Teen Talk

I've had more time to spend with my teens lately because of the holiday break from school. My oldest has his head buried into his cell phone texting, or on the computer several hours a day. I find myself talking to the side of his head most of the time. He does join us for winter activities and plays nicely with the little guys, but to really talk to him is like pulling teeth at the dentist. It's either mumbled words or a few words. I can get him to really open up when I'm speaking his interests. Not girls, but snowmobiles and cars! My son will say very little or mock me in some way when he thinks I'm trying to "be cool." But, if I mention something about snowmobiling, he perks up, gets out of his seat, walks over to where I'm standing and make eye contact! Holy stars it's a breakthrough! We can actually have a dialogue and he lights up when I want to talk "shop" with him. I really don't have a clue what to say, but I want to talk to my son so I ask him a question about the snowmobiles in our garage or if we need to get any oil and gas for them.
We went shopping for his girlfriend and the family last week before Christmas. We got a coffee from McDonald's and played his loud, rap music while driving from store to store. He laughed with me, opened the door for me and didn't mind what I was wearing for the day. (He usually says that I dress like an old lady). We got to talk about school, sex, girlfriends, friends at school, teachers, and just plain ol' stuff. I had a blast that day. I connected with my child. I will cherish our shopping excursion, because as soon as we got home, his only words were. . . ."What's for dinner?"

The holidays

It's the Christmas holiday and we're all home together for 2 weeks straight. Do we get along? Are the boys fighting? Is there chaos in the house? Well, not exactly. Yes, we're getting along, sometimes the boys disagree, wrestle it out, then it's over and no, there isn't any chaos. Actually, the seven of us are getting along really well. The boys all share the same interests, so they are each other's best buddies. We've been skiiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, ice skating on our lake, playing Wii, Playstation and a lot of cards and board games. We've also managed to keep up the chores and add some more work to their jobs such as shoveling, hauling wood, changing sheets on the beds and bathing the dog. On the other hand, disgreements do occur and I have to play referee. I have two teenagers who are getting antsy for their peers and little guys who want more of my attention. Their idea of attention is playing their games, taking them sledding and playing with Hot Wheels or Build-a-Bear toys. My teens want more computer time to log onto You Tube and to download i-Tunes. Despite getting up early still (which is not fair on MY vacation) I'm constantly in the kitchen preparing and feeding an army. But, the paybacks are a bonus. Free Babysitting! Bob & I can go the movies, shopping and out to dinner without to many worries as long as the boys have a rented movie to watch and junk food. I know this Christmas break will soon end and the real chaos will start up again with getting ready for school, homework, ski clubs, and indoor soccer games. I really cherish these two weeks more than the boys will ever realize. I love their messes, constant wrestling matches in the living room, food left out on the table and clothes on the floor. I know it sounds crazy but, I would never tell them that.

Snow Day!

It's 6:00 am and I try to focus my eyes on the TV screen for the school closings. Yup, they're staying home today. School is closed and I'll have 5 anxious young men cooped up for the day. I roll over and try to go back to sleep for at least another hour. I can't sleep and I think I heard foot steps in the dark. One by one, they start to come out of their rooms half asleep and partially excited for a day home. I stumble out of bed and head to the kitchen to cook for an army. Starting up the coffee pot, banging pots and pans, I get a big breakfast together as fast as I can. The boys are already talking about sledding, and snowball fights. However, before I can get the grub on the table they have played the Wii, spread out Legos, chased each other with Nerf guns and I trip over toys everywhere. My oldest is texting is friends and thinking of ways to connect for a group snowmobile ride. As hours past, I am still in the kitchen baking bread, cookies, a pot of chili and cleaning up after them as they scrounge around for snacks. They eat, play and make a mess as fast as I can be two steps behind them. My day continues with more cooking and picking up wet snow clothes and keeping up with their mischief. My boys are excited and show their surge in adrenaline and testosterone by wrestling, jumping, climbing and eating. I flop down on the couch at the end of a long day and watch the weather report for tomorrow!