My Likey!

Monday, November 29, 2010

Good Cop, Bad Cop

"Not being known doesn't stop the truth from being true." (Richard Bach)
I believe that being a Mom automatically means that you are equipped by a sixth sense. That sixth sense is the ability to just know deep in your gut when your kid is lying to you.  Why do they lie? Why are they so cavalier when they lie right to our faces? Some teens believe if they protest their innocence long enough, parents will begin to doubt themselves, but that's not going to happen... not in this parental circle.
"I think parents have to deal with lying the way a cop deals with speeding. If you’re going too fast, he gives you a ticket. He’s not interested in a lot of explanations from you. He’s just going to give you a consequence. Look at it the same way with your child. He didn’t tell the truth, whether the truth was distorted, omitted or withheld. There should simply be consequences for that. The first time you lie, you go to bed an hour early. The second time, you lose your phone. It should be something that the kid feels. You lose your phone for twenty four hours. You lose your phone for two days. You lose computer time or TV time.
The consequences have to make the child uncomfortable or they don’t change anything. The idea is that the next time he’s faced with telling you the truth or lying, he’ll recall how uncomfortable he was when he did the consequence for lying, and he’ll tell you the truth instead." (source)
One of the hardest lessons teen may not learn until they are one day a parent is that the trust that is violated by lying is very slowly and difficultly won back. 




Sunday, November 28, 2010

Silly Teens

Overheard being said by one of my teens yesterday:

"I'm not sure if I'm having a leg spasm or if someone is texting me."

Ah! The modern age! The leg spasm thing is much less likely in today's teens, since they don't seem to favor regular physical activity -- unless it is their thumbs texting on their cell phones.







Sunday, November 21, 2010

Reinventing the wheel

A brief public service announcement to all teens. Your parents have been there, done that, tried that or invented that. You may as well give up now while you are "ahead." No sense reinventing the wheel.







Thursday, November 18, 2010

Penny for your thoughts?


Have you ever wondered what the heck your kids are thinking when they make the choices they do?







Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Mortified Mom Madness

Teens like to complain about how their parents embarrass them. But, what about when the teen is truly embarrassing their parent with their behavior?
Then what?


Beware Teenzilla!

Well, Teenzilla is in a good mood. Any guesses why? Because she got exactly what she manipulated for over the weekend. 
Not to worry though, this too shall pass!


Wednesday, November 10, 2010

I know you are but what am I?

Remember, when people have something bad to say about you, it's usually because they have nothing good to say about themselves.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

How do you sleep?

How do you sleep while the rest of us cry?
How do you dream when a mother has no chance to say goodbye?
How do you walk with your head held high?
Can you even look me in the eye...
And tell me why?
 (by P!nk)



Monday, November 1, 2010

The Power of Suggestion

The Power of Suggestion definitely has no power at all with teenagers. It is becoming ever clearer, that to use suggestion rather than mandate with a teenager is pointless!

Case in point:

Mom: would you like to get a shower and get your laundry put away?

Kid: No.