Hey Lisa--welcome to page 2...we know there are lots of folks lurking that don't join in so we're thrilled that you're chatting. My 5th goes to 6th this year...just keeping my fingures crossed. I don't think my liver will hold out for all 4 of them ...
Disney was a blast but man there's so much to do....I can't imagine only doing one day you know. OKay more later. Tons of emails to catch up on...d
Lots of deep breaths and sometimes just walking away for a bit when the attitude comes on. Remembering that I'm the adult and they are a hormone raging adolescent. Letting them know that their friends and any other child who might need a friendly place to hang out and eat cookies are always welcome in my home. Family dinners as many nights of the week as possible even if it's microwave dinners. Setting firm boundaries and rules and sticking to them. Great friends and family for support-nothing relieves the stress of living with teenagers like a long lunch or fun night out with your girlfriends who are right there with you(We've solved some major dilemmas with group brainstorming and it never hurts to all have the same sort of boundaries and rules either). Dates with your hubby. Caffeine and sometimes the occasional margarita. Most of all, celebrating their accomplishments, letting them know you love them no matter what, and savoring those moments when they do or say something that shows you that they HAVE been listening to you. Sometimes I even remind my son that I can still take him and then show him I'm right by winning "dish towel wars", nailing him with a giant squirt from the hose or striking him out with my sneaky pitching.
Wow! I am feeling for all of you whose babies are not still in elementary school. My daughter is going into 5th and my son into 2nd. My husband and I had children a little later in life so I traded stamina for patience.
Please tell me, if you can, how do you deal with it?
Well, I made it through 8th grade graduation and chaperoning the dance yesterday. After trying to corral some of those kids, I am EXTREMELY grateful for my daughter. She looked so beautiful in her dress and I even helped her with a little makeup to smooth out her sunburned cheeks and nose and did her hair. Hubby and son were at a game when we left, so dad didn't see her until the photos this morning. He was silent.
I had one dad who came to pick his daughter up near the end and I invited him into the room. He declined at first but soon showed up beside me and was quite jovial until a slow song started and a boy asked his daughter to dance. He got very quiet and after about 30 seconds said, "I can't stay in here. I'll be outside." I've watched a lot of these kids grow up from kindergarten, so it's killer on the emotions.
HIGH SCHOOL--oh no--there's got to be a law against elementary kids EVER making it to high school. I mean they go from such lovely little critters, holding hands in the kindergarten hallways to teenagers smooching each other in the HS halls....AHHHHHHHHHHH....I was behind a kid at CVS that was covered in tatoos and buying condoms. Dear Lord don't ever let the be my child (although I guess the fact that he was buying condoms was a good thing).....
Not enough rum in the world...and that's a fact.
d
