Another Teenager in the Clan. . .

We celebrated awesome thirteen this weekend, Big T is now a teenager.   We partied all weekend, this little boy has had more cake in the past seventy-two hours than should be allowed.   He has been quite popular on the telephone too. 
Kids really should talk on the phone with adults more to learn proper phone etiquette.   Thank goodness my folks live away so that my kids have learned good phone etiquette.  If kids only talk to each other on the phone they do not learn this as quickly and if all they do is text they will never learn.  Big T had a bad habit of just hanging up on my mom when he felt he was finished with the conversation.   He did not say goodbye or anything.  He now understands that he needs to end the conversation with a goodbye before hanging up.   That was a tricky thing to try and teach.   

Some days I feel all alone trying to teach my kids good manners.  I feel like everyone around me is trying to sabotage me and them at every turn.  I keep trying though, slow and steady.   

There are many days that I feel all alone tackling this job of motherhood.   You love your kids and you want to do what is best for them and you have everyone around you telling you that you are doing it wrong.  Why is it we are so judgmental of mothers and why do some feel the need to criticize mothers at every turn.  There is so much pressure out there these days on moms to do and be everything to everyone.     

Parenting is a tough job and it is a thankless job too.  This is for all the moms out there doing their best.  Take a deep breath and know you are not alone.  Give yourself a pat on the back because you are doing a difficult job in a difficult time.   

Thank you and stuff

I have always tried to teach my kids to say thank you and to use good manners.  Some days my boys drive me to the brink and I think, where did I go wrong.  Some days they truly surprise me and I get a small glimpse that I am doing something right.
We do not eat a lot of fast food, we never have.  If we are going to spend that kind of money it is going to be on good food.   We went to eat last night at a Japanese buffet and they had a tip jar beside the Hibachi grill.  Sprat fixed what he wanted from the Hibachi and the chef went to work.  Sprat was impressed and he said the food was great.  He asked me for $3, and I said why?  He said,  mom, the food was good and that guy deserves a tip.  So I gave him the money and he put it in the chef's tip jar.  The other thing I have noticed is that every time they are given refills for their drinks or when a waiter or waitress bring their food they always say, thank you.   I am so glad they have learned those words. 
It is nice to know that they believe good service and hard work deserve a little extra.  I hope they both remember that when they go out in the work force.