Oh my gosh!
It is Wednesday and I am posting. Believe it or not but I miss ya guys when I'm not posting.
I love your comments. Especially, my loyal commenters you make me laugh and feel grateful for this blogging world.
I would promise to post more but ya'all know how that ends up.
Today's post is all about a new house rule we have put in place.
I have notice lately that I take life far to seriously. Yup, this is a new realization one that I have never noticed before (ya know I'm being sarcastic, right?).
It is true, I rather paint than play. I really dislike amusement parks, and anytime I am doing anything that may seem fun, to the most of the world, I am thinking about what I should be doing. I do not enjoy the more light and frivolous side of the world. It works for me and lucky me it works for my hubby. So we paint walls and do yard work and avoid Disneyland. Shocking!
The problem, I have noticed with taking life so seriously is I take EVERYTHING seriously.
I am quickly discovering this DOES NOT work with a house full of teenagers.
Why doesn't it work, you ask?
Well, there is a number of reasons, but I believe the number one reason is they DON'T take life seriously.
No matter how many lectures, I told you so's, and you better listen, you throw at them, They Don't Listen!
Which if you take it seriously, raises your blood pressure, gives you wrinkles, and a look like you ate something bad. It is a problem!
umm humm dare I say a SERIOUS problem!
So I have come up with a solution.
Because I'm already no fun, and I don't needmore wrinkles and I don't need a bad look on my face.
The new rule is easy.
As long as you are not hurting anyone (including yourself) and you can make me laugh you don't get in trouble.
huhhh???
Yup, do what you want, say what you want, tell me what you want, you just better not be hurting anyone and you better make me laugh.
I know this is a bit confusing but let me explain.
Life is serious business and my teenagers and your teenagers are dealing with a lot of serious stuff.
My 14 year old has a friend that was just transferred out of her school, because she is pregnant. :( Also, this year, a girl that she has gone to school with for the past three years was shot and killed by the police. (There is a chance you might have seen that on the news) My sixth grader had a class peer who committed suicide and my fifth grader has a friend who is now in her second foster home this year.
My kids are dealing with very real, very scary, very sad, situations. Our home needs to feel like a safety shelter. A place where they can be themselves, where they don't have to worry about getting in trouble, and most of all where they feel safe to talk about ANYTHING!
I mean anything.
They have to know that no matter what I am going to listen before I react.
The problem is I'm a reactionist and with our new rule I'm starting to listen before I react. I'm stopping and asking them questions and clearly understanding the situation.
I am also learning that they really aren't asking me what they should do. They are telling me what they did.
It is kind of scary that the only real guidance I can give them is my example. How I treat them, their father, and others is what I expect. The old saying of Monkey See, Monkey Do is more relevant than ever.
So for the next few years I'm going to laugh often, love always, and pray without ceasing. Which is only the first of many things I have learned about these teenagers.
Happy Wednesday,
Krissi
PS The good thing about the new rule is that the kids are already pretty good at making me laugh.
(An oldie but a goodie)
(odd balls)
(A face only a mother could love)
(There is more than one way to get a smile)
(oh boy)
It is Wednesday and I am posting. Believe it or not but I miss ya guys when I'm not posting.
I love your comments. Especially, my loyal commenters you make me laugh and feel grateful for this blogging world.
I would promise to post more but ya'all know how that ends up.
Today's post is all about a new house rule we have put in place.
I have notice lately that I take life far to seriously. Yup, this is a new realization one that I have never noticed before (ya know I'm being sarcastic, right?).
It is true, I rather paint than play. I really dislike amusement parks, and anytime I am doing anything that may seem fun, to the most of the world, I am thinking about what I should be doing. I do not enjoy the more light and frivolous side of the world. It works for me and lucky me it works for my hubby. So we paint walls and do yard work and avoid Disneyland. Shocking!
The problem, I have noticed with taking life so seriously is I take EVERYTHING seriously.
I am quickly discovering this DOES NOT work with a house full of teenagers.
Why doesn't it work, you ask?
Well, there is a number of reasons, but I believe the number one reason is they DON'T take life seriously.
No matter how many lectures, I told you so's, and you better listen, you throw at them, They Don't Listen!
Which if you take it seriously, raises your blood pressure, gives you wrinkles, and a look like you ate something bad. It is a problem!
umm humm dare I say a SERIOUS problem!
So I have come up with a solution.
Because I'm already no fun, and I don't need
The new rule is easy.
As long as you are not hurting anyone (including yourself) and you can make me laugh you don't get in trouble.
huhhh???
Yup, do what you want, say what you want, tell me what you want, you just better not be hurting anyone and you better make me laugh.
I know this is a bit confusing but let me explain.
Life is serious business and my teenagers and your teenagers are dealing with a lot of serious stuff.
My 14 year old has a friend that was just transferred out of her school, because she is pregnant. :( Also, this year, a girl that she has gone to school with for the past three years was shot and killed by the police. (There is a chance you might have seen that on the news) My sixth grader had a class peer who committed suicide and my fifth grader has a friend who is now in her second foster home this year.
My kids are dealing with very real, very scary, very sad, situations. Our home needs to feel like a safety shelter. A place where they can be themselves, where they don't have to worry about getting in trouble, and most of all where they feel safe to talk about ANYTHING!
I mean anything.
They have to know that no matter what I am going to listen before I react.
The problem is I'm a reactionist and with our new rule I'm starting to listen before I react. I'm stopping and asking them questions and clearly understanding the situation.
I am also learning that they really aren't asking me what they should do. They are telling me what they did.
It is kind of scary that the only real guidance I can give them is my example. How I treat them, their father, and others is what I expect. The old saying of Monkey See, Monkey Do is more relevant than ever.
So for the next few years I'm going to laugh often, love always, and pray without ceasing. Which is only the first of many things I have learned about these teenagers.
Happy Wednesday,
Krissi
PS The good thing about the new rule is that the kids are already pretty good at making me laugh.
(An oldie but a goodie)
(odd balls)
(A face only a mother could love)
(There is more than one way to get a smile)
(oh boy)
Comments
~Tracy
PS - Can you suggest a wrinkle cream? Not that I have any, either, uhhhhh. Just wondering if you might have heard of any good ones...
So Krissi, this post got me thinking. Your kids are seeing some super tough situations. But you know what that is doing for them? It is making them stronger people at a younger age. From seeing these hard situations they are already deciding things that will affect them later. They see the girl who got pregnant, they see her consequences and if they're smart (which your kids are) they make a mental note (okay, no babies until I'm married, which means no sex until I'm married). Whether they talk it out with you or not, seeing these things is affecting their thinking. I worry about those kids who go to the schools where it's all butterflies and rainbows. Where their parents shelter and protect them. They never face anything hard and then they crumble when they get out into the real world. Facing hard situations now is preparing them for life. You, as a Mom, still have to guide them, but you can't shelter them (hence your new awesome rule).
The end.