This Full House Archive

Tag: raising teens and tweens

The Back-to-School Night That Almost Wasn’t
Earlier this month, on the first day of school, I posted this video on TheMotherhood.com and went on…and on…about how, after having recently earned my 15 year pin (okay, not really, but parenthood ain't all sunshine and rainbows, so they really should give us something, right?) I am JUST NOW learning how to breath.
- Conference call
- Doctor's appointment
- Conference call
- Field Hockey Game
- Soccer Practice
- Back-to-School Night #3
Yeah, well, I lied.

[heavy sigh]

I also remember saying something about, "not being a big fan of back-to-school nights" and how, you know, I just don't like doing them anymore.

"Are we going tonight, Momma?"

Then, I remembered something else.

"Yep, as soon as Daddy gets here."

My oldest kid is a sophomore in high school.

"Then, we can go."

But, I missed her freshman orientation and, well, my parents never met any of my high school teachers, or were ever really able to play an active role in our community (with both of them working full-time and part-time jobs, I don't blame them) so, I went.

"Are you ready, Momma?"

As ready as I'll ever be, after:
- Dropping Holly and Hope at Glen's soccer practice
- Loaning coach Glen's social studies book (sucks to be his son, right now)
- Picking up Heather from field hockey
- Meeting my husband back at Glen's soccer practice
- Dropping Hope and Heather off at home
Then a quick potty stop…for me…of course.

"You used to be a lot more Zen!"

I hate it when other mothers remember stuff, like that.

"What happened?"

It's true. I used to be real cool and calm about stuff, when my kids were little(er), while other mothers were all, like, ACK, but snow days and television ARE the devil!!!

Holly pretended not to know me, but it didn't work.

"Hi, I'm Holly's mom!"

See?

"Yes, well, you walked in with her, so…."

Yes, I took her with me. Hello? 4 kids in 4 different schools. 16 teachers between them. Lucky if I remember my kids' names. Still. It was sort of fun to sit next to her and make fun of…I mean…get to know the other parents and stuff.

"You are such a child!"

See?

We got to sit all of 10 minutes, before it was time to head over to…uh…I think it was Biology…maybe, English…I forget.

"Which one is yours?"

But, I wanted to check out the biographies posted on the back wall and found Holly's, right away. It was easy — she loves to draw anime.
- Favorite Sports: None
- Favorite Athelete: None
- Favorite Outdoor Activity: None
Oh, and Holly hates sports and the kid who would love to live in the city.

Thank goodness, seeing as 3 outta 4 of my kids like sports and, well, I needed someone to stay home, or at least pretend like staying home is, you know, a good thing, too.

Then, I saw this:
- My Hero: Mom
Aaaand, well, you know, I am just really, really glad I went.

"I'm hungry!"

Besides, once your kids get older, perhaps one day you will also begin to believe that back-to-school night isn't really all that bad, after all.

"Wanna get McDonald's?"

It's sort of like date night, with kids, only a whole lot cheaper and without all the busted plumbing.

"Sure, after I call your grandparents, before they go to bed, to tell them Heather won't need anymore butt surgery!!!"

Aren't you glad I didn't take Twitter?

© 2009 This Full House - All Rights Reserved
September 25, 2009
Wednesday’s Child
"I made the team!"

Most parents would be very excited, perhaps even a little relieved, to see their child commit themselves to the rigorous mental and physical demands of competitive sports and, ultimately, make it through to the final cut.

[blank stare]

"Did you hear what I said?"

I am not one of those parents.

"Oh yeah, yeah, I'm just, like, wow!"

See what I mean?

"Congratulations, sweetie!"

Of course, I'm happy for her. Like her younger siblings, she's played recreational soccer up until the 6th grade. However, rather than going pro (heh) and playing for the middle school, like most of her friends did, Heather had a hard time finding a comfortable place.

"Did you get a chance to speak to your coach about, you know?"

Then, she got sick and, well, being able to sit comfortably, in class, or excusing yourself, dozens of times during the day, without question, or embarrassment was a blessing.

"Yeah, she's totally cool with it."

I thought about writing a note, explaining the situation to her coach. Even dialed her coach's number, before hanging up and finally deciding that this is perhaps one of those times when life should just be allowed to run its course.

"Are you okay with it?"

Honestly, um, no. Quite frankly, I am scared to death that my child is going to land flat on her ass and, you know, this time, not be able to get up.

"Oh yeah, yeah, I mean, the surgeon said it was, like, okay."

She played her first game, yesterday. They won. 6-0. I survived it. Barely. Still. I'm not looking forward to Thursday for two reasons:
1. She has an appointment with the surgeon to see if her condition (for lack of a better word) requires more surgery.
2. They play the meanest, nastiest field hockey team, ever.
For now, I'm keeping up appearances, like there's absolutely nothing wrong with her playing field hockey, or my suggesting that perhaps it would be a good idea if she wore the protective gear, for the rest of her life, thankyouverymuch.

Later.

"Can I dye my hair red?"

She is the only one of my kids [knocking on wood until knuckles bleed] to have gone through surgery, twice and, as much as I feel awful saying it, it couldn't happen to a tougher child.

"And then could you, you know, dip my ends in black?"

After all, she was born on a Wednesday.

© 2009 This Full House - All Rights Reserved
September 23, 2009
Cloudy With a Chance of Niagara Falls

This is what it looks like, when your toilet needs a root canal!

I was 5 months pregnant when we moved into our house and, almost 16 years later, my husband Garth [not his real name] and I still lovingly refer to it as, "our starter home."

"Why don't you just sell it, as is, and move over here?"

My MIL was just being nice. Really, she was. I mean, after all, I've had terrible luck with appliances and our water heater blew up, just last week, which resulted in a mad dash to grandma's for a quick shower…or 6.

Still, I doubt that my FIL is ready to give up the "no waiting" bathroom rule at his house, not just yet, if ever.

"OH SH*T!"

The last time I heard my husband holler like that, well, the water heater blew up and I was all, like, SHUTUP!

"[cough]…Toilet…[wheeze]…water…[gasp]…broken…[cough]"

No, you can't break toilet water — though, in this house, you really never can tell — but, my poor husband had just gotten home from taking himself, along with my two oldest girls, to the doctor's office and finished sending me this text:

"Heather has strep, I've got bronchitis, waiting on Holly's culture…"

To which I promptly texted back:

"Holy Sh*t!"

Honestly, I felt bad for Garth [not his real name] I really did. Still. Having spent the last 6 days with him…home…sick…then, the kids getting sick (again!) well, I just knew it wouldn't be long.

"We're closing in 15 minutes."

I tried to explain to the nice girl manning (or, femaling?) the doctor's office that I had this really important trip coming up, that requires me to be away from home, for a couple of days, alone, without having to pack any soccer cleats, or field hockey sticks, not to mention, making multiple trips to the hardware store, or supermarket, while escorting a bunch of rowdy kids, or a couple of moody teenagers, not to mention, hovering over a cranky husband, while he tries to fix something, AGAIN and, well, MY THROAT HURTS DAMMIT!!!

"Okay, Mrs. Thompson, your culture came back negative."

[eyes go wide]

"Er, given the circumstances at home, I'm going to write out a script, anyway."

No, I would never advocate the overuse of antibiotics. However, this is my house, not yours and well, something's gotta give, sometime.

This week, it's the toilet.

"Oh, and your blood pressure is higher than usual."

Aaaaand, I hear that the west coast is really beautiful this time of year — but, I really don't care — given the circumstances here, at home, I'll be happy just to be able to get away and NOT worry about taking my sweet time in the shower, or use a toilet that works!

© 2009 This Full House - All Rights Reserved

September 21, 2009
In Our House, Safety First Usually Happens the Fourth Time Around

My youngest daughter (she's 8) is tired of being last. How do I know?

"It's…[sniff]…real hard…[hiccup]…to be…[snort]…the youngest…[sniff]…all the time!"

Because, she told me, just the other day.

"I know, sweetie."

I grew up in a generation where parents thought it would be a real good idea to, you know, start talking to their kids about stuff, while mine were, well, still learning English.

"But, it's not easy being grown up, either."

Besides, their parents never talked to them about stuff, and their grandparents never talked to their parents, and so on, and so on…

"Besides, you are a safety!"

What? I never said I was good at it. Talking to my kids, I mean. Besides, she was wearing her safety patrol belt. I saw it. It triggered something in my brain:

a) They didn't have safety patrols when my oldest girls were in elementary school.

b) How upset my son was, when he didn't get picked.

YES…that's it…this would be Hope's claim to fame!

"Aaaand, well, your sisters and brother didn't get picked."

But, in my head, all I could hear was a much younger, not to mention, more tired and less grayish, inner-voice saying how this, too, was a bad thing to say and this line of reasoning will, no doubt, one day, come back and bite me in the butt, too!

[sniff]

"Yeah, aaaand I didn't pretend to lose my belt, like some kids did, so I could get a cool new orange one, either!"

[sound of crickets chirping]

"Um…yeah."

What? She's got a yellow belt. Apparently, orange is way cooler. Aaaand, it's not like she actually went through with it, right?

"Because, being a safety means I'm responsible, right!"

Aaaand, in this house, seeing as I'm her mother, that IS a good thing.

"Right!"

Even now, after years of trying to raise my kids, to be kind and respectfully towards each other, I can't help but think that there aren't enough good feelings in the world, to keep any one of them from believing that, eventually, someone got more [insert tangible, or intangible item here] than they did.

"I told Mrs. So-and-So that I am the first safety in the house!"

Then, I looked at the clock.

"Just tell Mrs. So-and-So that Mommy made you late, again."

What? She's a mother AND she knows me.

"She'll believe you."

Besides, it was the best I could do, without at least my second cup of coffee, I mean, right?

© 2009 This Full House - All Rights Reserved.

September 14, 2009
Times When Butt Jokes ARE More Than Appropriate

It's no secret, raising teens is NOT easy. Blogging about them, regardless of the fact that it may be under extremely difficult situations and then focusing all of your energies in the most positive way, is even harder.

All of the sudden, in a blink of an eye, our lives have become less about poopie diapers and laundry and whether the Doodle Bops are evil (although, I do happen to agree with Lindsay on that one) or, if fart noises and butt jokes are appropriate at the dinner table.

Because, I'm here to tell you that, YES, not only has what was once deemed bad behavior (in our house, anyway) become status quo (join 'em, if you can't beat 'em, I say) it keeps us from killing each other — sometimes, I even let my teens curse, a little.

(more…)

August 28, 2009
Nearly Wordless Wednesday: More Than a Feeling

I canNOT believe that summer is almost over. Can you? I mean, I haven’t even unloaded their backpacks from June, yet. Still, the kids and I can’t help but feel a little sorry to say goodbye to the Summer of 2009.

So, I put together this little movie — you know, for those who will, no doubt, by December, insist they were absolutely B.O.R.E.D the entire summer — so, hopefully, it will help them ALL remember the really good times, too.

This Full House Summer 2009 from Liz Thompson on Vimeo.

[bites lower lip]

Okay, me too.

Check out the Official Wordless Wednesday HQ
Tag, you’re it: Wordless Wednesday

© 2009 This Full House – All Rights Reserved.

August 19, 2009
Picture Perfect Thursday: Lost and Found

I

If you could read my mind, what a mess my thoughts would make…

In an effort to get back to my blogging roots (i.e., stuff I used to like to write about, but somehow got lost, in all the conversations about marketing and paid trips to Disney World, just kidding, I haven't been to Disney World, since my senior class trip, anyway, way back in, well, never mind) I hereby claim this to be another Picture Perfect Thursday and take a moment to share with you another one of my less than perfect moments, in an effort to make you (yes, YOU!) feel a little better, about the stuff you're doing (or not) and FINALLY put an end to perhaps the longest sentence in blogging history.

You're welcome!

Long story, short (I know, too late) Heather and Holly purchased season passes for Great Adventure with their babysitting money (who knew, watching other people's kids paid so well?) and I was in charge of, you know, putting them in a real safe place.

BIG MISTAKE!

Here it is, 3 weeks before school starts and, well, Heather went once (end of year class trip) but, Holly STILL hasn't gone, so I promised to drop them off, yesterday.

"Do you have my season's pass, Momma?"

[blank stare]

Lost – one season's pass to Six Flags Great Adventure.

Found – a box of crap that should have been filed a loooong while ago and…oh…so THAT'S where Twilight and that set of bungie cords went!!!

Found – girl scout badges (actually, they call 'em Try-its now) and registration forms I should have sewn/submitted last June, damnit!

Found – my missing Sharpie pens ALL the kids swore that they, you know, didn't take from my desk!

Found – two ear buds-a-mating.

Found – my Ver-see-chi eyeglass case and NO my eyeglasses weren't in them, because that would make sense, der!

Found – one lone flip flop, whose mate gave up any chance of ever finding him and left with the garbage man, months ago…sorry, dude!

Found – my Mother's Day presents from…um…one, or two of the kids, I think.

Found – the closet under the stairs hides a lot MORE crap, than I thought.

Lost Forever and Ever, Amen – never did find Heather's season pass, which cost me a $15.00 parking fee (as opposed to dropping the girls off in the shuttle bus lot) and a $21.00 replacement fee, for a new pass, which they will probably not use (if I'm left in charge) again, to boot.

What Kids Learned: Do NOT give ANYTHING of importance, or requires an admittance and/or service fee, if not used, or lost, to your mother.

What Mom Learned: It freakin' rained, all day yesterday, so they closed the park, I had to go back and get the girls, who, after 3 hours of waiting on lines, never did get to ride anything, anyway.

What This Means to You: Absolutely, nothing. It's how WE roll, DAMNIT!

You're welcome!

© 2009 This Full House – All Rights Reserved.

August 13, 2009
Wordless Wednesday: Rah Rah Roh Oh

Beeecause, scaring the opposition is what we do best here at This Full House of mis-matched feet and over-sized tights!

Check out the Official Wordless Wednesday HQ
Tag, you're it: Wordless Wednesday

© 2009 This Full House – All Rights Reserved.

July 29, 2009
Clean off a chair and make yourself at home!

I come from a long line of storytellers.

My twin brother and I grew up listening to many colorful tales of far away places, long lost regrets and “those crazy relatives” from overseas (that’s us, over there, during our first visit to Hungary at age 2) so, blogging came very naturally for me.

I started blogging at This Full House in 2003 (when blogging was still in diapers) to connect with other parents, share stories and perhaps help each other feel a little less disconnected with life, beyond all the dust bunnies and diapers.

I expanded my reach in 2007 to include working with brands in sharing information that perhaps helps make life for larger families (like mine) a little easier.

I have also partnered with brands (Eggland’s Best, K-mart, Kellogg’s, Hallmark, Hershey’s, PBS Kids, Taste of Home Magazine) by providing engaging editorial content to help them connect with REAL families (like mine) both online and IRL.

This Full House is a charter member of the BlogHer Ad Network, listed on Alltop.com and chosen as one of the inaugural Babble’s 50 Best Mommybloggers. I have also submitted articles as a columnist for The Imperfect Parent, Kmart’s PlaydatePlace.com, Together Counts Blog and as a contributing editor at BlogHer.

Summer 2010

Summer 2017

My kids are all grown (whut?!?!) and they frequently visit this blog to settle an argument about something that happened, and/or to confirm when that something actually happened, and/or if that something actually happened like they remembered it: This Full House is now our family’s timeline.

I am very proud to continue my work in helping to promote our online community I’ve grown to love AND adopt as family.

Because…with 3 out of 4 kids still living in the house…what’s one more, right?!?! Feel free to visit back with us…anytime…we’ll leave the porch light on for yuhs, just in case!

January 13, 2009