The Kids Growing Up Does Not Mean I'm Getting Old

Three weeks ago the kids went back to school and this year saw a big change for us. I picked their school very deliberately years ago. You see, Heli Dad and I both grew up in small towns - I attended the same school from kindergarten through high school graduation, he was at the same school until grade ten. We wanted that kind of learning community for our own kids and we are extremely lucky that we found that in a school very close to our home. We've been fortunate that our kids are able to attend their school right from preschool through grade nine. 

This September, Princess started grade 10. New school, new people... It's been a big adjustment for us all. 

And boy, high school. 

I don't think it's really even necessary for me to say more than that, is it? I have so many really great memories of high school, but I've got my share of bad ones too. And while so many things have changed in our society and in our culture, so many of the quintessential high school experiences are still to be had. The problem is that they're amped up - by technology, by the veneer of advanced maturity that teenagers these days all seem to have, by changing ideology, and by politics, and by so much more. 

It's not just clique's snubbing you in the cafeteria, or a bully in your face all the time. Those actions and attitudes are taken online and can relentless. 

it's not high school kids sneaking their first beer or smoke at a party, it's vaping and hard drugs, and more. 

It's still kids figuring out who they are and what they are.

It's peer pressure, and adult pressure, it's growing expectations and responsibility. 

Honestly, I think I've been as stressed out about the whole high school thing, nearly as much as Princess.  And next thing you know Gamer Boy will be there with her. Angel Face will join him as Princess leaves. 

I won't even comment on how many times I've heard "You've got a kid in high school? I didn't realize you were that old." Old? Really? Really? But hey - I've got another year or two before I even have to think about Little Prince starting preschool, so that should even out some of the ageism right?? 



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Our Newest Treasure

Image
After all the waiting, both patient and impatiently, the baby is finally here!!! So without further ado, I'd like to introduce to you all: Helyn Saphira Marie Our precious jewel ;) Born August 6, 2008 [08-06-08] 5:59pm 7lbs 12oz, 21 1/4 inches (our biggest baby!) As for information on the actual birth, for those of you who are interested... I mentioned in my last post I had a doctors appointment on Wednesday afternoon and when he checked me I was 3cm dilated. Now at this point [1:15pm] I wasn't actually having any contractions and by the end of the appointment he had made arrangements to induce me on Thursday morning - which would have been the 7th. I went from the doctors office to my mom's office to let her know how things had gone and to visit for a few minutes. By 2pm I'd started to have a few contractions but I didn't think too much about them as they weren't really all that different from what I'd been having for the last week or so. By 2:30p...
Read more

Trick-or-Treating with the Kids!!

Image
OH A HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!! She was Piglet at 5 months. A devil the next year. Last year Arora was a 'Butterfly Princess Fairy' (she couldn't narrow it down to just one), and this year we settled on being a witch. The decision making bit for the costume, of course, was that it had bright pink in it. But mommy (obviously that's me) was able to find a pair of tights and a sweater in the same shade of bright pink, so on the whole the Witch was a winner!!! Being only three weeks old last year on Halloween Zack didn't actually dress up. In a sense he was just 'a new-born' and we didn't actually take him around at all. This year though we (and I suppose that should really just be 'I') wanted his costume to be something really cute, but cool too. When I was shopping in Calgary a couple weeks ago I was able to find the PERFECT costume, at Old Navy of all places, and though mom and I worried that it might be a bit too big, we were wrong, it ...
Read more

A Quickie!

So here's an update on the whole oven/stove issue. Allow me to briefly describe the conversation I had with my mom... Me: It worked before and now it doesn't. It's broken. (somewhat paraphrased) Mom: Check the fuses. Me: I will, but I'd rather have a new one. Mom: And if that's not it then replace the elements. Me: I will. But I'd really prefer a new one. Mom: Dad will be home on the weekend I'm sure he'd could look at it for you, if you need him too. (that one's somewhat paraphrased too but that's the gist of what she said) Me: He can. But I'd REALLY rather have a new one. For Christmas and all. (and I smiled sweetly even though she couldn't actually see it since we were on the phone!) Mom: It can probably be fixed. Me: Probably. Though I'd REALLY just like to get a NEW ONE! Mom: If it can't be fixed, we'll see. Me: (and I'm smiling really big now) Since it's Christmas and all? Mom: Yeah, Christmas. Somehow, ...
Read more