I took this picture of J way back in August on the first day of Junior year. I wish I had known that morning when I admonished him for making that face (“Come on, give me a smile or something!”) that the face he gave me–one of sarcastic annoyance with a touch of “Are we done yet?”–would be a 100% accurate representation of the year as a whole, because perhaps I wouldn’t have given him such a hard time. (Perhaps.) Junior year sucks, and has sucked. It was the same with D, and although I can’t claim to know that Junior year sucks for every Junior and his or her…
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Go West, Young Man!
Today Jim and I did something I really couldn’t have imagined doing even a couple of years ago: we put D on a train that would take him away from us for the entire summer. He was hired to be a backwoods ranger at a Boy Scout High Adventure ranch in the mountains of New Mexico, something he’s wanted to do since he visited that same ranch for the first time a few years ago. After applying but not getting an offer last year, he was over the moon when he got the great news this year. When he called to tell me, I could hear the unadulterated joy in…
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There Are Definite Disadvantages To Having A Tall Kid
On Tuesday at 6:30 a.m. I was in my usual spot on the couch, typing away on my laptop. Seventeen-year-old J, who was getting ready for school and had been in the kitchen just a moment before–presumably eating his breakfast–entered the room. I looked up as he walked towards me, and noticed the huge grin on his face. He said, “You will NEVER guess what I found!” Without allowing me even a second to give it a shot, he held his hand out to me. In his palm were two Hershey’s Eggs. Easter candy. It’s like gold around here. He sat on the couch next to me and scooted over…
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The Apple Doesn’t Fall Far From The Tree
It seems like only yesterday that I was waxing poetic about sending D off to college, and yet in two weeks he will finish his sophomore year. He is very, very happy at his school–which is a great relief to us, knowing that he made the right selection–and it’s been an exciting time for him. At the beginning of this semester, he decided to do something he claimed at the beginning of freshman year he had absolutely zero interest in doing: pledge a fraternity. We were relieved that he chose a fraternity that has a strict no secrets, no hazing policy, and it’s one whose members include the majority of…
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I Guess My Job Is Done. (Alternate Title: I Didn’t See THAT Coming!)
D is home for a four-day weekend, and he took a ride with me earlier today to run some errands. We made four stops and then I said, “I’m starting to feel like we might need an Icee before we go home.” Besides the fact that Icees aren’t our “normal” treat and that made the offer special in itself, D is a typical college student in that he would never, EVER turn down something like this. (I remember practically jumping for joy as a college student whenever my mom asked if I wanted to go to the store with her because I always came home with stuff I didn’t have…
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Inside The Life Of A Teenager
We don’t see a whole lot of J these days. Like many teenagers, his waking hours are full of commitments that keep him out of the house (and when he’s home, out of the family room), starting very early in the morning. On weekdays, he gets up around 5:30 a.m. to shower. He’s outside starting his car by 6:30. He picks up his best friend on his way to school. High school begins at 7:20. High school ends at 2:25. He drops his best friend off at home before heading straight for work. He works from about 3:00 until 5:30 each weekday (except for what he calls “No Work Wednesdays!”).…
- Blessings, Childhood Memories, Family Fun, Favorite Things, Food, I've Got Mad Skillz, My Kid Has Mad Skillz, My Mom Has Mad Skillz, Review
Birthday Traditions: Make A Cake And Eat It, Too.
A couple of weeks ago we celebrated J’s 17th birthday. SEVENTEEN. As in, “My younger–and last born–son is seventeen.” It would be really hard for me to believe if there weren’t a trail of rainbow-colored crumbs all over our family photo albums*. You see, around here birthdays mean one thing: beautifully decorated rainbow cakes (the insides are tinted in various colors). It’s a tradition my mom started, and what I love about it is the thought that goes into it, resulting in the birthday honoree feeling extra special. I remember how creative my mom was with birthday cakes when we were kids. Over the years, she made me a Holly…
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The Lesson I Never Thought I’d Have To Teach My Son
It never occurred to me in a million years that I’d have to deal with this issue. Not with MY kid. Everything started out innocently enough: he was invited to a big party. The house was practically full of his friends, all his age. It was just your typical, run-of-the-mill birthday party. The mood was festive but not over the top; all of the party attendees were on their best behavior. Well, they were on their best behavior at first, until the stimulants made their appearance, thanks to one of the guests. In fact, that guest was a little overzealous about it and in an instant, almost everything ended up…
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Animated
I’m headed up north and over the border today (to Wisconsin), to bring D home for his five-day break between his three-week January term and spring semester, which begins Wednesday, or as we call it in this house, “One day post-Lenny”. It’ll be nice to have D home for an extended weekend, as always. I’m excited to hear what he thinks about his old room–now J’s room–which we painted last weekend (pictures will be posted as soon as I get the rest of his new bedding and figure out a new window treatment). I’m also looking forward to hearing all about the animation class he has been sitting through for…
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DJ Remix
About a month ago, J purchased a new “toy” for himself. He’s been practicing his DJ skills on a regular basis, and was finally able to set up his camera and record himself mixing so I could share it with you he could share it with his friends. Don’t feel any pressure from me to watch the whole thing: the mix he does in this six-minute video is made up of somewhat subtle movements. It fascinates the heck out of me, though, and I could watch all day long (not just because he’s my kid, mind you). I couldn’t stop smiling the first time I watched it. Or the second.…