It has been nearly a year since I sent one of my kids off to visit their father for the summer... only to have them not return home.
New to this blog and don't know the back-story? You can catch parts of it here.
I guess all a parent can do is keep their eyes firmly fixed on the horizon, with arms open wide, hoping one day their child will finally be able to come home.
Well, either that. Or maybe... this!
parenting
behavior
children
divorce
Diaries of a mad white woman
Semi-regular doses of madness - in about 140 characters ... ☮웃☮웃☮웃☮웃☮웃☮웃☮웃☮웃☮웃 (*Unless the madness screams for more characters!)
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Gaslight Theater
Being a parent of teens is a challenge. It is not easy. It is not for the faint of heart. It is not for the hard of hearing. It is not for the half awake.
I don't think that too many parents ever buy tickets to this "production" that their kids continually attempt to stage anyway. Parents know what they said. Parents know what the kids said. Parents know the deal.
Why?
Because if you are not at the top of your game for most every encounter with a teenager you will find yourself scratching your head saying "Am I crazy?"Why?
Because teenagers seem innately talented in directing and staring in "Gaslight Theater." What the heck am I talking about? Know what "Gaslighting" is?In a nutshell: "False information is presented to the parent by the teen with the intent of making the parent doubt their own memory or perception."
Monday, March 21, 2011
Teen Weather Report
P R E D I C T A B L E
When a parent says "yes" to a teen, it is sunny skies and 75 degrees out. Beautiful!
parenting
teens
When a parent says "no" to their child? Suddenly and without warning it is 10 below zero and a full on rattle-your-windows blizzard! Brutal.
How does any teen think that they will change their parent's mind by changing the "weather" so dramatically?
When a parent says "yes" to a teen, it is sunny skies and 75 degrees out. Beautiful!
parenting
behavior
teensWhen a parent says "no" to their child? Suddenly and without warning it is 10 below zero and a full on rattle-your-windows blizzard! Brutal.
How does any teen think that they will change their parent's mind by changing the "weather" so dramatically?
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Beyond Reason
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Remember to forget
Why is it that kids seem to forget most everything that matters to the adults in their life? Conversely? They seem to have an elephant's memory when it comes to recalling whatever it is that is on their agenda.
It is madness I tell you!
And yet, as parents? It is our job to love our kids when even when they aren't very lovable.
parenting
teens
It is madness I tell you!
And yet, as parents? It is our job to love our kids when even when they aren't very lovable.
parenting
behavior
teens
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Freedom?
Isn't that the wish of every teenager? All they want is freedom.
I have one teen who can't wait to "graduate" and have all the "freedom" in the world. Then I have another teen who can't wait to get their driver's license because then they can "go wherever they want and do whatever they want." Neither of those two teens seem to be able to hear that freedom costs.
Teens seem to think that their parents live to rob them of their freedom. They probably won't see for years to come that these years are some of the most free. Free of bills, free of landlords, free of a full-time employer. If they think that parents exact a lot from them, just wait until they get the "freedom" they live for.
That first teen? Once you graduate then you have a landlord to pay rent to, a college to pay tuition to, a job to not call out sick from, an electric bill to pay, cable/Internet/cell to pay for, car maintenance, etc. All you parents out there know full well. The second teen? Just getting a license to drive does not mean that you have full license to go where you want and do what you want. First, you have to get a job to be able to get a car, or if family has given a car, then you need to work to provide gas, and need to earn the privileges to go places.
To try and tell teens this? It is like I am speaking a language that they have no comprehension to translate. Freedom is not a right, it is a privilege earned. Freedom is not free, it is expensive. I guess every generation has to learn the hard way, huh?
parenting
teens
I have one teen who can't wait to "graduate" and have all the "freedom" in the world. Then I have another teen who can't wait to get their driver's license because then they can "go wherever they want and do whatever they want." Neither of those two teens seem to be able to hear that freedom costs.
Teens seem to think that their parents live to rob them of their freedom. They probably won't see for years to come that these years are some of the most free. Free of bills, free of landlords, free of a full-time employer. If they think that parents exact a lot from them, just wait until they get the "freedom" they live for.
That first teen? Once you graduate then you have a landlord to pay rent to, a college to pay tuition to, a job to not call out sick from, an electric bill to pay, cable/Internet/cell to pay for, car maintenance, etc. All you parents out there know full well. The second teen? Just getting a license to drive does not mean that you have full license to go where you want and do what you want. First, you have to get a job to be able to get a car, or if family has given a car, then you need to work to provide gas, and need to earn the privileges to go places.
To try and tell teens this? It is like I am speaking a language that they have no comprehension to translate. Freedom is not a right, it is a privilege earned. Freedom is not free, it is expensive. I guess every generation has to learn the hard way, huh?
parenting
behavior
teens"He who is contented is rich." - Lao Tsu
Friday, February 25, 2011
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