High School's Coming To An End Soon

With only a few short weeks of high school left, my darling daughter has been under a little bit of stress...not only does she have to worry about every book being turned in, all fees paid up and making sure all her homework is turned in on time, but now she has to think about what she's going to wear under her cap and gown for graduation.  They are being pretty specific on what can and can't be worn. She also has several days of  exams  to complete which will go toward her final grades.
We ordered her yearbook, but the darned thing won't even come in until August, but school will no longer be in session so I think it's going to be next to impossible for her to get autographs from her school buddies, especially when everyone seems to be going their separate ways to different colleges and such.
I understand the frustrations going on and she will have her last day at the vet's office this week, so perhaps she will feel a little more at ease.
Summer's coming up quickly....she has a summer job as a lifeguard, and soon..........THE NAVY !!!

A Graduation Party!

As graduation nears, I am trying to decide what I want to do to celebrate my daughter's graduation. She has accomplished so much and I am very proud of her. I want to do something different but what?  I'm kind of thinking a pool party would be nice...now, if I had a pool in my back yard, or a bigger house, it would be great...but I don't.  I have started to check into different venues that offer pool parties.. I have checked my city pool, a few indoor pools, and a couple of other places, and even the YMCA offers pool parties.  I think that I am getting closer to finding what I want to do...the next will be the foods to serve. Something light I think, due to it being a pool party. And teens like to eat so I may let the swimming happen first, then do the food serving. Another idea I had was to get a 2 hour boat ride, but I found it to be VERY expensive,....to the tune of $800....and that was the cheapest. Anyways, any ideas would be appreciated.

College Or Navy?

Yes, the time has come that my darling teen daughter is contemplating her future.  Honestly, the Navy or Air Force scares me a bit, because of the fighting going on over seas, but.....not all positions go overseas...besides, it's her decision. She wants to do so many things in life and now it's coming of time for her to start making some decisions.  She has chosen to go to OU, which is a great university to go to, but awhile back, she expressed interest in going into the Navy, but , because of a past boyfriend, he really influenced her decision and she backed off of it. Now, with no boyfriend, and only her own thoughts, she is expressing interest again. I want for my daughter to make her own decision because I want her to do what SHE wants in life, not what anyone else wants. I am an anxious, wondering mother here, just waiting to see what she is going to decide....either way, I will support her.

Work, School and Football Games!

Dearest darling daughter, I know how much you love going out and having fun places, but school is a very important time in your life right now....and this last year of school will go the quickest.  Not only are you enjoying the football games and all your friends in the band that you used to play in band with, but you are meeting new people, learning how to do new things in your new job and the world seems to be turning pretty fast right now. Never forget to stop and enjoy the good things in life that you have.  There are so many people out there that don't even have half of what you do, so please be thankful and grateful for everything. Never take things for granted, and always try to look at the bright side of things.  Have faith in God, do what you know is best, and remember....your last year in high school will go the quickest.  Enjoy it!

Happy Birthday My Darling Teen

Today is my daughter's 17th birthday, and I feel like time is racing by quickly. Not only do I feel old, but since she is my last of 5, this only reminds me that next year at this time, she will be an adult, ready to do adult things. I hope and pray that I have been able to teach her all that she needs to know to be able to survive as an adult.... she knows how to cook, wash her own laundry, clean, work and be responsible, and take care of her money. This sounds like alot to know for a teen, but she is learning things now so that when she gets out on her own, she will know how to get by with some of the most important things in life. She only has one more week of freedom left before her senior year of high school starts.
Today she has shown me that she is more grown up than I think she is, and soon, I will have to be able to cut the apron strings, but honestly, I don't think that parents EVER cut the string completely. They let their children spread their wings in life, but we are always there to help them when they need us most. Happy Birthday my darling daughter ! I am so proud of you!

Buying A Better Car For My Teen Daughter

Well, the time has come, and I wasn't really ready for it, but my darling teen needed a better set of wheels. The 93 mustang was great but it started breaking down in various places, leaving me to figure out how to get it back home and fixed....not a good situation when it worried me every time she broke down and there are so many bad things happening nowadays. I don't know why but this is the way the world is changing. I wanted to wait until it was closer to her birthday or closer to Christmas but as we were shopping, we would drive through various lots, viewing what was available. I am one who HATES getting caught by a salesperson, at least until I am ready. Well, that is what happened to us and it turned out that he was NOT pushy, and we found an EXCELLENT buy on a small SUV that she loved. Low mileage, enough room to put all her horse equipment in for going to the barn, and really decent gas mileage.....and the payments were low enough for her to manage to pay, while I pay the insurance. She is exstatic over it and so am I . It is only 3 years old and now I don't have to worry about her breaking down all over the place. Wasn't ready, but I am really glad now to have found such a bargain.

Trusting Your Teenaged Daughter

Trusting your teen some be challenging at times. I allow my daughter to have a few places that I call "free" to go to, and then everything else has to be approved. So, when she's driving, she can go to school, work, the barn and any food place on the way or back from those 3 places to get something to eat or drink. So far, so good... I have been able to keep my trust in her because she always calls or texts me if she wants permission to go anywhere else. Now, my teen isn't perfect by any means but she is developing good habits of keeping in touch with me and I am happy about it. This morning I noticed, when she asked me to transfer money on her card to pay for her gas, she had spent a whopping 24.00 and change to eat at Ihop. I knew that she had her boyfriend with her, but I still wonder how 2 very small people can eat so much! But I have chosen not to worry about it because it's her money.....but since I am old fashioned, I would have much rather that the boyfriend pay for it, or at least part of it. I am happy that I am able to trust my daughter....do you have a good relationship with your teen? Do you trust them?

Dealing With The Passing Of A Beloved Pet

Yesterday afternoon, my precious chihuahua, Prissy passed away. She had gotten pnuemonia, and for a little while, we thought she was better......but she took a turn for the worst. We had to go and get her so we could transfer her from the pet hospital to the emergency vet hospital so she could be monitored overnight, but she passed away before we ever got to take her. She was a little dainty, 4 pound chi that was the light of the family. My teen went with us so she was there when Prissy passed.....she took it just as hard as I did. We both cried as hard as ever, left there empty handed and heavy hearted. How do you console your teen when it's so hard to deal with it yourself? After all, I AM the mother here, but I have to tell you, it was very difficult. I dealt with it the best that I could....came home and took a long hot bath, and once she saw that I was much calmer, she finally went and took her a bath as well. We both cried and hugged at the loss of our dear pet. I didn't sleep at all last night, but she said that she did, so I think that we will both grieve for a little while, but we both talked about it, and we know that we did EVERYTHING in our power for Prissy, and that was a little comfort. How do you deal with the loss of a beloved pet? And how do you help your teen through it?

Keeping Her Room Clean!

Oh what a wonderful teen that I have, and yet, we still have something that it an issue, but not anything really big......it's her ROOM! Oh how I want to go into that room and clean it all up while she's at school but I know that I cannot. I can threaten to clean it up while she's gone, just to see if I get a reaction out of her and hopefully get her to start picking it up, but will it actually get done? Most likely, it will, but I know it's not going to be the kind of clean that I WANT! Well, I suppose if this is the only gripe I have right now, that's great. I guess coming from a mother who has had her own business of cleaning houses for over 25 years, I want a much cleaner room that what I know I will get, but I think that as long as she's keeping it half-way decent, I can't really complain that much. She vaccums the living room without being prompted to do so, helps wash dishes without my asking, but when it comes to her own room..........I give up!

Miss Frenchie

This is Frenchie, my daughter's horse, and she is a beauty....however, look at those feet! Her hooves are really dirty because she has been tromping around in the mud. We keep Miss Frenchie at a barn that provides alot of care, but my daughter still has to take care of cleaning and picking her hooves, and giving her baths, and riding her, teaching her as well as her grooming. Having a horse was a long-time dream of my daughter's and she has done really well with the upkeep. Having a horse is a very large responsibility. Buying the horse is NOT the largest expense....it's the upkeep, food, etc. Not only that, my daughter is into equestrian jumping so that's even more responsibility. As a mother, I DO shreak when I see her jumping over the jumps they have to do, but with a helmet and a good teacher, it's good. School is going wonderfully, and her junior year is half over. Her job is still VERY part time and she'd love to have more hours but her job is busier during the holidays and summer so right now things are a bit slow. Does your daughter have a hobby, or some sort of entertainment that keeps her busy?

A New Look For My Teen

Time is sure flying. My daughter is almost ready for the second semester in her junior year, still dating the same boy, and driving her oldie--but goodie mustang to work, school and the barn. She got her class ring right before Christmas break and when my oldest daughter and granddaughters came down at Christmas to celebrate, something happened to my teen. My 2 oldest granddaughters are teens as well, one is 6 months older than my daughter and the other one is a few years younger. I was astonished when my oldest granddaughter seemed to have settled down some but the younger one had this really crazy hairdo. It was cute, but different...well, my teen decided that she wanted her hair very similar (without the craziness, thank goodness) so my oldest daughter cut her hair and styled it, making it soooooo pretty. I looked at my teen, wondering what would be next. Well, something DID come next....and it was wanting to wear eyeliner. WHAT?? Although I wore makeup from the time I was a very young teen, I was suprized to see that my teen, who is 16 now, is wanting to wear a little eye makeup. I agreed, as she is very light on it, and it actually looks nice, but what is next? She went out and bought some jeans that are a little different than what she normally wears.......and at this point, the suprizes have stopped but I am wondering if there will be any more changes to come. She told me that she just wanted a new look, and BOY did she get it!

Teens and Hobbies

This is Miss Frenchie, my daughter's horse. She is a very curious horse and loves alot of attention.

My daughter rides English and jumps her, also competes in english jumping.

Not only does Frenchie require multiple visits throughout the week, but riding as well, even through the coldest of weather. We have her at a wonderful barn that has live-on care and she is tended to with many other horses. I can't tell you how great it is for my daughter to have a hobby that keeps her busy. Also, this is her future as she has decided to become a enquine vet. She is studying assistant vet tech in school right now and will soon be able to work as one in her senior year. Does your teen have a hobby that keeps her busy? Do you find that it keeps her just busy enough or way too busy? We have learned how to manage the hobby along with the homework, so it works out great here.

Finally Got My Daughter's Car Back

Gee wiz, I thought I would never get my daughter's car back, but $421.60 later, it's back and running like a dream....actually, it is like a dream because now I have my own car back and that's a wonderful thing.
Her car is a 93 ford mustang, automatic, and gets her from school to work and back and forth to the barn..... I am so happy I could scream about it.
I know, you are probably wondering why I am so happy about my teen having freedom, and actually, it's not that, but it's a little bit of freedom for me! I don't have to drive her back and forth like I had to do up until this point. My teen had alot of places that she needed to go and to have her be able to drive herself is great. I will add here that she has earned this, at least I feel so. She is not allowed to talk on her cell or text while driving. She has to let me know when she gets where she's going and she doesn't get to go where-ever she wants, so it's all good. I trust my daughter, and that's a good thing.

Working Through The Holiday

Oh, I am certainly hearing that whine of " I don't like working!" so since she's been working less than a year now, how do I tell her that this is a way of life? It's not going to be her job for the rest of her life, and she really doesn't work that much....however, during the holidays, she has worked very much......great for her paycheck, keeps her busy, but she doesn't like the hours. Well, she's at the bottom of the work line right now, but it won't always be this way. Next year, she will have to get a job more directly within the field of where she wants to be, so this will be good.
I am so happy that school will be back in session after the weekend is through. How has your holidays been with your teen at home?

Buying For Others.....The Joy Of Giving

Every year, especially at Christmas time, I get the long list of what my darling daughter wants for Christmas. I got that this year, but I also noticed a part of her that changed a little....she was buying for others. She is finally learning the joy of giving out gifts, as well as recieving them. What a blessing this Christmas was.
Not only did I get a gift, but she gave out to several of her friends and family too. I didn't see her buy anything for her father, and I think that's because he never comes around. I don't think that he even called her or texted her either. But life went on, and it was good.
Trying to raise a responsible teen is challenging, to say the least.....but it is very rewarding to see when they have done something grown up without you having to remind them.

My Daughter's Car.

sorry for not posting for awhile. I have been quite dismayed over the fact that--now this may sound silly, but my daughter's car has been in the shop for 4 months now and I am about to go WILD! Yes, it's true...and it's been problems with the transmission. They thought it was fixed at one point and before we got it, it started acting up so we didn't get it back, so here I am, anxious to get it back, and the reason for this is that she is driving MY car. I know, I could drive her around every where but she is a very busy teen and I just feel as though she needs to be able to come and go to school, the barn and to work.
Now, if she was not getting excellent grades in school or was getting in trouble, then she wouldn't be having the freedom to get around easily, but she has earned the right to have her car.
At what age do you think a teen should have their own car? My daughter is 16, but is very responsible and I feel that she is worthy of having her own transportation. It's not a new car at all, and thank goodness for that, otherwise, the insurance would be higher.

Driving Like An Adult

I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing, but now my daughter is driving, getting from point A to B and it's a very good feeling, for me and for her. I have given my daughter free reign on a few places that she is allowed to drive without question.
1. school
2. work
3. the barn
4. anywhere to grab a bite to eat to or from the first three.

Now, if she wants to go anywhere else, she has to have my permission. So far, there have been a few places she has asked to go, but since she's so busy, it's not many.
Class rings were ordered and she picked up a friend who lives close by to take her to the school for the ordering, but she came home right afterwards and so far, she is doing what's she's supposed to. I know that I am blessed by her behaviour, and I thank GOD everyday for her maturity and wanting to do what's best. This is not to say that she acts like an adult, but that she is showing some maturity for her age.

The Horse Show

My daughter went to her second horse show this past weekend but it was her 1st jumping show.....She was so happy, and yes, I am a proud mamma, as she won 1st and 2nd place in the walk-trot- and the walk-trot-canter. She placed 3rd and 4th in the classes on the jumping. She has a really nice riding position but it turns out that when "Frenchie" saw the judge sitting in the booth, she decided to go a little faster than she should have. All in all, it was a great experience and we are very pleased. This picture is of her on Frenchie, with her trainer, Miss Carla.

The HomeComing Dance

Tonight is my daughter's homecoming dance and she is going. We ended up buying her dress at Ross for a great bargain price, and the heels, she already had. Hair cut ended up costing around $12. and the ticket for entering is a mere $7, so I think that we managed it pretty good, however, the cost of those professional picture packages were a little more than planned but we went ahead and bought the $25 package because I think that she deserves to have something for her memory. Now, most of you who keep up with my blog know that my daughter is not a "dress up" type of gal......she's really into her jeans, but I am so happy to see her actually want to go this evening. Whoops, it's almost time to go so have a good weekend everyone!

School's Back In Session

Today was the first day back to school and my poor dear darling daughter was very nervous....and not because it was a new school or anything, but just because. Sometimes teen daughters just have those feelings of uneasiness, but it's okay....I know that by the end of the school day, she will come home all excited about seeing her friends again and talking about the new classes she has.
Give your teen moral support and let her/him know that you understand their nervousness but that everything will be fine. Show interest in their new classes and what they have going on. For me, I enjoy hearing all about what she's thinking and what's going on with her, and I think this keeps the door open for a great parent/child (teen) relationship.