Goodbye Girls.....

Telling a teenager the facts of life is like giving a fish a bath.

Two weeks came and two weeks have gone by.  Our two 16 year olds are leaving for Norway today.  As you all may know when you have company it is always nice to have them and at the same time it is nice to see them go.  Both girls are also looking forward to going back to their homes and
familiar surroundings.  Granted they will miss all the shopping......
Our home has been filled with all sorts of chatter and laughter and will now be quiet.  Initially it will be so very quiet but as the day goes on Arvid and I will resume our routines and will pick up the hectic pace of of life again.

Will not miss going out every single day and wondering what to do to entertain them.  I guess at 16 all you want to do is to shop and be out.....nothing wrong there but it is not what we are used to......

Michelle and Julie it was good having you both here with us.  Hope you also had a good time.

Times have sure changed because when I was a teenager I did not have all the liberties and freedom and they do today.  My parents were very strict with us....today I am very thankful for that....you see I have grown up to appreciate the value of money, people and hard work.  I believe I am a better person for having had values when I was young even though at the time I thought it was cruel.....

Thanks mom and dad......

There is nothing wrong with today's teenager that twenty years won't cure.

Teenagers.....Enough Said

The young always have the same problem - how to rebel and conform at the same time. They have now solved this by defying their parents and copying one another.

For those of you with children I have new respect for you....  especially if you have teenagers.  I never thought it was easy but, on the other hand I never had first hand experience.

Right now as you may know we have 2 teenagers staying with us.  Only for 2 weeks but, if you are not used to it then two weeks can be very ...let's say a time of adapting.....for both parties.  

Arvid, Brutus and I have our routines and like everyone we are not too prone to changes.  The girls have theirs as you can imagine they also like it their way.  Bottom line is that they are 16, this is our home, they are staying under our roof so in the end it is what we say that counts with some give and take of course.  It's not hard to make decisions when you know what your values are.

This has got to be a very difficult time for parents.  I have no kids so all I know is what I see right now and what I hear from my sisters who also have teenagers.

One thing I will say....I always wanted children....unfortunately, I have none.  With all the difficiculties involved, all the worrying parents go through I bet the good times more than make up for it.   Given the chance, I would have chosen to have a child....taken the gift and run wih it.

We love the way our life is right now...that's a given.  We have gotten to a point where we are quite happy with our lifestyle.  It is free and we go and come as we please......every so often I see a little child and my heart skips a beat....what if...what if...

Life is what it is......I am happy...we are happy.  Certain things are beyond ones control so you make the most of what you have and you enjoy every moment of it.....  I have lots of nieces and nephews and they make up for not having any children of my own....

Adolescence is a period of rapid changes. Between the ages of 12 and 17, for example, a parent ages as much as 20 years.

until next time...