This Full House Archive

Tag: teens and tweens

I don’t need anyone to tell me what a bad mother I am.

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!

November 8, 2013
Nearly Wordless Wednesday: You Know You’re a Blogger, When…

A Pear of Hearts

After finishing perhaps the juiciest pear on the planet (seriously, you SHOULD be salivating) when one of your kids walks by, looks down at your plate and hollers:

"DON'T MOVE!!!"

[eyes go WIDE, slides teeth over teeth, checks for creepy crawlies]

"Let me get your camera!!!"

Aaaaand, after nearly 9 years of hitting the publish button, proving once again that old school bloggers never die, they're just busy trying to remember where in the h.e.double hockey sticks they put their camera, as said nearly-grown kids continue to provide you with some really gosh-darn good blog fodder.

As for me? I'm shooting for the 10 year pin.

[whips off reading glasses]

YES!!! There IS SO a pin…DAMMIT!!!

© 2003 – 2012 This Full House

FRESHLY-BREWED ELSEWHERE: Not for nothing, but I am absolutely thrilled to partner with Hallmark as a Life is a Special Occasion blogger, sharing personal stories, insights and inspirations in enjoying simple, every day moments with you (yes, YOU!) Like, this month's post: The joy of doing absolutely nothing of REAL importance.

March 7, 2012
Hump Day Diddy Dumbs: Just Another Date Night on Twitter
I wonder if he spent this much time, you know, picking out my engagement ring?

After spending Labor Day weeding the garden, along with property the size of a football field, then just hoping for a quiet moment, or two, before the work week started (did I mention, we got kids?) this wasn't quite what we had in mind.

"Do you hear water running?"

My poor husband, Garth [not his real name] is too busy switching off lights, or turning down the temperature, to worry about a mid-life crises.

In fact, he's turned into quite the eco-nazi!

"Relax, I'm washing clothes."

Later.

"Oh SH*T!"

Well, to make a rather long story short (you're welcome) this is what happens, when you give a busted water heater, to a couple, married for 19 years, on Twitter:
Damned, if his holding out for that tax credit doesn't cost us in the end…literally!!!

Morale of the Story: The next time someone asks you if you hear water running, you say YES!!!

Or, risk a couple of sleepless nights, lying awake, stinky, watching your husband put a few extra holes in the wall!

Or, not and spend the rest of your life, posting stupid stuff on Twitter, like me.

[Edited to Add: We did NOT go with a tankless water heater, after all. It would have been placed as a special order, which would have meant a few more days, without hot water. Oh, and we decided to install it ourselves. Because, we just LOVE a challenge. Besides, it called for another date night. This time, in the laundry/play room, where we spent a whole 7 hours, last night, alone, together, you know, making it fit. Aaaand, that's what she said last night. Buh-duh-bum. I'm here all week, folks. Try the veal!]

© 2009 This Full House - All Rights
September 9, 2009
Parenting tip #6,299,999: Kids May Be Closer Than They Seem

Yeah, for sure, so it makes my eyes hurt (a little) but, isn't it awesome?!? My middle girl (she's 13) made it for me. Yesterday, I think. Although, I forget what day it is. These last few weeks are beginning to meld, together.

"What time is it, Momma?"

In fact, this week sort of reminds me of when my brother and I would spend summers with my grandmother, sitting on her plastic-covered couch…a little sticky and, if you move to fast, you could really hurt yourself.

"Why, you have some place to go, or something?"

Actually, besides staying with my folks (while, I'm away at BlogHer) my two oldest girls with their respective babysitting gigs and a long-overdue-visit with my friend Kate [waves] our calendar is absolutely open for the entire month of August.

"No, but can So-and-So come over and swim?"

Which, of course, could be a good thing, if you're like me and trying really hard to simplify your life, because, I swear, it does NOT get any easier, I don't care how old your kids are.

"NO! It's MY turn to have someone over!!!"

Then again, there's a reason why my husband, Garth [not his real name] calls me, before turning into our driveway, to see if we: a) need milk; b) should order an extra pizza or c) have enough Midol in the house, before coming home from work.

FYI: We have three people who are menstruating at the moment (you're welcome!) so, THERE IS NEVER ENOUGH MIDOL IN THE HOUSE!

"Actually, it's your brother's turn!"

No, my son is NOT menstruating (thank haven for small favors) but, the poor kid has three sisters (two who are popping Midol, I mean) so, perhaps you'll understand why I can't help but be sensitive to the fact that the poor little dude often times feels like the odd man out.

Aaaand he's ten, so he knows what the word menstruating means, anyway…no thanks to Garth [not his real name] damnit.

"OH, FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THINGS HOLY, FLUSH THE DAMNED TOILET, ALREADY!"

Okay, so I sometimes forget other stuff, so what?

"Can JD sleep over?"

Sure, what's one more, right? So, this morning, I was making with the pancakes, bacon and stuff, when I realized something.

[the sound of music playing]

Where the hell were the girls? They're old enough to do stuff like this. I mean, both of them have cooked breakfast, before. Besides, I really had some work to catch up on and stuff. So, I hung up my apron (no, I'm kidding, just one more thing to wash, in my opinion) I peeked into the living room.

"What are you guys doing?"

Picture this: My two oldest, sitting in the middle of my favorite chair, surrounded by the three other kids.

Why?

Because, well, they didn't have their makeup on and I wasn't allowed to take a real one, picture, I mean…DUH!

"We're watching previews of the new Harry Potter movie!"

Uh-oh.

"Um…well…I've got a lot of work to do and stuff…and…"

[cut off in mid-ummm]

"Don't worry, we'll take them outside for you, Momma…we can always go to the movies, later."

[color me dumbfounded, again]

I don't know what I did (or, didn't do) but, I just had to share it with you guys (especially, my friends with little, little ones) because, I'm going down into the crawl space, to check for pods and, well, you just never really know, right?

"HEY…wait for me, you guys…Mommy's eyes are hurting, anyway!"

Besides, it is summertime and weird stuff like this happens, all the time, around here, in Jersey, you know?

© 2009 This Full House – All Rights Reserved.

July 17, 2009
Around the Clotheslines and Through the Drainage Pipes to Grandmother’s House We’d Go

Like a lot of (ahem) kids our age, my brother and I grew up watching Sesame Street. Except, in the summer – when we would disappear, soon after breakfast and stay gone, until lunch, or when one of us noticed that…UH-OH!…when the heck did those street lights come on?

Then, we ALL hauled ass home in order to avoid a beating.

Yeah, I know. There were a lot of us latch key kids, back then. It was a different time. Still. I'm raising my kids pretty much the same way (with a lot less beatings, of course) on the other hand, I can also understand how some folks (like me) would find it difficult to let go of their own childhood and allow their kids the chance to fail, let alone, take risks.

Personally, I draw the line at drainage pipes.

Still. My parents, my in-laws and even my brother think that I do way too much WITH my kids, but my bro gets a pass, because he doesn't have any…kids, I mean.

But, did you ever try telling a kid that:

"Sorry, mommy can't come and help your class re-create the Tower of Pisa, using macaroni as a composition to maximize the use of texture, rather than color, okay sweetie?"

Aaaand then get a phone call from her teacher, because no one else signed up and she knows that, you know, you happen to work from home.

What's the right answer?

So, yeah, maybe parenting is sort of like trying to re-create the Tower of Pisa, in macaroni, it's all about balance. Nuh-uh, more like a juggling act. Because, you know, the ball has got to drop, sooner or later?

"Who's the leader?"

"Glen's the biggest one, he's the leader!"

Judging by my son's face, you can tell that, you know, he's so NOT used to being a leader and is more like a I'll just dip my toe in the water and watch to see which one of you guys floats, or not, sort of guy.

Still. It's supposed to be Fun Day, right? Except, we called it "field day" and I don't ever remember playing this game. Then again, they don't give out medals anymore…either. It's all about team work, right? Except, if you're the
first guy in line and can see the ship starting to sink.

But, this was not one of those days and, well, it was just nice to see the kid smile and NOT be so self-conscious…all the time…like, his mother. Congratulations, my son, way to win one for Team Thompson!

"Can you sign me out of school, early?"

As a matter of fact…NO!

"Mommy's got some work to do."

Like, convince an almost-8-year-old that paying the $5 so she could slap a tutu on her head, go to school on "Juvenile Arthritis Costume Day" and dress like a flower was NOT a bad idea, at all.

Then again, she IS braver than ALL of us put together (shuddup, Bro!) can you tell?

© 2009 This Full House – All Rights Reserved.

June 10, 2009