Cliff and I have done our best to let our children know that they can talk to us about anything. We will do our best to answer any question or offer advice to help solve a problem. We even have answer and question sessions once in a while for family home evening, just so they know that we are always available, and that we can talk about anything at all with them.
Of course, there are a few subjects that I am a little, shall we say hesitant, to discuss with them. I am sure that every parent has a few of these. They can be awkward, you wonder if you are giving too much information for their age and understanding, and you would prefer to do it as a united front instead of being blindsided by yourself. So what do you do? Shut down the dialogue, or soldier through it?
Readers, I am proud to say that I soldiered through. Nadia and I had the talk about Justin Bieber, and I made it. Oh, did you think I meant THAT talk? Been there, done that. This was much worse.
She came home from school the other day saying some girls had teased her because she didn't know who Justin Bieber is. One of the girls has his phone number, or is his Facebook friend, I don't remember. I just remember I wanted to cry. It means Nadia is now surrounded by Tweens.
BUT, because we as parents had made the decision to be honest and open about everything with our children, I gritted my teeth and we looked him up on Wikipedia and then found a link to see 2 of his music videos. I have never been prouder of my daughter than when she said, "He really isn't that good."
Now, some of you may wonder what the big deal about this is. It means the end of childhood, and I wish I were joking. Tweens are not natural; they are simply kids that have been exposed to too much too soon. I want my kids to remain kids as long as possible. They will be grownup too soon. They need to have memories of being children, not tiny adults.
So my children will continue to dress like children. They will watch children movies and shows. We will keep the lines of communication open, and when the next Big Talk comes up, I will try to handle it with all the grace and finesse of a giraffe. Because that is what I am. A giraffe who loves her children very very very much.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Sunday, January 2, 2011
The Incredibly Romantic Getaway
Cliff gave me a wonderful present for Christmas: a romantic weekend getaway. No kids, no calls, no work, just the two of us running away together. Doesn't that just sound exciting and fun? Are you jealous?
So who wants to guess how many ways it went wrong?
1. A huge cold front moves in. Do we stay or do we go, and risk the possible blizzard? How romantic will it be to return home to an ice cave because the pipes burst while we were gone? Can I sell the pics of our ice encrusted house and (finally) pay off the dentist?
2. What do you do when the friends you want to visit in Boise have to go to a grandfather's funeral in Utah? And your Utah friends are coming up to Idaho to see her parents? Can Cliff and I actually have a conversation that doesn't include who stayed dry last night or why that contractor insists on using the J-47 sealant instead of the epoxy overcoat system? Who can we now include in our weekend so we can rely on them for all of our conversational needs?
3. My incredibly loving yet diabolical brother got the new Rick Riordan book and gave it to me. Can I read it on this romantic getaway? Can my love of books and my love for Cliff live peacefully side by side, or must they eventually tear each other apart? And after that last sentence, have I read the inside flap to too many romance novels?
So what actually happened on this incredibly romantic getaway? We stayed at home. I cleaned a bathroom and Clifford took a nap. We moved the big TV into our bedroom for New Year's Eve to watch 4 hours of Leverage and ate some subpar cheese bites. I bought a new coat and Clifford didn't complain while I was shopping for it. Clifford shopped for a 32 gig Ipod Touch and I didn't complain while he searched (in vain) for it. We baked cookies and a pie and slept in until 8:30. And we loved it.
So who wants to guess how many ways it went wrong?
1. A huge cold front moves in. Do we stay or do we go, and risk the possible blizzard? How romantic will it be to return home to an ice cave because the pipes burst while we were gone? Can I sell the pics of our ice encrusted house and (finally) pay off the dentist?
2. What do you do when the friends you want to visit in Boise have to go to a grandfather's funeral in Utah? And your Utah friends are coming up to Idaho to see her parents? Can Cliff and I actually have a conversation that doesn't include who stayed dry last night or why that contractor insists on using the J-47 sealant instead of the epoxy overcoat system? Who can we now include in our weekend so we can rely on them for all of our conversational needs?
3. My incredibly loving yet diabolical brother got the new Rick Riordan book and gave it to me. Can I read it on this romantic getaway? Can my love of books and my love for Cliff live peacefully side by side, or must they eventually tear each other apart? And after that last sentence, have I read the inside flap to too many romance novels?
So what actually happened on this incredibly romantic getaway? We stayed at home. I cleaned a bathroom and Clifford took a nap. We moved the big TV into our bedroom for New Year's Eve to watch 4 hours of Leverage and ate some subpar cheese bites. I bought a new coat and Clifford didn't complain while I was shopping for it. Clifford shopped for a 32 gig Ipod Touch and I didn't complain while he searched (in vain) for it. We baked cookies and a pie and slept in until 8:30. And we loved it.
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