Tag Archive | teens

Daughters….so much to learn…God bless them…

I have a new parenting note I’d like to share. I, for the first time, was teaching my daughter how to separate her darks from her lights when doing laundry. She tends to build up a lot of laundry since she is a 13-year-old girl! When she realized that I was going to sit next to the washing machine, and help her differentiate what was light and what was dark, she informed me that she knew how to do her own laundry. I told her she had enough laundry that she was going to have to do two loads anyway so she needed to learn how to separate her lights from her darks. She reluctantly let me help her, asking periodically if something was light or dark.

When we finished, I told her that it wasn’t that I was trying to tell her what to do….it was just that I was trying to help her realize that clothes are getting more expensive, they aren’t made as well as they used to be, and if you can save something from being ruined because you worked hard to buy it then you should. I think she realized I just wanted to help her and she thanked me.

I told her to look at it this way, look at it as though I’m giving her “Life Hacks”. Not really trying to tell you what to do, just trying to make your life a little easier in the long run for when you get older and move out. “Life Hacks, not “my way or the highway!” Well at least until curfew is an issue anyway….. But that’s another story for when she’s a little older.

Love,

B~

raising-teenager-ecard

Top 10 Ways to be a GREAT Parent…(in my opinion)…

1. ALWAYS DISCIPLINE

2. YOUR CHILDREN COME FIRST…THEY DIDN’T ASK TO BE BORN OUT OF YOUR VAGINA….Don’t be a douche and put them last

3. DON’T BE SCARED OF YOUR CHILDREN…Make them fear you like you fear the Lord (or whatever you believe in…Like karma)

4. SET BOUNDARIES EARLY…AS SOON AS THEY CAN UNDERSTAND THE WORD “NO!” This hands off parenting is bull crap!

5. MAKE YOUR CHILDREN WORK FOR WHAT THEY WANT…NOTHING SHOULD BE FREE (they want a new toy? Make them help you do something you wouldn’t normally have them do like wash windows or dust)

6. YOU ARE THE MOM….YOU MAKE THE RULES…NOT YOUR KIDS (Do NOT give in to whining! They are smart! Your life will be ruled by a whining brat in public, do you really want that?)

7 . TEENAGERS ARE NOT SCARY IF YOU TEACH THEM “NO” AS TODDLERS (Ask my kids what happens if they pester me after I have told them “no”) I promise it’s not good….

8. YOUR CHILD HAS A SYNDROME? THINK ABOUT SOME MEDICATION SO THE REST OF SOCIETY CAN FUNCTION (I’m not saying to medicate your kids like zombies, but a good ADHD or anxiety medication never hurt a kid!)

9. YOUR KIDS WILL DO WHAT THEY WANT AS TEENS…DO NOT ENABLE ( I just had a talk with my kids…I said, “If you screw up, I WILL NOT rescue you! You will suffer your consequences”

10. FOLLOW STEPS 1-9 AND YOU WILL BE A GREAT MOM/PARENT!

She is My Daughter…

My daughter is like a breath of fresh air

I look at her sometimes and it’s just so hard not to stare…

She is such a remarkable, wonderful girl

I know someday a boy will make her head whirl…

I worry so much about her heart getting hurt

He better make his feelings plain and overt…

She will forever be eight in my head and my eyes

He will be very sorry if he should make her cry…

I will whisper to him “I’m not afraid to BACK to prison

For pissing this mother off is deeply forbidden…

I will not hesitate to slowly make you suffer in pain

So do not hurt my daughter it’s not worth what you think you might gain…

Parenting a Teen

Overprotective I am, for it’s not hard to admit

This world is so scary I just want to throw a big fit…

My son is one of the most amazing people in this place

I would be so transformed to never, ever again see his face…

I try not to let the fear paralyze me

But sometimes it’s so hard to just let him be…

I picture my world without his sweet face

A blanket of fear rides in all over this place…

I must let him spread his wings in this very big world

He’s not getting into trouble; I know this for sure

His teen years will go by in a very fast blur…

I worry thinking “Did I teach him just right?”

Then I remember he has his mothers courageous fight…

It’s just so hard to let go of his precious hand

But, I have raised a good boy and a wonderful young man…

I find myself lucky that he’s just drinking soda not beer

Hanging out with his choir class members; I really need not be in fear…

This is his first sleepover since probably fifth grade

I know it’s ok, and my fear needs to be kept at bay….

I raised him and guided him to make good choices

Now its up to him to listen to those voices…

Adult children….is it strange?

It’s a weird feeling to think that in several years I will have grown children. What is that like? What is it like to have children that are adults. They can make their own choices legally, yet you see them make mistakes? How hard is that? Most every parent experiences this with their kids. I don’t look forward to that day. I envy so many woman who open up to me and discuss their children with them. We all parent the way we do for certain reasons due to, generally, something in our childhood…good…or bad. I really respect all the types of moms out there because we are raising our kids in diffrent worlds than when we were kids. IT’S HARD. How do we even do it? I won’t lie, I’m more scared about my kids become adults than I am about them being teenagers.

But then I think…I’ve raised very responsible children. I’ve raised children to use their inner voice. I’ve raised children who know right from wrong. I’m super involved in their lives, I’m their mother first and their friend last. It’s always fun when I can take a moment to be their friend. But general speaking I’m mom. I’d like to believe their friends like me. I know for a fact my kids like hanging out with me. I have a terrific relationship with them.

So really, why am I afraid? I’m giving them all the tools they need to become responsible adults. I really don’t need to worry. Will they make mistakes? Absolutely! And hopefully they will learn from them. Right now I’m just going to sit back and enjoy the last years I have left. I only have 3 1/2 with my son and 5 1/2 years left with my daughter. That time is going to go by so incredibly fast. Don’t take moments for granted. Enjoy your time with your children.

I love you!

~Mom

20140203-214505.jpg

20140203-214541.jpg

A Girl and Her Horse….

My daughter started riding lessons today, it warms my heart to see her so incredibly passionate about something. She didn’t exactly get to ride per se, but she learned some facts about safety, and bonded with her new trainer and horse. I’m excited to see my daughter enjoy this facet of her teen years. I feel that it is so important for children to be passionate about something, and my daughter is passionate about horses and it showed tonight… I was so incredibly proud of her, she didn’t get frustrated, she never gave up, she asked a lot of questions, and made sure that she understood fully to her ability what was being presented to her. I’m so excited to watch this phase of my daughters life.

20140122-223056.jpg

20140122-223107.jpg

20140122-223118.jpg

20140122-223138.jpg

20140122-223150.jpg

20140122-223216.jpg