Sunday, October 25, 2009

Back from a Weekend Away

So I feel like I need to give credit where it is due. My husband and I went out of town this weekend to my college reunion and left our three teenage daughters with a young woman who is a graduate student. I gave then instructions to feed and walk the dogs, help in the kitchen with the meals, setting the table, loading and unloading the dishwasher, etc. And I admit that I didn't have high hopes that they would help out the "sitter".

However, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that they were QUITE helpful!! They did all meal prep, table setting, etc. And when one of the dogs had a little accident on the floor, they cleaned up the mess. So aren't I the lucky mom!! My kids did a great job and exceeded my expectations.

Friday, October 16, 2009

Recent fun at the restaurant

So today the story is not about MY lovely teens, but rather about my niece. I was visiting my brother and his family, after attending a meeting in his town (a plane ride away from my home).

He has a 14 year old daughter, a freshman in high school. She is fine, until we get to the restaurant. Maybe she was hungry and that's why she was a little grumpy. Hard to know. But we started to have conversations that went something like this: Her mom, "Look at the waiter. He is so tall and skinny. (The guy was almost 7 feet tall and a rail!) Niece, "What are you saying? Are you saying that it's bad to be tall and skinny? Are you saying that it looks weird to be tall and skinny??"

Now you need to know that my niece is tall - about 5'7'' and she is quite thin. She has always been thin since the day she was born. She is built like her mom.

Conversation resumes. Of course her mom says that she was just commenting on the boy and didn't mean anything else. Then she tells me and my brother that she took the kids for their flu shot that day at the doctor's office. While they were there the kids got weighed and measured. My niece gained 4 pounds since she was at the doctor's for an annual checkup in April. My brother says, "Great. You gained 4 pounds. You were trying to gain some weight." Niece, "What are you saying? I eat too much?? You think I should stop eating because I'm getting too fat??"

Ahh yes. It was a peaceful dinner. My niece ordered a fried chicken platter with french fries and ate the whole thing. She has a healthy appetite. And an adolescent personality.

I like to say that you can offer these teens a $100 bill and they would complain because it was folded the wrong way!

Friday, July 17, 2009

The first blog

Hello mothers of teens! Welcome to my mothers' only blog where we can relax and exhale after driving our teenagers around town!

Oh I have to confess, my almost teen set this up for me. It will be fun!