Why I feel Sorry for Teenagers

If seventeen year olds can be tried as adults, why can't they vote, drink, or question authority? If adults don't treat teenagers with respect, but teenagers have to treat all adults with respect, when does that change? Think about how you like to be treated and then imagine yourself as a teenager without an out. Seriously, any answers to these questions???? I think Harriet and Ozzie, along with Carol and Mike had it easier.....

April Vacation- My time with 4 teenagers

Back from our trip to Florida...over 1000 miles driven with 4 teenagers. Did I ever get tense? Why of course, especially when it involved time. You know, the time it takes to get people up and going versus teenage "in my own time mode". I didn't like the driving when the highways became narrow due to road construction. Saw lots of signs and orange barrels, but not a lot of work going on.

The trip to Savannah College of Art and Design was interesting. The college is spread out through Savannah, which was pretty and easy to walk around. Bub and I went off on our own while 2nd son went off with his girlfriend and the other girl that came along with us. Both girls have already been accepted. We met up for the tour and it's not on a typical college campus, but I can see it's appeal. Unfortunately, I see the cost of it also.

We went to St. Augustine for the day, spent the early afternoon walking around the old city and then off to the beach, where the wind was unbearable for those trying sit on the beach. I still have sand coming out of items. The boys in the picture are not shaking out the towels, rather that's all wind effect!

After experiencing a long drive back from Savannah, I decided that I wasn't up for the long ride back from Orlando on a same day trip. I checked out of our motel in Jacksonville and was able to get a good deal on the Comfort Suites for a one night in a suite for all five of us. Based on the fact that I was the driver, I had no problem taking one of the queen beds for myself. The kids decided on Universal Island adventure theme park and of course if we had planned better, we could have gotten a better deal on the tickets. Basically, it's a waste for me, since I get so sick on the rides. The only ride I did that day was the raft ride, which was the best raft ride, ever! Got so wet! Would I go again? Sure, and would love to be able to stay on site to get the express line for rides, since the lines were very long for most of the rides. The kids waited 1 hour for the Spiderman ride and then it broke down!

Two loads of laundry later, I am ready for a nap...we didn't get home until after midnight last night! That was a lot of driving for a vacation!

Getting a Teenager motivated to work

No real news flash here, but being a parent of a teenager can be expensive. As a recent letter writer to Business Week wrote, if the government gave teenagers the money from the tax rebates, watch out economy! That money would be gone in the blink of the eye. On what? Fast food, electronic devices, games and like everyone else, gas.

Currently we have a 17 year old that needs to get back out working and I think I finally came up with the best incentive yet. (My nagging just wasn't working!) He wanted to go to a Magic card tournament today and first I had him work for part of the money by sweeping the sand from our garage and driveway. Secondly, I then lent him the rest and wrote it down. Yes, I wrote it down, it's now a permanent IOU. When I mentioned there might be jobs at the Hospital in the food services, he actually seemed interested.

The next incentive will be the colleges we will be looking at next week. His brother with great grades is going to our state university, thanks Loyola, but we decided to pass on the 26,000 loan for each year. Second guy knows how we feel and it's up to him to figure out the college options. We tried to save some, but somehow life got in the way. Our retirement fund is much better, because as they say, you can borrow for college, but you can't borrow for retirement.

But there is a part of me that feels badly for all young people right now. The price of gas is beginning to limit other purchases. Can this administration get away with saying we are better off after these 8 years......I don't think so! Younger people will have to learn how to budget their money, there's hope yet for my second. My first is doing really well with limiting purchases and not spending much while at college. Call him cheap, but he won't be facing massive loans.

Musing about crocheting and graduations

Two more days until the end of the Limerick contest and if you haven't had a chance to read the limericks submitted already, here is the quick link to the Limerick Entries. There is still time to write a limerick!

Last night I made my first granny square which came out 2 inches larger than it should be, so I will make the rest using a H crochet hook. If you have never crocheted, this is really pretty easy to do. I think I crocheted a baby afghan eons ago and a Christmas stocking for my husband over 24 years. With the tutorials available on line, it can be done. I found Crochet Cabana where there were step by step directions with pictures for making a Granny square . Shelly (This Eclectic Life) has posted the directions, now I just have to take apart a cabled sweater that I started about 10 years ago and ran out of yarn to use that yarn for the Share a Square Afghan project.

I think this is a wonderful chance for bloggers to connect beyond the internet and contribute to a good cause. I just called my Mom and mentioned the afghan, her comment was, I don't mind making squares, but I hate putting them together. ( I caught her at a bad time....they are going to a graduation party today and packing for their summer in Nova Scotia).

We have three graduation parties to go to today and our kids are off in three different directions. It's amazing how busy one's weekends can be in June. Tomorrow is Father's day and we have another graduation party tomorrow afternoon. Graduations seem bittersweet, a transition between the familiar to the unknown along with responsibilities. A time of celebrations and goodbyes. The class that graduated today at our high school was my first freshman class and I do feel bad that I didn't stay the entire four years. However, I have been able to see many of the kids at other school functions for my own kids, so I have kept up with them.

My high school graduation was held outside and we had over 700 graduating. As a parent, I can't imagine the logistics of it all. Do you remember your high school graduation? Any good stories out there about graduations? I got nothing except for the two dogs getting it on at my college graduation....

Post Secret, Sad, True?

Have we always had these secrets? Are more people living on the edge of what is okay and what hurts us? 10% of the secrets are humorous, but most are scary and sad.

Have you seen Post Secret? Are we feeding into teenage normal angst? Causing the trivial to become monstrous in their lives?

I worked for five years in high school and it amazes me how many kids were on anti-depressants. As Jon Tillman said in his blog, there is a big difference between wants and needs. What does this say about us if our teenagers are feel that they are pressured? That they are depressed, posting secrets on a web site and making connections through the internet on Myspace, Live Journal and Face book?