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I guess I'm just lucky - or delusional.

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In a previous life, I did volunteer work with high school students and saw some parents who were lucky and others who were incredibly delusional. One mother of a known wild child told me, "Oh, Johnny is such a good kid, he doesn't smoke or drink or do drugs and tells me everything. I hate the earrings and tattoos, but because he is so good otherwise, I just overlook them." Talk about delusional--I had first hand knowledge of his wild life.

This is the same mother whose other "adult" son was caught in a theft ring and fortunately got a break--he got adjudicated probation and was sent to a boot camp for 6 months rather than to prison. I attended his sentencing hearing with the family (not as an attorney, just for support). When she saw him in a jail jump suit and handcuffs, she responded, "they are treating him like a criminal!" I wanted to say, "Well madam, he is a criminal."

Just take care to make sure you are lucky and not delusional.

I am. Straight A's in the honors program, no tattoos, earrings, drugs, alcohol, etc. He's had friends before that he's dropped because he said they were doing things he didn't approve of. I told him I trust him unless he proves otherwise. Of course this summer he gets his driver's license. That's the next test.

Skittles, next test? True. Good luck.

For those of you going through the teenage years for the first time, I'll share something I learned with the first. Some kids are the DD (designated driver) because they do not drink, don't want to, and do not feel pressured to join the others----being the DD gives them an out. (Of course, there is still the issue of booze in the car.) But, the real eye-opener for me was that in a lot of cases, the DD is the person who has had the least to drink. What were they thinking???!!!!

That is the teenage years. His advice, just try to get through it. It will get better when they are down to Earth.

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I agree with Dr Dobson. It does get better,(miraculously) I am not near as dumb as I was a few years ago. I had four teenagers,(Now 29,27,24,23) All of them remembered me on Mothers Day with a gift and a phone call. What a blessing! So those of you with teenagers, hang in there, you will become smart again .

I have a 13 year old daughter who is a blessing. Next year will be her 1st year in public school (9th grade). She tried out for dancerette and made it, she is also taking honors classes. Also will compete in a national Miss Jr Teen Pageant in December, she did not win the local but placed high enough to make it to the national pageant. But she need to be a blessing now as she cried for the first 2 years of her life and was up every 2 hours at night, she wore us out then. So I guess better days do come. THose of you having a hard time, hang in there.

Take it from one who knows- there is life after teenager-hood! My daughters are 36 and 34 respectively - and I've lived to tell the tale! My youngest is graduating from college in July (after many stops and starts and detours that included running away to Europe!) with a degree in recreation. My eldest joined the Army out of HS and went on to get her masters degree in higher education. She just got married in November - and I am anxiously awaiting news of an impending pregnancy! (I agree with Howard on this!)
So, those of you with teenagers- there is hope!!
BC

Complylady said

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But she need to be a blessing now as she cried for the first 2 years of her life and was up every 2 hours at night, she wore us out then. So I guess better days do come. THose of you having a hard time, hang in there.

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I'm really scared for the teenage years! My 2-year-old was a really good baby. She's still an excellent sleeper and eater. That must mean that I'll get paybacks when she's older. Yikes!

My 26 year old sounds like yours. (Yes I have a 13 year old also, the only 2). My 26 year old was always good, an easy teenager (other than problems with a smart mouth every now and then). She is married now and has 3 small children (2 are handfuls). They are 4, 2, and 5 months. Said she wanted hers close together, if she survives them being small she should be able to survive anything. Hopefully yours will stay good, just pray a lot.

I was very lucky. My two sons were good in High School. When they went to college is when the worry started. Both went to college here and lived at home. That is when they started to stay out late (very late). And of course that is when they became very closed mouthed. Son #1 was always a private kind of guy, and when he started college, all he was was a pile of dirty clothes on laundry day. He graduated college in Dec 2000 and is now working full time, I see more of him now and he is becoming more communicative. Son #2 is in his 2nd year and was always very involved with us and chatty. He is now private and is becoming just a pile of dirty clothes (he is still sometimes present for dinner, but less and less often). Neither one smokes or drinks (although, #1 will now sometimes have a drink while out with friends, I've never seen him drunk.) However, neither one drives so I never have the peace of mind that they might be the designated driver. Of course, before college, I knew mostly all their friends (and their families as well). Now, I don't know anyone. That transition was the hardest one for me. I know that if they went away to college, I would be in the same position, they would be out with new friends till all hours, but it is still a worry. I think each stage of your kids life brings its own set of problems (and joys).

The above posts...are why I have two lovely....CATS!

I'm here (briefly) but Miss Julia is not.... Due in 28 days, but who's counting. I now know why pregnant women look so miserable the last month or so. I'm about to the point where this is not much fun. Add to that a LOT of stress and I am just laying low, trying to get my projects done so I can go on 8 weeks leave with the little one. I promise I'll have someone e y'all when she's arrived, though. Miss chatting w/y'all and learning what is new and exciting in the full compliance world, and hope to be back eventually. But for now..... you won't see much of me, unfortunately.

However, on other baby news, I think Jennifer was due about now with her twins, and as twins are notoriously early, I would love to know if anyone's heard whether she's had them yet!!

And of course today is a huge day - Matrix Reloaded is out! Now who's going to offer me the red and blue pills???

Hang in there, it's not much longer (although I know it can seem an eternity).

Our son is almost 15 and will start driver's training in late July. He also is an honor roll student and an internet
addict. I should talk, thats why I'm posting. A recent Better Homes & Garden (May 2003) has an article titled "Web of Addictions"- internet obsessions could hurt your loved ones financially, emotionally, and physically. The internet like other substances and behaviors that can be addictive, such as drugs or even exercise, has a potential to alter a person's brain chemistry when used. When someone gets caught up in the thrill of winning an auction on E-Bay, for example or conquering opponents in an online game (my son). the experience translates into a physiological response: the pulse quickens and the brain is flooded with pleasure inducing chemicals. But just as users can become hooked ont he physical rush of certain activities, they also develop a tolerance. requiring more time online to get the same good feelings.When kids become consummed it often goes undetected because they they tend to be the technological savvy memebrs in the household. Hence, groundrules are going in effect tonight! Wish me luck.

I pm'd Jennifer the other day inquiring. They wanted to get her to at least May 6th or something like that and won't let her go beyond the 17th. Her twins will be here soon!!!

For those of you suffering those “teenage” years I will relate the following story…

When my eldest son was 17 he attended an outdoor barn style wedding/reception with his friends. Upon his curfew later that night, my husband and I awoke to the sound of someone falling up – and then down the stairs. We discovered a very inebriated young man at the bottom. (Champagne)

It took some time to convince him that he needed to wash the up-chuck off the side of his face and get him off to bed. In the morning he discovered that the passenger side of his car was in much worse shape, which he found humiliating. (an adult from the wedding drove him home) He never repeated it Thank God .

It was not in the slightest funny at the time, but I can see the humor in it now. The sight of his face and the spiked hairdo, complete with chunks, will not go away.

Dawnie, I got a Mother's Day card from my two cats! I felt like a mom yesterday, when I had to break up a cat fight and protect my baby. He went thru a screen door covered with thin plexiglass to get at the other guy! I feel like I should go to a school counselor and say "What's a mother to do? He wants to fight all the time!"

Sorry, should have put one of those warnings on that post.

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I felt like a mom yesterday, when I had to break up a cat fight and protect my baby.

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I think our cats are related I end up breaking up my two brothers all the time to protect the littlest one. Funny thing is...he always starts it

For mothers day they hurled all over the carpet (a think something didn't sit well in the land of cat food) and then they sent me a dozen roses to appologize. I always wonder how they dial the number with those big paws...but they've got it figured out

I'm 33 now, but I was lucky to survive the late teen through just graduated from college years. I was probably a reasonably good teen (I didn't get caught often), but my dad and I both agree that (in my eyes) his IQ tripled from the time that I was 16 to the time that I was 26. Hopefully those of you with teens will hear them tell you that you did know what you were talking about 10 years from now.

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And for Mother's Day, our dogs gave my wife 2 rose bushes, another bush that was pretty but is of undetermined species and a card!

Just got this by email today:

Advice for Females

If you want someone who will bring you the paper without first tearing it apart to remove the sports section, buy a dog.

If you want someone willing to make a fool of himself simply over the joy of seeing you, buy a dog.

If you want someone who will eat whatever you put in front of him and never says its not quite as good as his mother made it, buy a dog.

If you want someone always willing to go out, at any hour, for as long and wherever you want, buy a dog.

If you want someone to scare away burglars, without a lethal weapon which terrifies you and endangers the lives of your family and all the neighbors, buy a dog.

If you want someone who will never touch the remote, doesn't give a darn about football, and can sit next to you and watch a romantic movie, buy a dog.

If you want someone who is content to get up on your bed just to warm your feet and whom you can push if he snores, buy a dog.

If you want someone who never criticizes what you do, doesn't care if you are pretty or ugly, fat or thin, young or old, who acts as if every word you say is especially worthy of listening to, and loves you unconditionally, perpetually, buy a dog.

But on the other hand, if you want someone who will never come when you call, ignores you totally when you come home, leaves hair all over the place, walks all over you, runs around all night, only comes home to eat and sleep, and acts as if your entire existence is solely to ensure his happiness.....

Then my friend, Buy a cat.

(Any resemblance to a man is purely coincidental.)

Z, Oh, how true!!

This is funny but true...

Sunday, I had to take two litters of kittens to a no kill rescue shelter because I was sooo sweet to help out two strays that were unbeknownst to me at the time - pregnant! They both had 4 each and they were really really cute and healthy, but I could not find families for them. My husand was not a real happy camper and since I couldn't find a no-kill rescue shelter for him , I thought I'd better get rid of them. So, I loaded the momma's and baby's in his truck - not my spyder of course- and took them to their new home. This shelter had rescued all kinds of dogs and cats - most of them from the side of the road and pretty sad looking. Well, I did my deed and thought my husband would be happier until I got home only to find out I had unknowingly traded 10 really really cute cats and kittens for one really really homely cat that had jumped in the window of his truck and was under the back seat! He was black with a bald spot on his ear and a club foot. I still haven't heard the end of that one