New member of the family
This week, we welcomed a new member to our household. Nope, not a baby, or a fluffy kitten or an impossibly energetic puppy. Our new addition is ... (drum roll please) ... my niece who is living with us for the summer.
I know this doesn't sound like a big deal, but for me it is. Why? Because said niece is a whole new species to this mum blogger. She's a teen. And for the mum of 7 and 10 year olds, this is new territory indeed.
For the first time in my life I have someone who is asking to borrow my make-up, my blow dryer and my hot-rollers, and who spends more time in the bathroom than me. I know, it sounds so very cliche ... but it's all true. I have even found myself mumbling under my breathe, "When is she going to wake up? Half the day is already gone."
Then, when I caught a glimpse out the window of my 90 year-old neighbour picking weeds out of her lawn and dragging around a brown compast bag, I couldn't suppress the thought: "Hmm, they just don't make 'em like they used to, do they? Kids these days. They're so-o lazy."
Help! I am morphing into an old codger.
As I adjust to having a teen in my home, I remind myself that this is great training for the years that lie ahead when my girls emerge from their bedrooms after noon, squinting their eyes as they adjust to the daylight.
Do you have teens? If so, help a fellow mum out.
Write to me with your teen parenting tips and stories. You can even share your favourite books on parenting teens.
Until next time, Kathryn
P.S. I am waiting on the final details of an exciting contest that I hope to have up on by blog early next week, so tune in.
July 10th, 2009 at 9:00 pm
I'm sure you all will have more fun than frowns during this wonderful summer of family. Just having three kids in the house is going to cause a few hurt feelings I suspect but you will figure that out and make allowances for all the personality hiccups and space wars
The best book on parenting I have read is "Raising your spirited child" by Mary Sheedy Kurcinka She focuses on personality and the natural rhythms of each child. It was a cool read.
July 10th, 2009 at 9:08 pm
Good luck my dear!! My niece came to live with us a couple of years ago and at first it was all good, but we had to ask her to leave, because she was breaking all the rules, not that we have a lot of rules. We even added her on our car insurance and asked her not to come in later than midnight, we would always worry. She took over our house and ordered my boys around and got pregnant and for some reason I was blamed for not being stricted enough. Anyways I hope you will have a better experience, not all teens are like that. Best of luck
July 11th, 2009 at 6:49 pm
Not sure how that will work out for you. All I know is I'm not looking forward to the teen years. The pre-teen years are already difficult enough for me.