Our youngest starts high school tomorrow. So obviously we cleaned out his school backpack this weekend. What? You had your child clean out their backpack in June? Yah, that would make sense. That’s not how we roll, and definitely not how this summer went. Although Guy did sneak a peak in, oh, July, and discovered … Continue reading Ready Not Ready
Tag: parenting teenagers
Last Day//Best Day
[Since I don’t post when I’m away from home, this week I’m going to post some of the content I wrote while on vacation…] When you’ve vacationed in the same place for so many years, you count time in days and traditions and experiences. It’s not just “Monday,” but what did we do on Monday, … Continue reading Last Day//Best Day
Greatness
[Since I don’t post when I’m away from home, this week I’m going to post some of the content I wrote while on vacation…] “Do you think this makes one too many visits?”, my mom asks as we’ve ‘lost’ the teenagers again in the Monterey Bay Aquarium. “No,” I reply, “never too many visits. The … Continue reading Greatness
His Mother’s Voice
[Since I don't post when I'm away from home, this week I'm going to post some of the content I wrote while on vacation...] Trying to wrestle three teenage boys out of the vacation house and into the vacation isn’t as easy as it should be. Because teenagers: sticky molasses-stubborn. When they finally realized we … Continue reading His Mother’s Voice
Milestones
Annie burst into the bar exclaiming, “What IS this place?” “It’s the best little wine bar you’ve ever stepped foot in, but tonight it’s also a karaoke bar!” came my response. Without a glance at the menu, she ordered a sauvignon blanc and a song list. Her two friends, obviously indulging Annie’s whim, didn’t even … Continue reading Milestones
ACK the Crazy of Parenting Teens
A friend posted a link to an article entitled, “WHY AREN’T WE TALKING ABOUT PARENTING TEENAGERS? I’M LOST AF.” Before I even read the article (a great article) I had my response: Because teens don’t want us telling their stories. Because we don’t want to mess up their lives any more by sharing with the … Continue reading ACK the Crazy of Parenting Teens
Orientation
Orientation [awr-ee-uh n-tey-shuh n] noun 1. the act or process of orienting; 2. The state of being oriented; 3. An introduction, as to guide one in adjusting to new surroundings, employment, activity, or the like: New students receive two days of orientation; 4. Psychology, Psychiatry. The ability to locate oneself in one's environment with reference to time, place, … Continue reading Orientation
Thankful Thursday – Celebrate
Oh, friends, what a week! Thursday to Thursday, I'm not sure there is any adequate way to sum it up, but let's try this: joy, and grief, and joy... In all, celebrate. One week ago we were in the final hours of the school year, during which both kids managed to drag out the drama … Continue reading Thankful Thursday – Celebrate
High School Graduation
Tonight I feel seventeen. Tomorrow is graduation day. One more project to go: for English, a self-expression slide show of my life—my people, my friends and classmates—set to U2’s “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For.” We’ve been together a long time, but high school isn’t it. We still haven’t found what we’re looking … Continue reading High School Graduation
ReBuild: Mexico 2017
One of the best things our church does fills one week with life-changing experience and takes the rest of the year to plan, then debrief, before planning the next trip: our spring break house building trip to Mexico with Amor Ministries. This year, as in most years, about 250 high school students and adults built hope, … Continue reading ReBuild: Mexico 2017