This past week, I went to a concert with my fourteen year old daughter, my twenty-two year old son, and two of his friends. We bought tickets for The Red Hot Chili Peppers in December but that date was canceled due to an injury to the lead singer. I probably would not have gone but originally it was necessary for me to attend so that I could drive my daughter to Raleigh for the concert. With the change of date, my son was home from college on Easter break and didn’t need for me to drive her. I decided to go anyway and we all drove up and met my …
I realized I need to start prepping for college, too!
I’m aware that Gus will be heading to college, most likely. My involvement with this probable outcome so far has been to pitch the “take a look at us” letters he receives on his bed and hope he looks at them when he is home on break. But I’ve come to the realization that I will have to become more involved. Let me tell you why.I knew he was due to take the SAT “soon”. When and where was a bit fuzzy but I had it in my mind it was coming up. I suggested he look …
After a near fatal car crash in 1949, Ben Hogan dug his life “out of the dirt” and won the 1950 U.S. Open!I saw a soft drink ad recently about the guy who is always asking “and?” , as if to say “is that all?”. He gets more than originally expected this way and it’s a little funny but very thought provoking.
We can dig ourselves a hole the size of the Grand Canyon by succumbing to the insatiable desires of not only our children but ourselves as well. I liken this malady of form to a sort of manipulated discipline which does nothing but harm. After the high of “immediate gratification” wears …
Has your teen ever had a "hair mishap?"
My son gets his haircut every two weeks or so. I know that seems like a lot, but his style requires frequent trimming. Besides, he likes going to get his hair trimmed because he loves his hair stylist! He thinks she’s gorgeous and loves to carry on quite a conversation.
This time it was a case of “The Haircut Gone Bad!” I thinks it’s absolutely funny, but my son is mortified! When the hairdresser was talking and not really paying attention to what she was doing, well you can only imagine! She messed up on my son’s sideburns cutting one …
Easter has always been such a special time in our family. The resurrection story is one that we enjoy the whole year but on Easter Sunday brings full emotions, excitement, and joy of being a Christian. I have always emphasized the true meaning of Easter with my children so they would really know and understand what we were celebrating. That’s not to say that dying and hunting Easter eggs was not their favorite Easter tradition.
I have celebrated twenty-two Easters with our children, and this year was a year of firsts. This was the first time neither of my children dyed Easter eggs, hunted Easter eggs either themselves or with …
How do you rate your teen's school?
I got an automated call from the principal’s office at Max’s school. The pre-recorded call from the principal was to encourage parents to fill out a survey to give feedback about the school.Since moving here in 2005, I have heard lots of things about the trio of schools that serve the kids in my area. Much of what I heard was not positive. I learned quickly on not to listen to what other parents say and rely on my own eyes and experiences to evaluate the schools.The one thing that may cause me dismay is the seemingly light homework load. Other than …
Recently I read an article highlighting some thoughts from a group of outdoorsmen who discussed amongst themselves what things they felt to be crucial knowledge to be able to manage self sufficiently in outdoor situations. It got me to thinking a bit too about perhaps how little my own three teens might actually know about dealing safely with outdoor elements and scenarios should such an occasion arise.
Now, my kids are definitely not couch potatoes and they all spend quite a bit of time out doors, even as teens, but so far, most of their experiences have been supervised controlled adventures with little to no exposure to dire circumstances or the need …
Do you allow your teen to hang out after school?
Here’s my question for the week: What do you do when your teen wants to go over to another teen’s (of the opposite sex) house after school? Hmm….afriend of mine was telling me about her son and how he wanted to go over to a girl’s house to hang out before going over to the high school to watch a soccer game. My friend said she asked her son if the girl’s mother would be at the house. Her son said the girl’s mother would not let anyone over without her being home. My friend said to …
Betsy and the Beast
I have written about various people integrally involved with the upbringing of my children in the almost 7 years since their mom passed so suddenly. There have been several women, beginning with their grandmothers and certainly including aunts and friends, that have raised my children in part. It would be stupid of me to attempt to mention names for obvious reasons.Suffice it to say that a child needs a “woman” quite possibly more than anything else to balance their lives. My longtime girlfriend and best friend Betsy embodies the type of person I want my kids to associate with, much less love! Betsy …
This will be a short, 4-day school week. And then we have a whole week of spring break. Around this house, we’re pretty excited about having a break. It seems like there is a long stretch between Christmas and spring break and my high school student is in need of some down time. But behind every student that is glad there’s a break from school at this time of year, there are at least four teachers who are in great need of a vacation. And a lot of them are in great need of a little appreciation, too. So, tired teachers, this post is …
This past week, I went to a concert with my fourteen year old daughter, my twenty-two year old son, and two of his friends. We bought tickets for The Red Hot Chili Peppers in December but that date was canceled due to an injury to the lead singer. I probably would not have gone but originally it was necessary for me to attend so that I could drive my daughter to Raleigh for the concert. With the change of date, my son was home from college on Easter break and didn’t need for me to drive her. I decided to go anyway and we all drove up and met my …
