teacher was available to answer my questions.
Thank You God!
After working all night I had to be at the school for a Team conference with ALL of BratChild's teachers at 11am...
because of the Math teacher... who did not seem to think there was a problem...
the other teachers did not agree ....
things should be better when school resumes!
Yeah! not a bad day after all...
Oops!
Spoke too soon...
TeenBoy lost his temper... you know, the way teen boys do.
And his poor bedroom window paid the price...
well that and his hand that, after a quick (yeah right) trip to the ER was stitched and bandaged and totally useless for a week...
Why? you ask... he was mad. Bad mom, I made him get off the computer...
good news is he doesn't have to worry about that anymore... No More Computer until.... Easter?
Yes, Thanksgiving is a week long celebration of family love and togetherness...
Please God, let me make it to the end without killing, or at least maiming , anyone!
But wait! There's more.... Look for the continuing saga of Thanksgiving 2010...
Part 3 and the story of the Midnight Madness sale that wasn't...
Mad that is
Saturday, November 27, 2010
A Road Trip to Remember
Through the years I have taken many road trips with my children.
Summer, Winter, Spring, Fall... no matter the season, if there was enough time to squeeze in a quick trip to visit my Grandma and cousins in Ohio we loaded up the car and away we went.
One of my favorite trips was Independence Day 1989.
My daughters were 9 and 4 and my son, he was 8 weeks old.
My car was my favorite one to date. A red Hyundai Accent 5-door with a sun roof and soft, fluffy upholstery.
It was also my very first New car.
We set out early on a weekday morning, traveling Rt 70 into Pennsylvania, then following the winding roads that cross into West Virginia with a detour to the cemetery to put flowers on my grandparent's and brothers graves.
Once in West Virginia the girls started the ritual of calling out which route to take over the mountains.
"Follow the River"
"Over the mountain"
"Go the back way"
"Stop at OUR gas station"
No, we didn't own the gas station, but we always stop at the same stations on our trips.
That way the kids know how far to the next stop- in hours if not in miles- and with frequent trips the employees become familiar and recognize us when we stop in.
After our stop in Bridgeport at OUR gas station to fill up on snacks and fuel I had the girls pick a number between 1-10. The one closest to my number got to pick the route over the mountain.
I don't remember which one got to pick, but we took the route along the river that led through Clark Gable's hometown. We took a short detour to drive past the house he was born in. The girls complaining all the while wanting to know what the big deal about a Black and White movie guy was... years later they saw Gone with the Wind and stopped asking THAT question!
We stopped at a little diner for a late lunch.
The hole-in-the-wall kind that always has the best food ever.
Lesson learned the hard way? Go where the truckers go. They travel the same routes and know where to eat!
And when they see a young mom and her kids travelling they pay attention and keep an eye out.
The girls talked to the waitress and told them where we were headed. I saw a couple truckers nod to each other and head out as we paid our bill.
Yep, they were going our way and they kept pace and looked out for us until we got to the turn off to Grandma's house.
SmartGirl threw up somewhere around Donegal, Pa. Her first ever bout of car sickness. And GoodMom? She got in a snit because she had to sit in the back with 'The Baby' for part of the trip.
But we look back and remember that trip and laugh.
We made the trips for years and years. The vehicle getting bigger as we added more children to our family. The detours sometimes fun, sometimes shortcuts and sometimes not-so-short-cuts.
There was the time ManBoy couldn't figure out if BratChild has spilled her drink or over-flowed her diaper...
We all laugh whenever we remember his little voice calling out " It sure doesn't taste like Lemonade".
Or the time we got a flat tire when a milk crate flew off the truck in front of us. We were headed to Ohio, this time for Grandma's funeral. I was leading the way with GoodMom driving behind.
The kids still bring up 'That time Grandma almost got run over by a Saturn'. Because, well, she almost did. She ran across 3 lanes of the Ohio Turnpike to retrieve the milk crate because... well we still have no idea why... nearly getting clipped by a blue Saturn going 70 miles an hour.
We head South now instead of West. And we travel at night with the truckers watching our backs to avoid the heat and the traffic jams on I-95.
We carry our cooler filled with water bottles and juice and apples and fruit bites... and chocolate to keep BusyMom focused. The kids watch movies and listen to iPods and take turns sitting by me just talking while I drive.
There are lots of memories from lots of road trips and really, when I sit back and think about it, every trip is my favorite for one memory or another.
“I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Discount Tire blogging program, making me eligible to receive a $50 gift card and be entered for a chance to win a prize valued at $1,000. For more information on how you can participate, CLICK HERE."
Summer, Winter, Spring, Fall... no matter the season, if there was enough time to squeeze in a quick trip to visit my Grandma and cousins in Ohio we loaded up the car and away we went.
One of my favorite trips was Independence Day 1989.
My daughters were 9 and 4 and my son, he was 8 weeks old.
My car was my favorite one to date. A red Hyundai Accent 5-door with a sun roof and soft, fluffy upholstery.
It was also my very first New car.
We set out early on a weekday morning, traveling Rt 70 into Pennsylvania, then following the winding roads that cross into West Virginia with a detour to the cemetery to put flowers on my grandparent's and brothers graves.
Once in West Virginia the girls started the ritual of calling out which route to take over the mountains.
"Follow the River"
"Over the mountain"
"Go the back way"
"Stop at OUR gas station"
No, we didn't own the gas station, but we always stop at the same stations on our trips.
That way the kids know how far to the next stop- in hours if not in miles- and with frequent trips the employees become familiar and recognize us when we stop in.
After our stop in Bridgeport at OUR gas station to fill up on snacks and fuel I had the girls pick a number between 1-10. The one closest to my number got to pick the route over the mountain.
I don't remember which one got to pick, but we took the route along the river that led through Clark Gable's hometown. We took a short detour to drive past the house he was born in. The girls complaining all the while wanting to know what the big deal about a Black and White movie guy was... years later they saw Gone with the Wind and stopped asking THAT question!
We stopped at a little diner for a late lunch.
The hole-in-the-wall kind that always has the best food ever.
Lesson learned the hard way? Go where the truckers go. They travel the same routes and know where to eat!
And when they see a young mom and her kids travelling they pay attention and keep an eye out.
The girls talked to the waitress and told them where we were headed. I saw a couple truckers nod to each other and head out as we paid our bill.
Yep, they were going our way and they kept pace and looked out for us until we got to the turn off to Grandma's house.
SmartGirl threw up somewhere around Donegal, Pa. Her first ever bout of car sickness. And GoodMom? She got in a snit because she had to sit in the back with 'The Baby' for part of the trip.
But we look back and remember that trip and laugh.
We made the trips for years and years. The vehicle getting bigger as we added more children to our family. The detours sometimes fun, sometimes shortcuts and sometimes not-so-short-cuts.
There was the time ManBoy couldn't figure out if BratChild has spilled her drink or over-flowed her diaper...
We all laugh whenever we remember his little voice calling out " It sure doesn't taste like Lemonade".
Or the time we got a flat tire when a milk crate flew off the truck in front of us. We were headed to Ohio, this time for Grandma's funeral. I was leading the way with GoodMom driving behind.
The kids still bring up 'That time Grandma almost got run over by a Saturn'. Because, well, she almost did. She ran across 3 lanes of the Ohio Turnpike to retrieve the milk crate because... well we still have no idea why... nearly getting clipped by a blue Saturn going 70 miles an hour.
We head South now instead of West. And we travel at night with the truckers watching our backs to avoid the heat and the traffic jams on I-95.
We carry our cooler filled with water bottles and juice and apples and fruit bites... and chocolate to keep BusyMom focused. The kids watch movies and listen to iPods and take turns sitting by me just talking while I drive.
There are lots of memories from lots of road trips and really, when I sit back and think about it, every trip is my favorite for one memory or another.
“I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Discount Tire blogging program, making me eligible to receive a $50 gift card and be entered for a chance to win a prize valued at $1,000. For more information on how you can participate, CLICK HERE."
Monday, October 25, 2010
Home Coming Weekend... A Night To Remember?
TeenBoy had his first High School Experience this past week.
SPIRIT Week came to a crescendo last Friday afternoon with a Pep Rally, followed by the JV then Varsity Homecoming football games.
Which they lost.
Again.
Like every other game this season.
But...
They did not give up.
They did not surrender.
They did not stop giving their all...
Even when their own fans stopped cheering madly.
Stopped waving banners.
Stopped paying attention to the game.
They soldiered on
Fought the good fight...
Then went their separate ways as the crowds dispersed;
their classmates and friends all went home.
Only to reconvene for the Homecoming Dance Saturday Night.
TeenBoy experienced this Rite of Passage into Teen-dom
And he went with a girl... friend.
A friend who's a girl?
$200.00 suit jacket, $40.00 tickets, $35.00 orchid, and a tie...
And in the words of HeMan Hubby...
"All that money and all he got was a girlfriend?"
Yes.
TeenBoy is now 'in a relationship' with his date for the dance.
I know this to be true because...
It's says so on FaceBook!
SPIRIT Week came to a crescendo last Friday afternoon with a Pep Rally, followed by the JV then Varsity Homecoming football games.
Which they lost.
Again.
Like every other game this season.
But...
They did not give up.
They did not surrender.
They did not stop giving their all...
Even when their own fans stopped cheering madly.
Stopped waving banners.
 |
| 'WIN IT'.... yes, they tried |
The JV players kept the Varsity guys pumped up...
They soldiered on
Fought the good fight...
Then went their separate ways as the crowds dispersed;
their classmates and friends all went home.
Only to reconvene for the Homecoming Dance Saturday Night.
TeenBoy experienced this Rite of Passage into Teen-dom
And he went with a girl... friend.
A friend who's a girl?
$200.00 suit jacket, $40.00 tickets, $35.00 orchid, and a tie...
And in the words of HeMan Hubby...
"All that money and all he got was a girlfriend?"
Yes.
TeenBoy is now 'in a relationship' with his date for the dance.
I know this to be true because...
It's says so on FaceBook!
Friday, July 16, 2010
Friday Foto Feature
Okay today IS Friday.
But I lied. There is no photo feature.
Instead there texts...The ACTUAL texts I got from BratChild this week while she's been out of town.
And please... she really is a smart and intelligent girl... you just can't tell from the texts, I know.
"we watched a raccoon eat cat food. didnt know they liked that"
"U R wrong. My makeup dosnt look like a raccoon"
"went to conowingo dam. its big. it had a lot of water"
"i'll cut ur hair for u"
And that my friends it what I heard about from my daughter while she has been gone all week long.
Hey, at least I heard from her, right?
But I lied. There is no photo feature.
Instead there texts...The ACTUAL texts I got from BratChild this week while she's been out of town.
And please... she really is a smart and intelligent girl... you just can't tell from the texts, I know.
"we watched a raccoon eat cat food. didnt know they liked that"
"U R wrong. My makeup dosnt look like a raccoon"
"went to conowingo dam. its big. it had a lot of water"
"i'll cut ur hair for u"
And that my friends it what I heard about from my daughter while she has been gone all week long.
Hey, at least I heard from her, right?
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Yes, Sure, No Problem.... words to ban from my vocabulary... tomorrow
There are those who Do and those who DO NOT.
I happen to be a DO...
I WISH I was a DO NOT.
I DO the whole involved-mom-who-volunteers-for-everything... ummm, thing.
I DO help out friends who need me, when I can... and even when I can't...
I have a friend who has a brain tumor I am helping a couple days a week; a friend who needs someone to work in her store now and again... and then some.
Football and Soccer season are about to start... officially, although mini-camp and conditioning and drop-in games have been going since school got out last month.
I DO work a real job... it's part-time, but staying up all night and then all the next day running people hither and yon and myself to and fro...
Who needs sleep anyway?
Fatique is my middle name, or perhaps it SHOULD be?
The DO NOT's do not do all that I DO.
They DO NOT run kids from high school conditioning to drop-in soccer to rec league mini-camp to DeMolay to Rainbow to picnics to parades to community service events and fundraisers...
They DO NOT have THE GIRLS swimming in their pool, the neighborhood boys skate boarding in their drives, the she-dog next door visiting their yard to play with THE DUKE (all 100 furry pounds of gorgeous lab... that she-dog has good taste!), family and friends stopping in... then staying for 2,3,4 days.
They DO NOT spend evenings watching their kids at ball practice.
They DO NOT spend weekends flipping burgers and serving up fries, cleaning up trash, lining fields...
They DO NOT spend hours and hours each week wracking up enough miles to have driven to California, but never having gone more than 30 miles in any direction.
They DO NOT lose sleep worrying about other people's kids, health, financial problems.
I wonder what it is exactly that they do DO?
One day my wish will come true, and I too will be a DO NOT...
I only hope I'm alive to know about it!
I happen to be a DO...
I WISH I was a DO NOT.
I DO the whole involved-mom-who-volunteers-for-everything... ummm, thing.
I DO help out friends who need me, when I can... and even when I can't...
I have a friend who has a brain tumor I am helping a couple days a week; a friend who needs someone to work in her store now and again... and then some.
Football and Soccer season are about to start... officially, although mini-camp and conditioning and drop-in games have been going since school got out last month.
I DO work a real job... it's part-time, but staying up all night and then all the next day running people hither and yon and myself to and fro...
Who needs sleep anyway?
Fatique is my middle name, or perhaps it SHOULD be?
The DO NOT's do not do all that I DO.
They DO NOT run kids from high school conditioning to drop-in soccer to rec league mini-camp to DeMolay to Rainbow to picnics to parades to community service events and fundraisers...
They DO NOT have THE GIRLS swimming in their pool, the neighborhood boys skate boarding in their drives, the she-dog next door visiting their yard to play with THE DUKE (all 100 furry pounds of gorgeous lab... that she-dog has good taste!), family and friends stopping in... then staying for 2,3,4 days.
They DO NOT spend evenings watching their kids at ball practice.
They DO NOT spend weekends flipping burgers and serving up fries, cleaning up trash, lining fields...
They DO NOT spend hours and hours each week wracking up enough miles to have driven to California, but never having gone more than 30 miles in any direction.
They DO NOT lose sleep worrying about other people's kids, health, financial problems.
I wonder what it is exactly that they do DO?
One day my wish will come true, and I too will be a DO NOT...
I only hope I'm alive to know about it!
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Coming of Age... which ever age that may be!
21 is a magical number.
At least it is if you ARE 21.
For some of us, turning 21 isn't that big a deal.
For others, I guess it is.
Like my son, ManBoy and his girlfriend Jewelz.
They had a party complete with family and friends, rum and bbq'd pork, birthday cake and beer.
ManBoy loves to barbecue.
He smoked a pork loin and cooked up burgers on the grill... real charcoal only!
Made his own spicy sauce, mixed up a rub and, VOILA', yummy!
Jewelz made the potato salad... I BOUGHT the cake and the rest of the food...
oh, except for the homemade mac & cheese... that I did make.
I look back at when I turned 21 and just don't think it was such a big deal. Maybe it was and I just can't remember that far back...
but I don't think so.
I was married with 2 kids, a mortgage and a full time job by then, so maybe in the grand scheme of things, 21 WAS just another number for me.
The final rite of passage to adulthood has been made by my 3rd child.
Only 3 more to go...
I'm not sure I'll live that long...
3 more teens just might be the end of me...
But I don't think so!
Did I mention BratChild turned 13 TODAY?
Yeah, I'm trying NOT to remember it too.
At least it is if you ARE 21.
For some of us, turning 21 isn't that big a deal.
For others, I guess it is.
Like my son, ManBoy and his girlfriend Jewelz.
They had a party complete with family and friends, rum and bbq'd pork, birthday cake and beer.
ManBoy loves to barbecue.
He smoked a pork loin and cooked up burgers on the grill... real charcoal only!
Made his own spicy sauce, mixed up a rub and, VOILA', yummy!
Jewelz made the potato salad... I BOUGHT the cake and the rest of the food...
oh, except for the homemade mac & cheese... that I did make.
I look back at when I turned 21 and just don't think it was such a big deal. Maybe it was and I just can't remember that far back...
but I don't think so.
I was married with 2 kids, a mortgage and a full time job by then, so maybe in the grand scheme of things, 21 WAS just another number for me.
The final rite of passage to adulthood has been made by my 3rd child.
Only 3 more to go...
I'm not sure I'll live that long...
3 more teens just might be the end of me...
But I don't think so!
Did I mention BratChild turned 13 TODAY?
Yeah, I'm trying NOT to remember it too.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Family Ties... the ones that count.
Friday is not my favorite day.
Neither is Saturday.
Or any day of the week actually.
Except maybe, Sunday.
I like the way the whole family sort of hangs out together.
Watching TV, in the yard, playing board games or just talking.
Yes, my kids play together, and they talk to each other.
They ask for advice and ideas. They share their daily lives and plans with each other.
Am I always included?
No.
Does this bother me?
No.
Because I know that my kids support each other, look to each other as friends, not just siblings, and that they will never let anything bad happen to one another.
My job in this life is to raise healthy, happy, intelligent people who will be productive members of society...
I think I might be doing something right.
Or the genetics was right.
Which ever, it seems to be working.
Neither is Saturday.
Or any day of the week actually.
Except maybe, Sunday.
I like the way the whole family sort of hangs out together.
Watching TV, in the yard, playing board games or just talking.
Yes, my kids play together, and they talk to each other.
They ask for advice and ideas. They share their daily lives and plans with each other.
Am I always included?
No.
Does this bother me?
No.
Because I know that my kids support each other, look to each other as friends, not just siblings, and that they will never let anything bad happen to one another.
My job in this life is to raise healthy, happy, intelligent people who will be productive members of society...
I think I might be doing something right.
Or the genetics was right.
Which ever, it seems to be working.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
From One Mother to Another... this job is HARD!
I am trying.
Really. I am.
Oh, what am I trying?
Well, to do better, be better, stop expecting my kids to actually listen to me when I talk.... take your pick!
Seriously, I want to know where the ON/OFF switch to a teens brain is located.
Or maybe, I just need to find the VOLUME button and turn the receiver up.
I know my mouth is moving and the sound is coming out, but the kids... they just turn and walk away.
As a parent WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS?
Can't send them to bed hungry.
Can't take their books away from them.
Can't threaten them with bodily harm to make them listen.
What is a parent to do?
Yeah, that's what I thought.
You got nothing too...
Really. I am.
Oh, what am I trying?
Well, to do better, be better, stop expecting my kids to actually listen to me when I talk.... take your pick!
Seriously, I want to know where the ON/OFF switch to a teens brain is located.
Or maybe, I just need to find the VOLUME button and turn the receiver up.
I know my mouth is moving and the sound is coming out, but the kids... they just turn and walk away.
As a parent WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS?
Can't send them to bed hungry.
Can't take their books away from them.
Can't threaten them with bodily harm to make them listen.
What is a parent to do?
Yeah, that's what I thought.
You got nothing too...
Thursday, April 1, 2010
It's not about a game, it's about life... and how to live it the right way... God, I hope I get it right!
One of the reasons I started blogging, this blog in particular, is that I wanted to try to find ME. Not ME the Mom, or ME the nurse, or wife or PTA president or volunteer or jewelry maker or crochet designer or mad bird-breeder lady...
But ME... who I am and what makes me tick.
That's tick, not get ticked-off.
I watched a lot of TV last week, being as I was laid out on the couch in agony from my back and all. There's not a lot of good TV going on during the day, I don't care how many channels you have!
But, I did manage to get 'The Blindside', or rather when GirlChild called from the Wal-Mart where I had sent her to pick up a few things so we wouldn't starve to death, and reminded me that it was now available, along with 'New Moon', and how she knew I wanted to get both of them and since she was there, and using my money anyway, shouldn't she just pick them up too?
Well of course she should! And she did. And I watched 'The Blindside'.
And I LOVE that woman! The Mom in that movie is the woman I want to be. No, she is the person I want to be. Forget gender or race or bank balance. I want to be that good, and kind and, just plain strong and self-assured.
I love Sandra Bullock and boy-howdy , did they pick a winner in her as the leading lady, Leigh Anne Tuohy.
Okay- I know what you are saying. It's a movie about football... Yeah.It is.
But no, it's really not. Just about football that is.
It's about faith and family and unconditional love... and keeping promises.
It's about being there because you said you would, because you gave your word and that's the most valuable thing a person can give.
I know I joke around A LOT about things my family does or things I do, or wish I'd done. But in this I am most sincere.
I want to be like Leigh Anne Tuohy.
And I want the Leigh Anne Tuohy's of the world to out-number the rest of the population.
I figure, if I dreaming, I might as well dream big....
And well, You can't much bigger than Michael Oher... or his Momma, Leigh Anne Tuohy.
Oh, and just because I live in the Baltimore area, please do not think I am a Ravens fan... I am a Michael Oher and a Redskin fan...
Like I said... I dream BIG...
Go Skins!
Oh- and here is the letter I would have sent Ms. Tuohy if I knew how to get one to her...
Dear Ms. Tuohy,
Thank You for being You.
Thank You for caring about others, and teaching your children to do the same.
And thank your husband for understanding you and who you are and need to be.
From the bottom of my heart and with everything I have, I thank you for the example you set in living the life you do.
I wish you and your family all the best in everything... And even though I am a Redskin fan I watch Michael ( and the Ravens) because I think he is one awesome and very lucky guy... and he is an awesome football player.
Sincerely,
Dawn @ Dawning
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Ode to the Satellite Radio... OR... How I survived 18 hours in a car with TeenBoy!
I'm back from my grueling weekend in The Big Easy... and what a weekend it was.
First things first~ because some people DO read this and may be interested...
TeenBoy's DeMolay Chapter swept the Major Events ( only the 2nd time in the 20 year history of this competition that has happened--- Hall OF Fame here we come!) and TeenBoy ended up with 4 1st place medals as a result.
All the boys competing were awesome, and I should know, I was a judge!
So, with that out of the way, can I just say that I am glad I have Satellite Radio in my minivan?
Any of you who have ever driven anywhere, for any length of time and distance, will understand what I'm talking about when I say
Satellite Radio Saved My Life!
When driving 1202 miles in 18 hours, passing thru 7 states, chasing the sun on the eastern horizon half the day, then running just as quickly from it the other half...
One does start to find one's mind feeling a bit, well, mushy, after a while.
Local FM stations tend to fade off all too soon, leaving you with an earful of crackling static while you hurriedly try to find another station with, at the very least, half-way decent music to keep your brain cells sparking while you roll along.
The wonderful thing about this new-fangled Satellite Radio is that the stations are always there!
And the variety is so totally AWESOME!
Thank. You. Lord.
Blue Collar Comedy, Laugh USA, RadioClassics, The Pulse, 70's, 80's, 90's, Book Radio...
I laughed til I cried.
I sang until I was hoarse.
I waited with baited breath for Boston Blackie and The Texas Rangers to catch the bad guys...
And I drove and drove and drove...
until I had to stop for a bathroom break, or 8.
Because you do know, don't you, the other way to keep the brain working at top speed is to stay well hydrated...
and 112 ounces of fluids later...
we arrived at our home, safe and sound, in only 18 hours and 15 minutes.
Tired but happy to be home, proud of the achievements of the weekend.
It was wonderful... yeah, well, most of the time that is!
But that's a story for another day!
First things first~ because some people DO read this and may be interested...
TeenBoy's DeMolay Chapter swept the Major Events ( only the 2nd time in the 20 year history of this competition that has happened--- Hall OF Fame here we come!) and TeenBoy ended up with 4 1st place medals as a result.
All the boys competing were awesome, and I should know, I was a judge!
So, with that out of the way, can I just say that I am glad I have Satellite Radio in my minivan?
Any of you who have ever driven anywhere, for any length of time and distance, will understand what I'm talking about when I say
Satellite Radio Saved My Life!
When driving 1202 miles in 18 hours, passing thru 7 states, chasing the sun on the eastern horizon half the day, then running just as quickly from it the other half...
One does start to find one's mind feeling a bit, well, mushy, after a while.
Local FM stations tend to fade off all too soon, leaving you with an earful of crackling static while you hurriedly try to find another station with, at the very least, half-way decent music to keep your brain cells sparking while you roll along.
The wonderful thing about this new-fangled Satellite Radio is that the stations are always there!
And the variety is so totally AWESOME!
Thank. You. Lord.
Blue Collar Comedy, Laugh USA, RadioClassics, The Pulse, 70's, 80's, 90's, Book Radio...
I laughed til I cried.
I sang until I was hoarse.
I waited with baited breath for Boston Blackie and The Texas Rangers to catch the bad guys...
And I drove and drove and drove...
until I had to stop for a bathroom break, or 8.
Because you do know, don't you, the other way to keep the brain working at top speed is to stay well hydrated...
and 112 ounces of fluids later...
we arrived at our home, safe and sound, in only 18 hours and 15 minutes.
Tired but happy to be home, proud of the achievements of the weekend.
It was wonderful... yeah, well, most of the time that is!
But that's a story for another day!
Friday, March 12, 2010
Put One Foot in Front of the Other...
I know. I KNOW!
I've been MIA this week, but for good reason.
And what is this good reason you may ask.
Well,I have been working on one of my New Year's Not-Resolutions!
Yes, I said NOT RESOLUTION. And by this I mean I didn't make any 'Real' list of what I wanted to accomplish this year, it was more like a vague outline.
But, one of the things I wanted to do was get healthier. Eat better, feel better, work on being the me I am inside on the outside... one that I would recognize in a mirror would be helpful too, you know how that is?
I recently joined a Mom's forum called CafeMom where there are various groups and forums for Mom's to chat, talk about their kids, their jobs, their varied interests, and YES, even weight loss and getting healthy.
I wanted to see if there were any Mom's in my area that wanted to start walking with me, and HOLY COW! There were!
We started walking earlier this week. We met at a local park, took a nice walk along the trails while we got acquainted. It was really nice to find ladies in my town that could meet several times a week to walk with me.
N is my age, while L is Girlchild's age.
L has 2 small children she pushes along in the stroller, getting the added benefit of upper arm workout while the rest of us just get to plod along.
N has 5 kids, most of them the same ages as mine, and they went to the same high school. It's a small world, seriously!
It rained today so we met at the local mall, window shopping our way through 3 laps of the GINORMOUS place. GirlChild made it today and enjoyed meeting L. I knew they would get along, and L only recently moved here so it's nice that she meets some people of her generation too.
So, with meeting these lovely ladies, making arrangements to get our walking ritual in place, working AND getting TeenBoy ready for this weekend's trip...
And then there's the New Orleans trip he and I are taking for DeMolay next week...and TeenGirl's Rainbow weekend...
It's been a rather busy week at our house.
But if the choice is between active, healthy and well-traveled kids versus kids sitting at home playing video games or hanging out at the mall...
I'll take the hectic and ever-exciting life we live anyday!
I've been MIA this week, but for good reason.
And what is this good reason you may ask.
Well,I have been working on one of my New Year's Not-Resolutions!
Yes, I said NOT RESOLUTION. And by this I mean I didn't make any 'Real' list of what I wanted to accomplish this year, it was more like a vague outline.
But, one of the things I wanted to do was get healthier. Eat better, feel better, work on being the me I am inside on the outside... one that I would recognize in a mirror would be helpful too, you know how that is?
I recently joined a Mom's forum called CafeMom where there are various groups and forums for Mom's to chat, talk about their kids, their jobs, their varied interests, and YES, even weight loss and getting healthy.
I wanted to see if there were any Mom's in my area that wanted to start walking with me, and HOLY COW! There were!
We started walking earlier this week. We met at a local park, took a nice walk along the trails while we got acquainted. It was really nice to find ladies in my town that could meet several times a week to walk with me.
N is my age, while L is Girlchild's age.
L has 2 small children she pushes along in the stroller, getting the added benefit of upper arm workout while the rest of us just get to plod along.
N has 5 kids, most of them the same ages as mine, and they went to the same high school. It's a small world, seriously!
It rained today so we met at the local mall, window shopping our way through 3 laps of the GINORMOUS place. GirlChild made it today and enjoyed meeting L. I knew they would get along, and L only recently moved here so it's nice that she meets some people of her generation too.
So, with meeting these lovely ladies, making arrangements to get our walking ritual in place, working AND getting TeenBoy ready for this weekend's trip...
And then there's the New Orleans trip he and I are taking for DeMolay next week...and TeenGirl's Rainbow weekend...
It's been a rather busy week at our house.
But if the choice is between active, healthy and well-traveled kids versus kids sitting at home playing video games or hanging out at the mall...
I'll take the hectic and ever-exciting life we live anyday!
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
There's always THAT GUY... and one can only hope he isn't theirs
People say and do the strangest things.
There is a BLIZZARD out and people are trying to drive.
Like there is anywhere to go?
It's only a few feet of snow.
What? ONLY a few feet? 4 feet and counting... in a place where 3 inches of snow is considered significant accumulation?
Cold as S*&T... Okay? That stuff is NOT cold.
I saw the steam rising after the dog FINALLY gained access to the spot cleared for him in the 4 feet of snow in the yard... of course that was BEFORE this latest 1 foot and counting addition.
I wish he had opposable thumbs so he could make his own bathroom spot.
Shoveling the snow (again I reiterate there is 4 plus feet of it) while wearing shorts?!!!
Yes, you work up a sweat, but really? Shorts? and a Visor?
That's NOT a hat!
A hat covers THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD to hold the body heat IN so you don't suffer Hypothermia...
THAT GUY is the one digging out, wearing shorts and a visor, so he can drive his 4wd vehicle through the 4 plus feet of snow and 50 mph winds, complaining all the while that 'It's Cold As S*&T Outside".
Well, DUH!
And most likely I know THAT GUY and most likely (except for the shorts) it's my brother...
I hope that side of the gene-pool was closed when they were handing them out to my kids, and his...
or that our children will listen to the voices of sanity-
you know the MOM's
and NOT follow in his footst, er, trench through the waist-high snow, when they grow up.
But, being Male, I some how think that they will.
There is a BLIZZARD out and people are trying to drive.
Like there is anywhere to go?
It's only a few feet of snow.
What? ONLY a few feet? 4 feet and counting... in a place where 3 inches of snow is considered significant accumulation?
Cold as S*&T... Okay? That stuff is NOT cold.
I saw the steam rising after the dog FINALLY gained access to the spot cleared for him in the 4 feet of snow in the yard... of course that was BEFORE this latest 1 foot and counting addition.
I wish he had opposable thumbs so he could make his own bathroom spot.
Shoveling the snow (again I reiterate there is 4 plus feet of it) while wearing shorts?!!!
Yes, you work up a sweat, but really? Shorts? and a Visor?
That's NOT a hat!
A hat covers THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD to hold the body heat IN so you don't suffer Hypothermia...
THAT GUY is the one digging out, wearing shorts and a visor, so he can drive his 4wd vehicle through the 4 plus feet of snow and 50 mph winds, complaining all the while that 'It's Cold As S*&T Outside".
Well, DUH!
And most likely I know THAT GUY and most likely (except for the shorts) it's my brother...
I hope that side of the gene-pool was closed when they were handing them out to my kids, and his...
or that our children will listen to the voices of sanity-
you know the MOM's
and NOT follow in his footst, er, trench through the waist-high snow, when they grow up.
But, being Male, I some how think that they will.
Friday, January 15, 2010
I want my kids to be productive members of society... is that too much to ask? Apparently...
Kids. 
I have some.
Actually I have 6.
Of the 6 that I gave birth to, have loved and nurtured, have given up part of my life for, 5 still live at home.
One is 25. She's between jobs after a year teaching overseas. She needs somewhere to use as a home base until she finds a new gig stateside. I get that. She needs a job so she can move on, until then, she's at home.
With me.
And the other 4.
Another of the Still. AT. HOME. crew is 20. He WAS in college, but found partying was not conducive to one's academic career. Me work 3 jobs, him party and miss exams... This was a problem...
He is now employed full time.
His plan is to work his way through school. Yay him!
MY PLAN is that he move out and make his own way in the world, VERY SOON! YAY ME!
THE OTHERS are in middle school.
Teens and Tweens are such wonderful creatures. Or they would be, if they belonged to someone else.
But they are mine and, well, I'm stuck with them.
The Boys, 14 and 11, share a large room. They do not share much else.
Or at least they hadn't until recently.
They started playing the same video games and music.
Then, they started keeping their room neater than usual.
I'm not sure if they're using this tactic to keep me out of their room so I-
1) won't nag about dirty socks hanging from ceiling fans, or
2) won't find the burn mark in the carpet, broken window pane, stack of moldy dishes in the laundry hamper... any, or all, of these is highly likely.
I stand in the open door, see the nearly made bed and the stack of school books and binders, on and next to the shared desk, and imagine they are actually trying to make me happy.
Rose-Colored Glasses anyone?
Last, but not least, is a 12 year old girl-child.
She THINKS she is grown up enough to do as she pleases.
Luckily, for her, it pleases her to keep her room clean, make her bed and do her own laundry...
This pleases me, so I let her be. Most of the time.
Unfortunately, it also pleases her to wear black eye liner and mascara that would give Elvira- Mistress of the Dark a run for her money.
(picture courtesy www.elvira.com)
It also pleases her to draw and write on, not only her arms and hands, but her jeans as well. Then she tears them !
These things do not please me. I give her some leeway to express her individuality.
But, permanent marker signatures and hieroglyphics on $40.00 jeans... seriously, why?
I have to choose my battles carefully... it's the only way we will both live until she is old enough to move out.
The eye make-up she swears she isn't wearing... okay she looks like a raccoon, but really?
She'll figure that out soon enough.
Trashing her clothes?
She wants to wear a comic strip and rags, who am I to repress creativity?
She'll realize that being creative and unique comes with a price...
As soon as she gets the bill... $40.00 a pair PLUS alterations...
This will be a battle worth having... Ahhhhh, the joys of parenthood strike again!
I have some.
Actually I have 6.
Of the 6 that I gave birth to, have loved and nurtured, have given up part of my life for, 5 still live at home.
One is 25. She's between jobs after a year teaching overseas. She needs somewhere to use as a home base until she finds a new gig stateside. I get that. She needs a job so she can move on, until then, she's at home.
With me.
And the other 4.
Another of the Still. AT. HOME. crew is 20. He WAS in college, but found partying was not conducive to one's academic career. Me work 3 jobs, him party and miss exams... This was a problem...
He is now employed full time.
His plan is to work his way through school. Yay him!
MY PLAN is that he move out and make his own way in the world, VERY SOON! YAY ME!
THE OTHERS are in middle school.
Teens and Tweens are such wonderful creatures. Or they would be, if they belonged to someone else.
But they are mine and, well, I'm stuck with them.
The Boys, 14 and 11, share a large room. They do not share much else.
Or at least they hadn't until recently.
They started playing the same video games and music.
Then, they started keeping their room neater than usual.
I'm not sure if they're using this tactic to keep me out of their room so I-
1) won't nag about dirty socks hanging from ceiling fans, or
2) won't find the burn mark in the carpet, broken window pane, stack of moldy dishes in the laundry hamper... any, or all, of these is highly likely.
I stand in the open door, see the nearly made bed and the stack of school books and binders, on and next to the shared desk, and imagine they are actually trying to make me happy.
Rose-Colored Glasses anyone?
Last, but not least, is a 12 year old girl-child.
She THINKS she is grown up enough to do as she pleases.
Luckily, for her, it pleases her to keep her room clean, make her bed and do her own laundry...
This pleases me, so I let her be. Most of the time.
Unfortunately, it also pleases her to wear black eye liner and mascara that would give Elvira- Mistress of the Dark a run for her money.
(picture courtesy www.elvira.com)
It also pleases her to draw and write on, not only her arms and hands, but her jeans as well. Then she tears them !
These things do not please me. I give her some leeway to express her individuality.
But, permanent marker signatures and hieroglyphics on $40.00 jeans... seriously, why?
I have to choose my battles carefully... it's the only way we will both live until she is old enough to move out.
The eye make-up she swears she isn't wearing... okay she looks like a raccoon, but really?
She'll figure that out soon enough.
Trashing her clothes?
She wants to wear a comic strip and rags, who am I to repress creativity?
She'll realize that being creative and unique comes with a price...
As soon as she gets the bill... $40.00 a pair PLUS alterations...
This will be a battle worth having... Ahhhhh, the joys of parenthood strike again!
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