Fashion Challenge

This message is to DD as much as anyone else. I saw this on YouTube and thought that she and you might be interested in this. Instead of reading Vogue and watching fashion shows, why not put one on.

Guidebook to Raising Teenagers

Someone please tell me where the guidebook is for raising teenagers. I am trying so hard. I remember how difficult it was to be a teen, to try to fit it, to have your body change before your eyes; but I think DD, thinks that I have no idea what it is like.

We tried the mall again this weekend and then they came back to the house to hang out. I could tell you the good and the bad parts of the day, but suffice it to say there was a few times that I spoke to them and apparently in doing so completely embarrassed DD. After they left, she broke down in tears. My heart broke for her and I apologized for her being embarrassed, but refused to retract or promise not to do anything I did. Trying to maneuver our way through this time is going to be very difficult.

I welcome all advice, especially from those of you who have been through this and endured.

She is such a smart, interesting, creative girl. I don’t want her to shortchange herself. I wish that we could offer her so much more, but we do the best we can. I hope the one thing that she knows is that we love her with all our heart.

Freaky Friday - One World

This one isn't freaky like the other ones that we have posted, but freaky in the sense of the commonality and differences of us all. And it reminds us of all our own blessings:

Mom & the Mall

DD had asked to go hang out at the park with two of her friends. I nixed the idea. If we had been down at the fields, she could have gone off with them, but I could not see the point of just aimlessly roaming. It seemed like a recipe for trouble (not that DD tends to be trouble). So I told her that she was old enough to go to the mall with me, but then she and her friends could go off a bit by themselves as long as they checked back with me at the coffee shop (actually I did one better, I found a Boarders Bookstore with a coffee shop) periodically. She was estatic and so the day was planned or so I thought. She and her friends spent all morning making and breaking plans. The phone rang almost continuously, even DD got annoyed at her friends I think. Finally, the appointed time came and we headed over. I actually picked up my father so I had someone to keep me busy too. And would you believe it, one of the "friends" never made it - - -Let me rephrase that, "He arrived just in time for us to leave, as we had other plans for the evening". Then to top it off the other friend decided to stay with him and mean parent that I am, I refused to leave until I made sure that she was with the boy and his father, which resulted in us being late to our next stop. I was supposed to be home at 4 to head to DH's dad's house and instead I was barely leaving the mall. UhOh! So much for trying to be the cool mother of a teen.



However, I did get the next book for my book club, had a great hot vanilla Chai, and had a good conversation with my dad. So it wasn't a total loss.



NOTE: I went to the Borders website to find you a picture of their cafe. I keyed in the location we went to and opened up that link and found this picture of their store, except it isn't a picture of their store in the mall we went to. I hope no one uses this picture when they go online to get directions, because they will drive in circles at the mall and never, ever see this.

Freaky Friday

I don't think this freaky one needs any introduction:



Could you sit still through that? or did you find yourself grooving?

Ear Infections in Older Children

Yes, I have an ear infection! I hate it. I am writing this while ear is on a warm cloth sitting on my pillow. An ear infection, how did I get it? I hate it!!!!

What is your remedy to help ease the pain?

By C

Ear infections aren’t just for babies. DD is not feeling well. Could it be all the time on the phone?

Actually, I think the fair has done her in. Monday, naps were back in our schedule. Monday and Tuesday, she complained about a headache, so we should have seen it coming. But boy did it come on fast. Why do kid’s illnesses always come on the weekend or in the evening? She’ll have to ride out the night with the help of Advil until I can call the doctor tomorrow.

By D

Mother Casts a Shadow Over Daughter, But Daughter's Brilliance Shines On

I know DD loves me, but there are times that I think that she is sick of me. Somehow I appear everywhere. She can’t get away from me. Even when I try to not get involved, it happens anyway. Today at her first class of confirmation, I was tapped to teach next week because our minister and the regular helper cannot. So a deacon and I are going to give the class.

Poor DD – It is like mom will never go away. I hope at least with this entry, she will know that I love her and apologize for always being like a shadow. She needs to know that her light shines bright enough to overpower my shade.