It Happened...She Got a J-O-B!!

     We have been strongly demanding encouraging Megan to get a job for at least the past year.  We have a nice assisted living facility located within walking distance of our house.  She has volunteered there for years as a Bingo helper, my kids used to trick or treat there when they were younger, they have had Girl Scout events there, and many of our neighbors have worked there at various times.  It was always the plan for this to be a first job largely due to the convenience, but working with the seniors seemed to me to be a nice bonus.  Let's face it, she has been around her fair share of seniors lately because of her grandma being at a similar senior facility and living with us previously.  Early on, I was disappointed to learn that her getting a job was not going to be something she was in a hurry to do.  So, since it seemed to be a bad word to my dear teen, I started spelling it in front of her..."When are you going to fill out that j-o-b application?" etc.  (There's a scene in the movie Daddy Day Care where Eddie Murphy says, I lost my j-o-b, and I thought it was a funny scene.  However, my kids don't think I am as funny.  But, I digress.)

     Truth is, the majority of kids in high school these days are super busy!  With a heavy class schedule and extra curricular activities and clubs, AP exams, etc..., there is little time to commit to a job.  At the same time, this girl also wants lots of things that cost money.  Clothes, movies, plays, school spirit wear, field trips, etc...  Finally, the Big Kahuna of field trips came along...the band is planning a trip to Hawaii next April.  She wants to go....badly!!!  You may recall she went to Disney World last April.  These trips are great experiences.  However, I think it is important that kids lose some of their "entitlement" issues with parents and actually learn to work for and appreciate what it takes to make a few dollars.  So, we told her if she wants to go to Hawaii she has to contribute towards the trip.

 

 
     Finally, that application that she picked up months ago got filled out and delivered.  Very quickly she got a call, went for an interview, got a drug test (yes, she passed!), filled out forms, and started working about a month ago.  Interestingly, even though she said "nobody she knows has a job", she knows several people from school who work there, too!!  Hmmmm... 

Sometimes teenagers only let you take pictures if you sneak them!!



Home From Her Interview
(Note the smudge marks all over my window from my dog's nose!!)

Back to Fill Out Paperwork

     She got the job as a server in the dining room.  Her uniform is black pants and a cute little tuxedo shirt with a bow.  The hours are good -- typically she works about three hours and is gone from about 3:15 - 6:45 pm.  First she worked three days in a row, for training.  Now she is in the groove and has her own tables to serve.  She has not complained much, but she is tired!!  Megan is also taking a Personal Fitness class for six weeks this summer from 8:00-11:30 am.  Because she is in band and takes a foreign language class, she cannot fit her personal fitness requirement into her normal school schedule.  Therefore, many of the kids are taking it in summer school.  And yes, we have to pay for that, too.  Some day, I will do a post on how much it costs to go to public school.  Because of the lack of funding these days, public schools cost waaaaaayyyy more than they did when I was a kid!!!  Oh, and I get to drive her there at 7:15 am...in a carpool.

     Although it is only a 5-7 minute walk, she has quickly learned to bum a few rides from us.  However, most of the time she will be walking.  I hope she learns to appreciate the value of the dollar, remains as responsible at work as she has been at school, develops a good work ethic, learns to work with a variety of people, and does it all with the grace, care and compassion I know she has!

 

  

     Me and her dad are proud that she has taken this on.  We know how busy she will be in the Fall and feel that if she gets into the swing of the job this summer, it will make it easier to balance her schedule in the Fall.  She has already had two "paydays" and have come up with a system of how much she will save for the trip per paycheck and how much she should use as spending money.  I'm trying not to think about how far away she will be -- Hawaii?? -- and focus on the great experience, memories made, and things she will learn visiting Pearl Harbor, the volcanoes, culture, geography, etc...  It seems fitting that her first real job (aside from babysitting), is at Independence Village...as this is yet another step towards my little baby girl becoming just that -- independent!!!!

 

 

Teenager Tuesday

 

http://baksha.blogspot.com/2012/08/teenager-tuesday_28.html

     Once again, I am linking up with Tanya for Teenager Tuesday....here are her questions this week:

1.) What is a worry you have for your teenager?  Is there one thing you stay awake worrying about ?  Ha!  There are a million things.  Lately, it is driving and her friends starting to get their licenses and just praying for everyone's safety.


2.) What is a trait your teen has had since toddlerhood?  Hmmmm...  Is begging for things a trait!!??  Because, unfortunately, that has stuck with her. Ha! 


3.) What is your teens favorite meal?  She likes pasta -- and fettucine alfredo (and breadsticks)!


4.) Does your teen need to be pushed to do homework or are they a self starter?  Thankfully, in 6th grade she became a self starter.  My tweens...not so much.


5.) What kind of music does your teen listen to?  Her iPod is jammed full of all kinds of things.  As I've said, she is really into One Direction right now.  I know she does not like Justin Bieber.  She has most of "Today's Hits" on her iPod and even some oldies, like Journey, etc...

I know this is short and sweet, but I am busy shuffling kids all over the place.

Link up if you have a teen -- or even a "tween"!!

 

 

 

Teenager Tuesday

      Ahhhhh, the teen world!!   As I've said, although I am semi-new to the teen world (my oldest will be 15 in 3 weeks), I can tell you it brings a whole new set of challenges and adventures to being a mom, not the least of which is high school, driving and the "social scene", curfews, etc....   I distinctly remember when my kids were younger and the moms with older kids would tell me "wait until they're teenagers".  I also remember thinking, "really? you have no idea -- plus I have twins and sleep deprivation and virtually no help"!!
     Well........although having little ones certainly does have its challenges, on the plus side (which may not seem like a plus at the time) those kids remain under your watch or in your constant care or other careful supervision.  In other words, you know exactly what they are doing at all times.   
     Teens equal a time for trust.  I do trust my teen (most of the time), but I don't trust peer pressure and the teen brain which says, "I know it all" and "I am invincible" and "my parents don't understand, they're idiots".  Ha!! 
     Poor Tanya is trying so hard to get some more teen moms to link up with her, so if you're reading this and have a teen or even a "tween" please consider linking up!!!!  (In the meantime, I still stand by my prior thought -- most of us teen moms are too emotionally and physically exhausted from all this teen stuff to link up!!)

http://baksha.blogspot.com/2012/07/teenager-tuesday_31.html

So, here are this weeks questions. 
1.) What is your teens best trait? The one that stands out the most.  My teen has a great smile and a contagious laugh.  That and her naturally curly hair!!
2.) Is your relationship with your teen anything like the one you had with your parents? 
I would say that one part that is similar is that we try to incorporate a sense of humor in most everything.  I also do not think I would want the same relationship as I had.  My parents were very young and I am not sure that is always a good thing.
3.) Who does your teen look up too? 
Aside from all the boys in One Direction, I think she looks up to a couple of friends who were high school seniors and graduated last year and her band teacher.  As far as celebrities or public figures, probably quite a few people.
4.) What is your teens favorite subject in school?
She says band, but when I made her pick one of the core subjects she says Science.  I am a little surprised by this as she had a terrible Biology teacher last year.  I have since learned that he has a terrible reputation when it comes to grading and how he deals with the kids.  However, she survived and I'm sure learned something from that experience.  Plus, fthe good news is she still likes Science!!
5.) What is your teens favorite TV program. Is there anything they beg to watch but you will not let them? 
She likes "Pretty Little Liars".  I am not thrilled with the content, but I do think she is old enough to make her own judgments about the girls and their behavior on that show!!??  It's a pretty intense "soap opera" type show and very popular.  I think there is a fine line to walk with this kind of thing.  I do not want my kid to be so naive or unaware as to make them vulnerable to certain situations, yet I don't want them to have the mind or experiences of a 30 year old either.  She also begs to watch all kinds of "my shows".  I admit that the Bravo "Real Housewives" shows are so trashy and embarassing that I don't want her to know about this guilty pleasure of mine!

Teenager Tuesday!

     As I indicated a few weeks ago, Kelly's Korner had a link up for moms of teens. So, I linked up with her for the first time ever... As you probably know, she has a huge following!! What an eye opener when the response was quite small.  I laughed when I realized the reason was probably that most of us were probably half dead by the time our kids reached the teen years!!!
      Although I am semi-new to the teen world (my oldest will be 15 in September), I can tell you it brings a whole new set of challenges and adventures to being a mom. Our once sweet innocent kids turn into mini adults with their own opinions, goals, and the ability to express them!!   One of the other moms,Tanya at Baksha Family, decided she would try to rally our troops and keep in touch about life as a mom with teen(s). I appreciated that!!
     As a side note, congrats to Tanya and her family as her "teen" son recently accepted a scholarship to Iowa State for baseball!!! 
     If you have a teen....please link up with Tanya!!  Teen moms can always use some extra support and ideas!!   

http://baksha.blogspot.com/2012/07/teenager-tuesday_31.html

1.) Do you go all out for back to school shopping and get your teen(s) a whole new wardrobe or do you just get essentials such as gym shoes etc?  I try really hard not to go all out school shopping and stick to the essentials because I find that sometimes, once school starts, they see what their friends have or see something else they would rather have or change their mind about colors, etc... and that is just annoying to hear right after you just bought a buncha stuff.  Sure, it would be nice if they didn't care "what everyone else is has",but, they usually do.  Normally, we stick to jeans, a couple shirts and a pair of shoes...  I will gradually buy a few more things as we see them or when there is a good sale later on.   I should mentioned that we also get some pretty awesome (and current) hand me downs from friends.  (My teen's birthday is in September so she does ask for clothes for her birthday, too.)

2.) Does your teen go with you to buy their school supplies or is the hype of that over in your house?  Yes, she usually goes with me as she has distinct ideas on what she wants, i.e. certain colors, no not those pencils (she "needs: those expensive mechanical ones instead), no not that kind of binder they always rip when you put them in your locker, etc...  She also gets almost as excited to organize her new things as she did in elementary school!

3.) Brown bag it, cute..I mean cool designer lunch box (bag- cooler-I have no idea what to call them anymore) or hot lunch for your Teen(s)?  My daughter makes her own brown bag lunch (yay!) and did not buy a hot lunch her whole freshman year.  (ps...I was told her cute designer lunch bag thing was no longer appropriate as it was in middle school!?  ~insert eye roll~)

4.) Is your teen excited to go back to school or dreading it?  She is at the school for extra curriculars right now or I would ask her, but I  know she is excited for the extra activities and seeing friends more part, but not so much for the getting up early/homework part.

5.) Does your family have any special back to school rituals?  The only thing I can think of is that starting a week or two before school I try to gradually get them back into a better routine with their sleep, etc....   I have them go to bed earlier and get up earlier so it's not such a shock to the system on the first day of school.  Oh, and I always take their picture on the first day...  ~Oh, mom!~

Looking forward to hearing how others handle these things!!!

Teenager Tuesday!!

     Recently, Kelly's Korner had a link up for moms of teens.  So, I linked up with her for the first time ever...  As you probably know, she has a huge following!!  What an eye opener when the response was a bit like this...cricket cricket (crickets chirping...).  Not much in the way of teen moms she had linking up.  Sad but true.  I laughed when I realized the reason was probably that most of us were probably half dead by the time our kids reached the teen years -- no joke!!! 
     Although I am new to the teen world (my oldest will be 15 in September), I can tell you it brings a whole new set of challenges and adventures to being a mom.  Our once cute/can't take enough pictures of 'em kids turn into mini adults with their own opinions, goals, and the ability to express them!!  One of the other moms,Tanya at Baksha Family, decided she would try to rally our troops and keep in touch about life as a mom with teen(s).  I appreciated that!!

     So, today is my first time linking up for Teenager Tuesday!!

http://baksha.blogspot.com/2012/07/teenager-tuesday_09.html

1. Do you make your teenager do their own laundry?  Sometimes.  If my daughter does not keep the laundry coming daily and saves it all up until it's out of control, then often I will tell her she needs to help with it.  Also, if her sports uniform has to be washed after a night game and needs to be ready to take to school the next day of for another game --sometimes the same day, she knows she better get it to me right away or do it herself.  Summertime -- also a good time for her to do some more of her laundry since she is not as busy as during the school year!!

2. If your teen works, do you make them chip in when buying their own clothes?  My 14.75 year old daughter does not yet work a steady job, but when she has babysitting or gift money and she wants clothes that she does not "need" in my opinion, I tell her she has to buy them or possibly split or contribute towards the cost with her.

3. What do you think is an appropriate curfew for teens?  This is hard and I think it depends a lot on the circumstances of where they are, who is there, how old they are, and who is driving/supervising.  I don't think M has ever been out past midnight unless with a friend and the friend's parents.  (Not boys!)  Also depends if it's a school night and what else is going on.  For now, 11pm - 12am is about the latest I will allow and only for special circumstances, not on a regular basis.  Homecoming, an after football game celebration (at a restaurant), and, of course, sleepovers at friends houses they are up really really late!!

 4. Do you make your teen clean their room?  Thankfully, somewhere along the way, my daughter has made the decision to keep her room clean on her own.  It is very rare for it to get out of control.  I have tried to teach her that being unorganized often leads to be unprepared.  She does a great job.  My other two "tweens" who are 12 -- they might be more of a challenge!!

     Well, that was fun!!  Clearly, I am not an expert and right now there is some flexibility as my teen is not wanting to stay out late on a regular basis.  Seems like I still have some time to teach her to do the laundry and maybe even get a job!!??  Do you have a teen or two or three?  Link up or let us know what you think!