Contrary to popular opinion, raising older kids (i.e. can quantify their age(s) using more than two hands) does have its perks: I don't worry so much about having age-appropriate conversations.
Because, as most parents of older kids already know, I consider myself pretty gosh-darned lucky whenever my teens DO decide to talk to me, AT ALL.
Son: Madonna needs to retire.
NO! I am NOT and have NEVER claimed to be an expert, at anything — other than my insanely awesome ability of leaping tall piles of laundry in a single bound, while listening to 4 different conversations, at once.
However, I can't help but sometimes feel this incredible need to share a few insights on raising kids.
For example: parenting under the influence of teenagers can make even the smartest of people…sound stoopid…most especially, to teenagers.
So, to save other parents (especially, those with younger kids) a few headaches, I have created this little infographic to help you reinforce a more realistic homework ritual:
**passes bottle of [insert favorite brand of pain reliever, here]**
You're welcome.
©2003 -2014 This Full House with a fan page on Facebook, a way for you to subscribe to receive This Full House blog post by Email and everything!
I love this picture for so many reasons, but mostly because it captures the women in my family who are usually found behind the camera and are equally passionate about capturing moments, like this one: my mom, me and my sister-in-law Pam.
It's been a tough year for the three of us. Physically, mentally, emotionally, and whatever else is left after throwing yourself into living life to the fullest…no matter what life throws at you….body, mind and soul-ly.
As a mom of 2 teens, 1 almost-teen (she’s 12, same thing) and a college-aged child (YIKES!) I feel it safe to say that the transition from summer to the start of a new school year is NEVER an easy one.
Which is why I would allow my kids the chance to decompress on the playground, even if only for a few minutes, every day afterschool. It also gave me the chance to stop, enjoy some fresh air and help us each get into the swing of their new schedules, which usually happened around November, just in time for Thanksgiving break.
I loved whenever my kids would bring their school projects home and we have certainly collected a fair amount of holiday centerpieces over the years. My youngest was seven-years-old when she made this “Thanksgiving pretty” in class and she was very careful NOT to hand it to me.
"Wow, this is really very pretty."
[one beat, two beats]
"No it isn't!"
My daughter’s eyes filled up with tears, so I quickly tried to think of something really encouraging to say, without sounding as if I were trivializing her feelings of inadequacy and…yes…I tend to overthink stuff like this, a lot.
"Uh, yeah, it is SO pretty."
To be fair, we were in the middle of the school yard, it was the best I could do, at the time.
"But, it's not how I wanted it to be."
As the youngest of four, Hope has proved to be a walking contradiction of all the things I know (or, thought I knew) about raising kids.
[sniff]
"But, sweetie…my house, my friends, my family, the world…these are very wonderful things to be thankful for!"
The look on her face screamed…Nuh-uh!
"NUH-UH!"
See?!? Then she placed her hands on her hips: which is a clear signal that my child is about to make a very important point.
"Because, I have lots more stuff to be thankful for."
[wipes eyes in sleeve]
“But, the teacher only gave me 4 popsicle sticks!”
It may not be the most elaborate of centerpieces, but this particular school project reminded me that (as parents) we sometimes have a hard time not seeing the pretty for the popsicle sticks.
"Aaaaaaand, I think it's perfect!"
Have a Prettiful Thanksgiving, everyone 🙂
©2003 -2013 This Full House with a fan page on Facebook and everything!
I'm NaBloPoMo-ing it, feel free to check out what I've NaBloPoMo-ed, so far (PHEW!) and let me know how I'm doing (I mean, 30 posts, in 30 days, really?!?) when you have time, of course!
Our friends at GM were kind enough to send us a loaner, this week. They knew Melisa was visiting with us from Chicago and thought I would probably appreciate playing tour guide in a vehicle that…you know…actually works…because they are awesome, like that.
It was so nice to be able to show Melisa all our favorite places here in Jersey and NOT have to worry about breaking down on an off ramp or, even worse, a jug handle (i.e. traffic circle or rotary).
But that is a different post, for another day.
Here's the really awesome part: they let me borrow the car through tomorrow, because they are TOTALLY AWESOME like that, so my husband and I took our middle daughter to visit colleges in Boston.
The weather was beautiful and it actually hit 60 degrees on Saturday, which is EVEN MORE AWESOME, considering we're talking about New England, in mid-November.
I was swiping through the pictures on my cell phone and was once again reminded of my slight addiction to creeping on other people's houses.
Especially at sunset: when the houses take on a warm and inviting glow and each entryway becomes a prelude to a much deeper story that lies within.
We decided to go exploring around Bunker Hill and, well, here are just a few (seriously, I've got a BIG problem) of my favorite captures:
I don't know about my husband, Garth (not his real name), but I'm pretty much ready to move in…as soon as we hit the lottery…HARD!!!…I could totally see myself living here.
In and around Commonwealth Avenue, not so much. Even a car THIS awesome can't avoid the efficiency of the Boston traffic police.
P.S. The check is in the mail…damnit.
©2003 -2013 This Full House with a fan page on Facebook and everything!
I'm NaBloPoMo-ing it, feel free to check out what I've NaBloPoMo-ed, so far (PHEW!) and let me know how I'm doing (I mean, 30 posts, in 30 days, really?!?) when you have time, of course!
The kids had the day off from school on Friday, so my son and I spent the afternoon testing out the media room at Best Buy.
What?!? Don't tell me we are the ONLY ones to pop open a couple of leather recliners and pretend like we actually live there.
Aaaaaand, if you do not do these sort of things at Best Buy…then, neither do we…because that would be weird.
Aaaaaanyway, we decided to head to the other side of the shopping plaza, to see how many people we could alienate over at the bookstore, when my son experienced a bit of nostalgia.
"Remember when you locked your keys in the car and we almost died?!?"
It's funny how their memories of past events are SO VERY different from mine.
Clearly, they didn't die, but it WAS 10 years ago and revisting the moment (via my blog post's archives, you know, to double-check) was sort of fun, because each of their reactions to “Mommy locked us out of the car, AGAIN!" were so very different.
Holly (who is turning 20, tomorrow, GAH!!!) was 10 and already better at this mothering thing than I was, at the time: ”Good thing I bought those chocolate coins at Michael’s or else we would have starved!”
(Note: we live exactly 4.7 miles away from Michael’s and there is a pizza place within view.)
Heather (who is turning 18, next month, DOUBLE-GAH!!!) was 7, going on 40: “Not again! Why do you always lock the keys in the car when it’s freezing outside. We’re going to freeze! I can’t feel my fingers!”
(Note: It was 50 degrees out.)
Glen (who is turning 15, in January, I JUST CAN'T!!!) was 4 years-old and ALL boy: "Wook at me, I’m fwying….vroooommm!”
(Note: He was running in circles, made himself dizzy, flew right into the concrete wall and fell to the grond, like a rock.)
Hope (who's as good as a teenager, at this point) was 2, every terrible bit of it: “Hopey do! Hopey walk! Hopey get out of cawage, NOW!!!!”
(Note: People were beginning to stare – I had to let the child out who is now fwying, I mean, flying in circles with her brother.)
So, this went on for a few minutes and I kind of chuckle to myself now, thinking of what I would have said, if I saw what the people who were staring at me saw, back then.
"Look!!! There's Daddy, everyone yell HEY to daddy!!!"The children jumped up on the bench, began to wave their hands furiously, chanting "Dad-dee, Dad-dee, Dad-dee…” as we watched Dad-dee drive right past us.
"So, you see, it was DADDY who left us here to die!"
That made him smile. I wasn't fast enough with my camera. Sorry you missed it.
© 2003 – 2013 This Full House
I'm NaBloPoMo-ing it, feel free to check out what I've NaBloPoMo-ed, so far (PHEW!) and let me know how I'm doing (I mean, 30 posts, in 30 days, really?!?) when you have time, of course!
If you were to ask me my BIGGEST parenting struggle over the years — as a mom of 4 kids under the age of 10 vs. as a mom of teens — the answer would STILL be the same: I am the Queen of Second-Guessing, my ownself.
Because each and every move we make towards raising our children (good or bad) will also help to form the person they will become.
That's a HUGE responsibility and, sure as my waking up with major bed head and killer morning breath, there is almost always someone ready to make you feel as if you are SO NOT doing it right…no matter what you are doing…right?!?
Then again, we are our own worst critics…especially, parents…most especially, moms…check this out:
A New Perspective For Moms from Elevation Church on Vimeo.
[hat tip: Huffington Post, via my friend Carol's Facebook feed]
The thing is, each of these moms were asked to simply describe themselves, each chose to focus on something negative and I really do wonder how many of us would have done the same gosh-darned thing, right?!?
So, how about this?!? Are you doing the best that you can?!? EXCELLENT!!! Then quit being so harsh on yourselves!!!
Okay, but what about the times when you feel you are NOT doing the best that you can?!?
Well then, MOVE OVER, ROVER…here's a blanket, a warm plate of gluten-free cookies and some tissues…let's just go ahead and watch that video, one more time, shall we?!?
Aaaaand, then maybe we could queue up a couple of good chick-flicks or something, because I sure as heck have got plenty of tissues…YO!!!
©2003 – 2013 This Full House
I'm NaBloPoMo-ing it, feel free to check out what I've NaBloPoMo-ed, so far (PHEW!) and let me know how I'm doing (I mean, 30 posts, in 30 days, really?!?) when you have time, of course!
I recently celebrated my 10th anniversary of blogging — yep, I threw myself a REAL BIG party too, in my head, sorry you missed it — which got me thinking about ALL of the wonderful online community of folks I have met and gotten to know, by reading their blogs and watching this space grow, over the years.
I am also honored to be able to call many out as very dear friends, IRL, too (yes, they know about it!) and then there are those whose connection runs a little deeper and I can't even begin to (nor do I want to) imagine what life would be like, without them.
Jenn Satterwhite (a.k.a. Mommy Needs Coffee) is one of those people.
We've shared the ups, downs and somewhere in-betweens, while blogging under the influence of children for an entire decade (not an easy feat, just so you know) and we both have, quite literally, watched our kids grow up, online.
There isn't a day that goes by when I don't wish I could just jump climb very carefully into my car and drive over to her house, bearing gifts of pink-frosted cupcakes and a six-pack of Diet Coke.
Today, I want to take this opportunity to personally wish my dear, sweet suh-thuhn friend a very Happy Birthday (in real life, I mean) and to say, "Thank you, Jenn!"
For knowing that I am a dork, but loving me anyway, and for snort-laughing with me…like a boss…I love you, sisterfriend!
©2003 – 2013 This Full House
One of the many reasons why I love living on the East coast (and YES, there is more than one reason to love Jersey, shuddup!) is our ability to experience all four seasons…sometimes all in the same week, even…so today, it's autumn.
It's been a very stressful week/month/year/seriously, it's probably better if we just quit keeping score, because…DAYUM!!!!…it's hard out here with teenagers…the stress, she is NOT leaving…so, I kicked myself out of the house and took my two oldest girls with me, because they really should learn to plan on NOT being home…a little better…next time.
Now that my kids are older, they have this thing about walking alongside their mother. Not because they're embarrassed about being seen walking with their mother (not that they've admitted to, out loud, anyway) it's just that I am not a very good walker, especially when I have my camera with me.
I don't mean to be a bother, but…SQUIRREL!!!!…somebody carved my initials into that tree…oh, and look at the texture of that bark…hey, that's a really cool place for mushrooms to grow, you think…oh AND hey…is that a Hobbit hole?!?
Everytime I looked up…I mean, faced-forward…the girls were further ahead than the last…SQUIRREL!!!
The thing about being out of shape is that you do not realize just how badly you are out of shape, until you are way far away from the car.
In this case, my borked-up back was getting on the sciatic nerve in my left leg's…ummmm…last nerve.
"You wait here, I'll go and get the car."
So, while my oldest went to get the car (pausing to acknowledge any residual angst about my having a kid old enough for a driver's license, SHUDDUP and DER!!!!) my middle girl and I…very…very…slooooooooowly…started our way back up the trail and I was feeling pretty low (not to mention, old-ish) when she grabbed my hand, gave it a squeeze and then tried her best to make me feel a little better.
"That's okay, I have to go pee, really bad, anyway!"
Aaaaand, you know what?!? It worked!!! Because I, on the other hand, had the good sense to go before we left.
[sound of crickets, chirping]
Hey, look…doesn't that look like a really fun roller coaster…for squirrels?!?
[SLAM!]
Good thing I have jury duty, tomorrow: all that mostly sitting (for the next 2 days) will have me in tip-top shape for the cancer walk, this weekend.
Stupid borked-up back, dumbass cancer.
© 2003 – 2013 This Full House with a fan page on Facebook and everything!
This picture reminds me of just HOW much I love October: warm days, cool nights and I swear you could almost hear my son belly-laughing, after dumping leaves on Heather's head, right?!?
Even today, his middle sister still bears the brunt of Glen's punking and I suspect it's because the reaction he receives is almost always still the same:
We had just bought that swing set. I remembered growing up with almost the exact same one. Our neighbors were investing in elaborate jungle gym-type stuff, which is fine, but there's something very comforting about trying to touch the top of a tree, in a basket swing.
The belly-laughs, they were many.
Today, the swing set is STILL standing. It's lived through 2 major hurricanes, countless number of snow storms, epic pirate adventures, quite a few Easter egg hunts and more than its fair share of birthdays.
Although the basket swing has been grounded for quite some time, I just haven't had the heart to tear it down.
It's one of the few tangible reminders of just how little my kids really were, having been given the grace to be able to relive my own childhood, through their eyes.
I realize that sooner or later it'll have to come down, before it falls down and hurts someone, but for now it stays.
Besides, you should never EVER turn your back on a pirate or threaten to take his/her favorite ship away, like we did, this past summer.
"What do you mean you're taking the swing set down?!?"
Seems the kids aren't ready to get rid of it, we had a virtual mutany on our hands.
"It's not like it's in the way or anything!"
The same can be said for their broken-down Momma, just so you know.
"Can't we just call it the world's biggest lawn ornament, or something."
Not for nothing, but I bet there's a story behind all those fugly lawn ornaments too, savvy?!?
But THAT'S another blog post 🙂
© 2003 – 2013 This Full House