His Teenage "Toy Store"

My son spent a long time in a really awesome music store the other day: Guitar Center. We have a few smaller music stores near our house, but we drove into the city and went to this one: it is huge! Watching him check out all of the cool stuff there reminded me of when he was little and I would take him to a toy store: the "toys" have changed, but he still gets just as excited about being surrounded by it all! Now I know that "boys and their toys" never really changes: the "toys" just get bigger and more expensive! I really enjoyed watching him "ooh" and "ahh" about things like amps, effects pedals, and other guitar accessories. They have more than just guitars there, too, so he checked out a LOT of cool things that he would like to have: he ALSO kept saying that he would LOVE to work there and maybe get a discount on some things! Since this place is far from where we live now, I don't think that would work out--but maybe we can find something just as good when we move. If my son could work in a big music store like this one, he would LOVE working!! He is really anxious to get a job soon, but transportation is definitely an issue. I keep thinking that he can do that once we move--we plan to live in an area where everything is either in walking distance or public transportation is available. Until then, an occassional trip to Guitar Center will suffice! :)

She Chose School Boy!

When my daughter returned to school, she resumed her "relationship" with the boy that she liked before the holidays. She did not mention the other boy--she does not talk to him or about him now. So, "school boy" is back! They still only seem to communicate briefly during the school day: in the morning, at lunch, between classes, and after school(they do not have any classes together this semester). It still seems very sweet and innocent: pass notes in the hall, sit together at lunch and hold hands, quick kiss goodbye at the end of the day, etc. I don't know what to expect next: who knows when the NEXT boy will come along and catch her eye! But, for now, the "school boyfriend" is back in her life. She gushes every day when she comes home from school--she can't wait to tell me every detail about what he said or if he held her hand! :) I am SO glad that she is confiding in me about this stuff! The day may come in the future when she stops doing that, so I am enjoying every minute of this sweet and innocent stage right now. Valentine's Day is around the corner--I predict sweet cards, some chocolates, and maybe even a stuffed teddy bear! :) Ah, young love is adorable! (At least when it is still in this very innocent stage!)

Being Average

When my teens returned to school, they received their report cards from the previous semester. They both had a few Bs, but they also both had several Cs. Some were high Cs, almost Bs--all-in-all, I would say that they both had "average grades" this time--not honor roll and not failing. How did they feel about it? Just fine, really. They seem to be perfectly happy scoring in "the average ranges." They were just grateful to be passing! How do I feel about it? Well, at their age, I was a high achiever--usually straight As and HATED getting Bs! BUT--I worked very hard at my school work--I put in the effort it took to make As. They work hard, but I do not think they are self-motivated enough to "go the extra mile"--and I think that is a totally inner self quality that you either have or you do not have. No one pushed me--I pushed myself--I think that is the only way it works, really. So, I do not think that there is anything I could do to "push" them into being "high achievers." If they WERE high achievers, it would be because their inner drive made them want to be that way. I honestly do not think students are high achievers because their parents or others pushed them--without that inner drive and ambition, it just would not do any good! SO--I know my teens: they are good people and they work fairly hard, but they are NOT highly ambitious and highly driven to achieve and be the best. I have talked to them about "the real world" and work ethics: the high achievers often get to the top and become the CEOs and bosses, the "average Joes" work for the CEOs but never really push hard enough to break through to the top, and the "lazy goof offs" find themselves struggling to provide the basic neccessities in life. Sometimes people can be one way in school and change later in life, but a pattern is often set during these formative years. So, my "average Joe and Jane" may go through life being "average"--and that's okay with me! Sure, it would be NICE to see them "at the top," but they don't HAVE to be that way. And, it would be tough to see them struggling "at the bottom," that's for sure. All of this is really their choice, though--nothing I can do to motivate them to be highly ambitious and driven if they are not. So, I guess they may go into adulthood as "Average Joe and Jane"--they may not get the top honors and top awards--hopefully they won't fall into a lower category and find themselves struggling just to survive--but if they go into adulthood swimming right along in the middle of the stream, I guess that is fine with me. I will love them and be proud of them no matter what they do! :) Still, I have to admit: when someone else's Joe or Jane gets top honors, it makes you wonder: could mine have done that if they had just worked harder? Maybe--but I still say that, at this point in their lives, it is ALL about THEM--if they put the work and effort into it, they can achieve. It really has very little to do with me at this point. I will always be a "proud mama" no matter what! :)

Second Semester

My son and daughter finally returned to school after a long winter break. They began a new semester when they returned. They were hoping to choose some new electives, but that apparently didn't work out. At big public schools, it isn't always easy to get into the classes that you want to take because there isn't enough room--the list fills up quickly and then you have to choose something else. So, once again, my teens are back in school but not really very happy about it. We may or may not be here through the entire semester--who knows?! But they aren't exactly begging to stay here all semester because of their classes! If we DO move mid-semester, they probably wouldn't have a lot of choices of electives in Florida right away, either. Either way, second semester is underway. Now the countdown begins: either until moving day or until the end of the school year. Change is on the horizon and we are looking forward to a new way of life!

Welcome 2009!

A quiet night at home--good food--a few fireworks--and Dick Clark on tv: Happy New Year!! My son was complaining about these kind of glasses--we are wondering if this may be the last year for them, or will they figure out how to make 2010 glasses? He thinks they will put a 1 on the bridge of the nose and make it work--and 2010 will be the last ones(hard to make 2011 work!). I think that it won't work without the double 00's--2009 will be the last ones. I guess we will see!! Happy New Year, and Welcome 2009!!