Comments on: My Tumultuous Teens http://blog.chinaberry.com/2011/02/my-tumultuous-teens/ The Meeting Place for the Chinaberry Community Wed, 19 Jun 2013 04:41:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: admin http://blog.chinaberry.com/2011/02/my-tumultuous-teens/#comment-22008 admin Tue, 22 Feb 2011 17:46:07 +0000 http://blog.chinaberry.com/?p=3477#comment-22008 From facebook by CM 2/18/11: "I may have said this here before but my daughter turned two the same year my eldest stepdaughter turned 13. I learned adolescence and toddlerhood are basically the same stage except the teens can manage the bathroom on their own and you can pick up and just move the toddler. Of the two, I think I prefer the latter." From facebook by CM 2/18/11: “I may have said this here before but my daughter turned two the same year my eldest stepdaughter turned 13. I learned adolescence and toddlerhood are basically the same stage except the teens can manage the bathroom on their own and you can pick up and just move the toddler. Of the two, I think I prefer the latter.”

]]> By: Karen http://blog.chinaberry.com/2011/02/my-tumultuous-teens/#comment-21854 Karen Sat, 19 Feb 2011 02:36:04 +0000 http://blog.chinaberry.com/?p=3477#comment-21854 This is a very timely entry for me and for that, I thank you. I came home today in a terrific mood on a beautiful early spring day. My husband and eleven year-old son were in equally good states of mind. Enter the thirteen year old son who indeed cast a shadow over a cheerful evening for no apparent reason. When asked about his day, the response was "fine" with an inviting ticked off at the world attitude. He denied any concerns or frustrations and angrily paced through the living room. When little brother and dad were not interested in kicking the soccer ball, I immediately jumped at the opportunity when invited. After just a few kicks, life was good again (phew!). Little brother heard the fun and, of course, quickly joined us. His mood has flipped two more times as the evening has continued. My goal is for him to be on the up swing when I kiss him good night and turn off his light ( of course I realize I am very fortunate that we still have a peaceful and loving bedtime routine) All together this has been a good night. We have certainly had worse days on the moodiness scale. On those rougher days, I always remember what my grandmother told me when I asked her the tips for staying married for over 60 years. "When the end of the day comes and you go to bed, always apologize for your part of the conflict and tell each other 'I love you'". So because each day is a new opportunity, these are the words of wisdom that guide my precious time with my boys. This is a very timely entry for me and for that, I thank you. I came home today in a terrific mood on a beautiful early spring day. My husband and eleven year-old son were in equally good states of mind. Enter the thirteen year old son who indeed cast a shadow over a cheerful evening for no apparent reason. When asked about his day, the response was “fine” with an inviting ticked off at the world attitude. He denied any concerns or frustrations and angrily paced through the living room. When little brother and dad were not interested in kicking the soccer ball, I immediately jumped at the opportunity when invited. After just a few kicks, life was good again (phew!). Little brother heard the fun and, of course, quickly joined us. His mood has flipped two more times as the evening has continued.

My goal is for him to be on the up swing when I kiss him good night and turn off his light ( of course I realize I am very fortunate that we still have a peaceful and loving bedtime routine)
All together this has been a good night. We have certainly had worse days on the moodiness scale. On those rougher days, I always remember what my grandmother told me when I asked her the tips for staying married for over 60 years. “When the end of the day comes and you go to bed, always apologize for your part of the conflict and tell each other ‘I love you’”. So because each day is a new opportunity, these are the words of wisdom that guide my precious time with my boys.

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