Boys, Cell Phones, Destruction. . .

These days every child starting in elementary school has a cell phone.  I have never been a fan of  children having cell phones. Not only do they have cell phones but they have the newest iphone or whatever.   I think it is silly to start with and I do not think it is good for their eye development.  My oldest did not get a phone until he was a Sophomore in high school.  I am reminded of this fact quite frequently by him.  The only reason he got one then was because he was going to be driving and should something happen I wanted him to be able to get in touch with me.  Big T got a phone when he was in seventh grade but, only because I had started working and I could get called in and would have to communicate to him how he would be getting home. I am reminded of this one too, by Sprat.

I share all of that to say this:  Sprat has gone through 4 phones since his Sophomore year of high school.  I am sick of buying phones.  This last one he complained about not working and he wanted a new one and I put my foot down!!  He worked this Summer and I told him if he wanted a new phone he would pay for it him self.  So he did.  I also made him change phone providers because his bill was more than mine and Big T's put together.  He bought his new phone and I am paying for his service and I made him go with my service that is much less than what I was paying. 

With that my phone bills are going to go down dramatically.  Wheww!!!!

If anyone is reading this that is techie, I will give you something that desperately needs to be developed.  Someone needs to develop a teenage boy proof cell phone.  This phone should be indestructible, now there are phones out there that claim to be sturdy and durable but I am seriously talking about indestructible.   

Bless Big T he has had the same phone since seventh grade and has never had problem one with his.  Sprat is like that gorilla you used to see on the Samsonite commercials banging the luggage around showing how durable it is.  The only difference is that with Sprat he destroys all the phones. 

Teenager proof phone, the most needed tech item ever.  

Where Do I Begin???. . . .

Just when you think you have it all together, your kids grow up and prove you know absolutely nothing.  Parenting teenage almost adult boys is not for the faint of heart.  When you think you know them, they show you that you do not know them at all.  Those sweet little angels that you loved and snuggled and loved watching sleep and loved how they smelled.  Ahhh the memories and tears I shed over those little boys and they have no clue how much a mother loves a child.
We spend 16 + years encouraging our kids to grow and be independent, giving them everything they need to do that and then when they go and do it you are no where near prepared.  I was told by my almost 20 year old child, that he was an adult and could do things on his own.  He thinks that because he came and went as he pleased while at college that he can do that in MY house.  Ha Ha Ha Ha !!! This is very hard for your children to understand, they want to flex their adult muscles and they want to be that independent adult so bad.  What these new adults do not realize is all of the responsibility that comes with being an adult.  They still want to sleep in till 1100 and have their food prepared for them.  They want to have their laundry done and car and gas provided to them at no charge of course.
We are always proud that our kids have grown up and excited when they start a new chapter in their lives but when it comes to that chapter where they are suppose to be on their own it is difficult to deal with especially when they still live at home.  They do not show that in those gushy commercials on TV about having children.  They do not show the angry teenager storm out of the house and say, "you don't trust me and you don't want me to grow up."   I bet if they did it would make parents think twice about teaching all this independence.  Nahh, I am just kidding, it would  not have changed anything for me.  I do love that my kids are independent, and that is what we want but they really should teach us parents how to cope with all this independence.  Boys are very different from girls too, I think girls will always need their moms but boys on the other hand they do not want to be seen as "needing" anyone.  ughh the trials of motherhood.
It has taken me a week to write this, every time I read it, I think it sound whiny and needy.  I just want to convey the pains of motherhood in raising teenage and soon to be adult boys. 

Such sweet little angels 

Big T doing what he loves most.  I love this picture, his grin. 

Sprat also doing what he loves most.  

School? Will we ever go back?

The hubbs had to go in today and he took the truck so, that means the boys and I are here till he gets home.  I am going a little stir crazy.  We have been home since Thursday last week due to snow.  They have been home since Monday last week with vacation and teacher work days.  
I love my boys but, they are at that stage of fussing and fighting with each other at every turn.  They are exhausting!   I am trying to keep them from letting their brains go to mush with the Xbox.  I have two of the hardest headed boys ever.
In only a few weeks I will be the mother of two teenagers.  Yes, Big T will be turning 13.  I am not ready for all of this testosterone.  They have already come to blows a couple of times.   I have sweet Basil to help add some estrogen back in the mix, but she can only help so much.  
Time sure does fly when it comes to the babies growing up.   I will end with a few shots of our snow Puggle.

Getting Back to School. . .

Is everyone ready for the kiddos to be back in school?  It is bitter sweet at my house.  My kids keep getting older despite my attempts to keep them my little ones.   I am excited for them to get back in their routine so that I can return to my routine.   I do crave my routine.
Big T will be in 7th grade and Sprat will be in 10th.  Ughhhh!!!!  I hate saying that, I do not feel I am old enough to have a 10th grader.  I still wish I was a MOP (mother of preschooler).  Those days were such fun, I wish I had relished in them a little more.  To all of you MOP's, enjoy those little guys for as long as you can because they morph so quickly into aliens/teenagers.   Just when they get interesting and you can actually carry on a conversation with them they think it is torture to be in the same room with you.  We fight this one daily.  I think they have this misconception that they are supposed to be aggravated with their parents, that it is some kind of rule or something.  Every now and then when we are all together enjoying our time as a family I see a glimpse of them having fun.  You must be careful not to draw attention to it though because they will clam up and retreat to that angry teenager mode again.  You must secretly enjoy those little moments.  I am trying to take advantage of every moment I can to be with the boys because soon GIRLS will come into this picture.  I know this is inevitable but I get a pain in my gut every time I think about it.  So far we have dodged the bullet with them both.  I hope they take after their daddy and do not date until college.  I think Big T is the ladies man, he is the one that had the little girls buying him pudding last year at school.   Girls are so forward these days, I know this is off of my topic, so I will save this one for another day.
As for today, I will cherish every little bit of time I have with my kiddos.

Teenagers. . .

We celebrated Big T's birthday yesterday at the Super Bowl party.  In another year I will be the mother of two teenage boys, oh my goodness.  Time does march on, whether we want it to or not.   I remember being a new mother, a mother of a preschooler, and a mother of elementary boys.  Time is going by at warp speed, I blinked and now my dear precious babies are growing up.   You want them to grow up but, then again, you want them to be your babies again.   I remember sitting with them laying on my chest sound asleep.   They were so tiny and fragile and they smelled so good.

The top picture is Big T only a week old and the bottom picture is Sprat at about six months old. 

Now they are stinky, grouchy, gruff almost men.   No matter what stage of motherhood you are in, love your babies, they are your babies no matter what their age.  Love them and remind them often of where they came from, that they are a part of you.  

A Mother's Opinion. . .teens driving

I am going to weigh in on all the kids that have been killed in car accidents these last few weeks.  I feel very sorry for the families that have been affected by these tragic events.  I pray every night for each of them.  With that said, here is my opinion.
I think teens today have had a lack of parental involvement.   The economy is bad,  most families require both parents working and the kids are left  to their own.  Our kids are over indulged and under parented. 
A friend of mine is trying to set up a driving program for our high school to better educate our kids for the road.  I applaud her for trying to do something. I don't think that is the root of the problem.  Teens today have no respect for authority, themselves or anyone else for that matter.  They are a very self-centered group.  I see it everyday when I pick up my kids at school.  They are checking their phones and not paying attention to their driving.  You can see it on Facebook with the sketchy photos of young girls.  Read it and hear it on the news about the sexting.  This generation is growing up way to quickly and they are not mentally able to handle it. 
They all believe it cannot happen to them but sadly,  it is happening every day. 
The latest I read was a 15 year old driving with two 16 year olds and a 17 year old at 2 in the morning.   The 15 year old and two others are dead.   I do not understand why parents are not keeping a closer eye on their kids.  Yes, I guess I am an old fart with backward ideas.  I am not trying to be my child's friend,  I am their parent and disciplinarian.   Not a fun job some days but it is my job to make sure they abide by the rules.  I love my kids too much to give in to every whim and let them get by with misbehavior.    I hold my kids accountable for their actions and that is not popular these days.   These days the popular thing to do is deny it happened or blame someone else.  

Your kids really want your time not your money, they are begging for it everyday.  When they act out and do things they know are wrong, that is a cry for attention.  

 Please do not think I am heartless or callous because of what I have written.  I have a 15 year old that is learning to drive and my heart breaks every time I hear about another wreck.   We need to encourage our kids to stand against the "crowd" and not be afraid to be different and to do what they know is right when the "crowd" is doing what our kids know is wrong.   If we do not we may be getting that late night call of tragedy, and I do not want that to happen to anyone.   

This is just my opinion, and my kids are not perfect by an stretch of the imagination.   The difference with my kids, is I know they are capable of stretching the truth on occasion and I know how to catch them.  They also know I will find everything out one way or the other.   "There is nothing covered that will not be revealed and hidden that will not be known" Matthew 10:26

First day of High School and Middle School

Big T came in after school with the biggest smile on his face.  That says it all.  I have been so worried over him and his classes, who would be in his room etc. . .  He has a couple friends from elementary school and one from baseball and is making new friends fast.  His whole demeanor has changed from last year to this year.  So very thankful today!  I pray this is a sign, things are on the up swing. 
Now high school is another story.   My oldest is so closed lipped about things I never really know what is going on till I read it in the head lines.  Just kidding.   He is a good boy he just has more teenage attitude than the law should allow.  I have been reading my "Power of a Praying Parent" heavily these last few months.   This is just teenage boy stuff, I dread when girls come in to play.  
I hope I will find out more today.  It is hard I guess because he is at school till after 6pm everyday for football.  I only see him a few hours each day during the week. 
Covering them both in prayer.

Shopping with the Boys

Shopping with your kids should be considered vigorous aerobic exercise.   I love my boys but I hate having to take both of them shopping for anything.  One on one they are easy and I have no problem shopping.   Together should be outlawed.
Sprat needed a new bathing suit, the boy is growing out of his clothes like crazy.  Everytime I turn around he has grown out of something else.  
I guess Sprat is in that phase of teenager where they don't want to try things  on and if it is not about them, they don't care.  Ughhh, teenagers.   These two crazy boys cannot keep their hands to themselves and must aggravate each other every chance they get. 
I love them dearly but they do make me crazy.