Holiday Gift Ideas for Tweens & Teens

What seems like many moons ago, I used to post a "Hottest Toys of Christmas {Insert Year}" post annually here on the blog. It was a lot of work, but also a lot of fun. Then, as my own kids got older and less "toy focused," I stopped doing that post because it just didn't fit my parenting stage anymore. 

Last year, for the first time, I did a "Creative Holiday Gift Ideas for Tween and Teens" post instead and it was so much fun! Through the research, I actually got some great ideas for my own daughters, too, so I decided to do that post again this year! Maybe this one will become the new holiday tradition here on the blog. 

Be sure to check out last year's list again - all the ideas listed there could be used this year, too! However, if you're looking for some new suggestions, here you go! 

**Note: I have three daughters, so I openly confess that this list has a feminine slant, but I think it can be useful for the teen guys in your life too! 

1.  LED Light Box -Your teen can brighten up his/her room by putting this light box on a wall, shelf, or desk. The messages are changeable and can be used to add fun to parties, photos, or even as a table centerpiece. This particular one is available on Amazon for $24.95, but there are lots of others available at various retailers and ranging in price from around $15-$50. 

Available at Amazon.com

2. GlamGlow #Mulitmasking Mask Treatment  - My teen girls love a good face mask! This set from Sephora offers six different, travel-size face mask favorites for $39.00.

Available at Sephora 

3.  Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer - I'm no makeup expert, but apparently this make up line is hugely popular and this particular shade works well on everyone! It's available for $18 from Spehora or directly from Fenty Beauty online. 

Available at Sephora

4.  Cool Sunglasses - When my oldest daughter started driving, I realized that a pair of sunglasses was not only a fashion accessory, but somewhat of a necessity for teens. Aviator glasses seem to be a popular style, but, of course the are tons of options that range in price from ten dollars to hundreds of dollars!

These aviators from YuFalling come with different lens color options and are  $15.99 on Amazon

5.  Caboodles - Do you remember these from the 90's? I had one I used to store make up and a smaller one I used for hair accessories. Well, guess what? They are back! And, they're still great for storing make up, hair accessories, jewelry, or art supplies. Available at Target , the large size runs $16-20 with smaller ones available for around $7-10. 

This one is listed at Target.com for $16.99

6. 3-D Monogram necklace - Available at mynamenecklace.com, this is a unique version of a popular jewelry item. I love the round, three dimensional design of this necklace that is available in silver, gold, or rose gold. With a sale price of $89.95 on the sterling silver version, it's a bit more expensive than most of the things on my list, but might be worth the investment if you have a jewelry loving teen! (The site also has flat, disc, and acrylic monograms necklaces available at slightly lower prices.)

Available at mynamenecklace.com

7.  Teen Cookbook - Tweens and teens certainly can eat some food, right? So, why not help them learn how to cook it?!? This book, titled Teens Cook: How to Cook What you Want to Eat is a best seller on Amazon for $13.99. There are other cook book options as well including some that focus on baking and some from your teen's favorite You Tubers. 

Available via Amazon

8. Umbra FishHotel Mini Aquarium - I like to think of this as a modern, contemporary fish bowl! It was once featured on Oprah's Favorite things and what teen doesn't need to practice a little responsibility?!?! 😜It's just under $40 on Amazon (fish not included!).

Available via Amazon

9. #Hastag it! Board Game - This game sounds a lot like "Apples to Apples" with hashtags!  #fun #lotsoflaughter #stopwiththehashtags Each round starts with a silly picture and players try to choose the best hashtag from the cards in their hands. It's available on Amazon for under $20. **It is recommended for ages 18 and up. If you have younger teens or tweens, check out the family version, also available on Amazon. 

Available via Amazon

10. The Night Sky - These star maps are a super unique idea! You enter a special date and location (such as the day and place someone was born or a graduation date), and they will create an 18" x 24" print of the stars in the night sky at that specific time. You can include a message, such as "On the Day You Were Born" and it's available in four different colors. The print is $60 and, for an additional $60, you can add a frame. Check it out at www.thenightsky.com.

This is one I created just for fun! You can create without purchasing 

11. Fun Rain Boots - My daughters all have to walk outside between buildings during the school day, so they are not happy campers when it rains. Why not add some sunshine to rainy days with a pair of bright rain boots?!? You can purchase inexpensive ones from somewhere like Target or Kohls for less than $50  or pricier ones like Sperry or Hunter boots that cost upwards of $100. It just depends on your budget and the fashion sense of your teen! 

(L to R: women's Hale boots from muckbootcompany.com, Sperry boots via sperry.com, and floral boots via Target.com)

12.  Classic Crocs - Speaking of shoes, it seems that old school, classic Crocs are coming back into style (worn with socks, of course!). No, I'm not kidding. Keep your teens at the peak of fashion by wrapping up a pair and putting them under the tree this year! They will cost about $40 via crocs.com and come in a wide variety of colors.

Available at www.crocs.com

13.  Coffee Mug - I'm so old that, when I was a teenager, Starbucks wasn't a thing yet (except maybe in Seattle), so I didn't start drinking coffee until motherhood necessitated it several years later. Today's teens, however, are coffee fanatics (at least some of them). So how about a fun mug like this heat-sensitive, color changing unicorn mug? Yes, it seems a little silly, but if it changes your teen's morning scowl to a smile, it's definitely worth the $11.99 you'll pay Amazon! (If unicorns don't float your teen's boat, there are plenty of other coffee mug options including sports teams, funny sayings, and travel mugs!)

Available via Amazon

14.  Bubble Pop iPhone Case - This case, available from Urban Outfitters, works for an iPhone 6, 6s, 7, or 8 and costs $24.00. It will surely provide hours of fun for your teen's fidgety fingers! 

Available through Urban Outfitters

15. Pup socks - Does your teen love his/her pup? or cat? Take a pup pic, upload it, and receive some fun, custom socks that he/she can wear everywhere! Check out www.gopupsocks.com to create pair!that will run you about $30. They also have mugs, blankets, shoes, and bags! 

Available at www.gopupsocks.com

16. SoundSoul Bluetooth Water Dancing Speakers - These speakers, available through Amazon, put on a great light and water show while playing your teen's favorite tunes! Great for parties or just to add pizazz to their bedroom.

Available via Amazon

A couple other suggestions:

• Don't rule out gift cards! Many people feel like giving gift cards is taking the easy way out, but I can assure you that there is nothing a teen would love more than to have some "free money" to spend at his/her favorite store. If it makes you feel better, tie the gift card to a giant candy bar or stuff it in a fun pair of socks, but don't worry that teens won't be happy with a gift card (or two!). 
• Enough with the stuff! Despite the list I just shared, there is not a single teen I know who needs more stuff. So, I encourage you to think about giving the teens in your life some experiences instead! Movie tickets, concert tickets, escape room tickets, and sporting event tickets would all be great gifts that would allow your teens to have some fun and make some memories without putting more things on their shelves or in their closets. 
• Back to basics! I am guilty, myself, of trying so hard to be creative that I often overlook the "run of the mill" basics. Clothes, shoes, winter gear (like hats and gloves), and personal care items (such as bath sets or hair styling products) are always welcome AND useful! 
• What matters most to YOUR teen? I've got one who loves make up, one who loves horses, and one who is a budding architect! Maybe you have a sports fanatic, a music connoisseur, or an artist. Think about what tickles your teen's fancy and, then, go down that road. 

Hopefully, this list has helped to ignite your holiday spirit and you have found at least a couple ideas that might help answer "What in the world am I going to get my tween/teen this Christmas?" If you've got any other great ideas, please share them in a comment below - I need all the help I can get, too! 😉

**Disclaimer: I have not purchased, used, or reviewed all the items on this list and inclusion on this list is not an endorsement of these products. Please take time to read reviews and research on your own before purchasing. 

Sometimes Motherhood

Motherhood used to sometimes be sleepless nights and baby snuggles. Sometimes, there were toddler tantrums and tickle monsters. Sometimes, sippy cups and potty training were of upmost concern. Sometimes, I miss those days that seem so long ago and, yet, just like yesterday. Most of the time, though, I am quite happy right here where we are now in the midst of middle school, high school, and teenager-hood.

Now, our sometimes are a little bit different now . . 

Sometimes you say, "Mom I need to stay after school for . . . ." and, then I forget. 

Sometimes, I skip something I'd like to do to drive you to your activities instead. 
Really, I don't mind.
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Sometimes, we eat frozen pizza or cereal for dinner because I don't have the energy, time, or creativity to make herbed risotto with spinach and sun-dried tomato marinated chicken. You wouldn't eat it if I did. 

Sometimes, we sit around the dinner table eating pancakes for supper and we laugh until         we cry at some silly something.

Those are the moments I treasure.

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Sometimes, our house is a wreck with laundry piled up, dishes in the sink, shoes on the floor, and strange smells emanating from your bedrooms. I get frustrated and wish you were more responsible and tidy.

Sometimes, home is the only place I want to be, surrounded by all of you, each in your separate rooms or totally disregarding my personal space as you sit next to me on the couch while we watch something ridiculous on TV. 

These are moments I savor.

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Sometimes, you are moody, and sulky, and you spend all day in your room being excessively teenager-y. You are teenagers, after all.

Sometimes, I get angry when people assume that raising teens is miserable task.

Most of the time, it's not. 

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Sometimes, I am reeling at how fast you are growing up and I worry about the future. How do we pick the right school? Are you safe when you drive? Are your friends good friends?

Sometimes, I cannot wait to see what the future holds; what amazing things you will do; what amazing people you will be. 

I look forward to finding out. 

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Sometimes, motherhood is hard.

Sometimes, motherhood is fun. 

Sometimes, motherhood is stressful.

Sometimes, motherhood is inspiring. 

Sometimes, motherhood is frightening.

Sometimes, motherhood is rewarding.

Most of the time, it's all of the above. 

Seasons of Parenting

I read the FTSF post on Facebook this week which was "10 things about the changing of the seasons...". The first thing that came to my mind was how the seasons of parenting change. That seems to be on my mind a lot lately as my now teenagers are growing and changing just as fast as toddlers do, it seems. I brushed it off, though, because I usually don't have much time to write these days and, while I still love writing here in this space, it has gotten pushed far to the back of my priorities shelf. 

However, speaking of seasons, it's hurricane season and I ended up with a quiet day at home today thanks for Hurricane Florence. (That will probably be the only thing I ever thank her for!) I live in central NC and, fortunately, as Flo has approached our coast and made landfall, she has weakened. Original predictions, though, had her coming in as a Category 4 and having a huge, devastating impact on our state as far as 300 miles inland closer to where we live. With that earlier forecast in mind, schools closed for today fearing the worst. Since then, the predicted path has changed and the storm actually came in as a Category 1. There will still be flooding and significant damage, for sure, but I now have this lazy day at home to write a little blog post. 

So, focusing back on the seasons of parenting, here's how it breaks down in my mind:

1. Expecting - This is the stage when you are just expecting your first child. You are blissfully unaware that you have no idea what you are getting into and that you will not have a sound night's sleep again for the next 18+ years. 
2. Newborn - You have brought your bundle of joy home and are now delirious with love for this tiny human. However, you are also sleep derived, confused, constantly worried, and have most likely defaulted to yoga pants and ponytails as you have no time for showering or make up. 
3. Toddlers - When you're in this season, you are knee deep in potty training, tantrums, and baby-proofing everything to make sure your sweet little angle doesn't ingest a bottle of Mr. Clean or take a headlong dive down the stairs. **This stage is often complicated by combining it with the newborn stage if parents add second and third children into the mix. In that case, you are in the sleep deprived newborn stage and the hyper vigilant toddler stage all at the same time. Good luck! 
4. Elementary  - In this stage, you are in disbelief that you precious cherub is old enough to go to school and you shed tears as you watch him/her tote that ginormous backpack into the classroom where they will be with someone else more hours in day that they will be with you (at least awake!). Secretly, though, you are looking forward to a little time for yourself. This stage also involves considerable paperwork - all the school forms, school fundraisers, permission slips,  . . . . . .
5. Older elementary - By this stage, you have gotten used to dropping them off in the carpool line. Instead of crying and savoring snuggles in the morning, you are constantly saying "Hurry up!" and sticking a granola bar in their hand as you rush them out the door. Hopefully, they are doing most of their homework on their on with just a few gentle reminders, because you will soon realize that you are, in fact, NOT smarter than a fifth grader due to the fact that's not the way you learned to multiply or apply commas. The kids are somewhere between "Hold me, Mommy!" and "Don't you dare kiss me in front of my friends!" Bedtime is pushed back closer to 9:00pm and your grocery bill is consistently rising in order to satisfy their constant need to snack. 
6. Middle school - Hormones, homework, and mood swings - oh my!! You spend hours and hours in your car chauffeuring kids to all. the. things. 
7. High school/teens - You've somewhat gotten used to the hormones and moods swings - you can now take them in stride and, occasionally, even predict them. You actually kind of miss all those hours you spent in the car because, now, they can drive themselves and you don't see them much anymore. But you worry - every second you are not with them, you are worried about them in a whole new way. There are new stressors, too, like college decisions, car insurance, and dating. You also laugh at the you who thought they ate a lot when they were a few years younger - these teenagers can put away some food! 
8. College  - I'm not quite here yet, although I can hardly believe that I will be in less than two years. I imagine this stage is a grand mixture of pride, loneliness, and uncertainty. I'm just getting used to my oldest driving herself and I already feel like our time together has been drastically reduced. I can only imagine the vacuum I will feel when she goes away to college.
9. Young adults - Obviously, I'm not here yet, either. I envision a time of travel for my husband and me while our kids are independent adults. I am certain I will miss them immensely, but my house will probably be a whole lot cleaner, too! 
10. Grandparenting - My own parents have tried to describe the feeling of being a grandparent, but it is apparently a feeling that is tough to articulate. An overwhelming love, but one that is different form the way you love your own children. I can only suppose that watching your own children experience these stages themselves is quite an exceptional experience. 

I should also mention that these seasons often overlap. What seems like a long time ago and also just like yesterday, I dropped my oldest off for her first day of kindergarten with a toddler tagging along and a two week old newborn in a carrier on my chest. Now, my oldest is a teenager who recently got her driver's license, while my younger two are still in middle school. Having come this far in parenting, I would say that no season is easier than another. They are all just different, each with its own unique challenges and joys. 

What season of parenting are you in right now?

Don't Assume My Teenagers Are Making Me Miserable

"You have three daughters?? Wow! Watch out for those teenage years!!"

"Your daughters are how old? I bet you have your hands full!"

"I bet there are a lot of tears and slamming doors in your house!"

"They're adorable babies, but I bet they'll hate you when they're teenagers!" 

I've been hearing comments like these for years now and, when my daughters were little, they had me pretty terrified of what the future would be like. Now, with a 16, 13, and 11 year old, I think it's safe to say we are firmly planted in the teenage years and we'll be here for a while. 

You know what? It's really not that bad! In fact, I have friends and relatives with toddlers and newborns. While I'm more than happy to snuggle their little ones and even change a diaper or two, I'm also happy to hand them back over and come home to my house full of teens where I can have a conversation that does not involve cartoon characters and, then, sleep soundly through the night.

I'm not going to lie. There is definitely some eye-rolling, some door slamming, and, as my teens would say, some "salty" text messaging happening in my family these days. Trying to anticipate mood swings is like trying to predict the path of a hurricane and emotions run high from time to time. If I'm being honest, though, I'm just as guilty as they are on occasion.

That's not the entirety - or even the majority - of our interactions, though.  

There are also lots of laughs, smiles, and hugs. Now that they are older, we are able to have real conversations about real things. We can offer each other advice, encouragement, and comfort in frustrating situations. We help each other out- whether it's choosing the right shoes to go with an outfit or math homework that even I can't figure out. The good moments outweigh the bad ones by far, so I'm kind of tired of hearing all about how awful teenagers are! 

In general, if your'e old enough to be parenting a teen, you are probably well aware that they have pressures today we never even dreamed of 20-30 years ago. There is the constant pressure of social media - looking a certain way, being a certain way, having the "right" friends, and having the "right" stuff. They cannot escape stories of school shootings and mass violence no matter how hard we try to shelter them. When my oldest was just 14 and at the very beginning of high school, people were asking her where she wants to go to college and what she is planning to declare as her major. She's trying to get good grades, rack up some service hours, and make sure to have some extracurricular activities that will look good on a college application - all while she's suppose to already know exactly what she wants to be when she grows up?!? Not to mention the raging hormones that they cannot control no matter how hard they may try. They are also experiencing lots of new feelings about other people and this great big world they were not familiar with just a short time ago and coping with those emotions takes a level of maturity they may just barley be beginning to reach. It's a lot for kids - yes, KIDS - to shoulder and, since they are just kids, they are still trying to figure out how to cope with all that stress.

As adults, we don't help them by setting our expectations so low and just presupposing they are automatically going to be unpleasant, disrespectful humans when they hit teenage-dom.

Maybe, they are just living up to (or down to) what we have all told them we expect them to be. 

Maybe we should try to understand the pressure they are under and cut them just a little slack. (That does NOT mean abandoning the rules and letting them go wild!)

Maybe not all teenagers are monsters. 

If you're currently raising toddlers, I'm here to tell you that you don't need to dread their teenage years nearly as much as people may tell you you should. Sure, parenting teens can be tough, but, hey, raising toddlers isn't all sunshine and roses, either, right? There's no universal law that requires teens to be terrible, so you shouldn't just assume that they will be any more difficult at 15 the they are at 5 - there may be different frustrations, but not worse. In fact, you might actually enjoy them as teens if you head into those years with a positive attitude. 

If you are currently raising teens, I am a firm believer that kids will embrace our attitudes and expectations. If those are negative or full of dread, then you will reap exactly the behavior you are sowing. If you can, instead, view your kids as real people with real pressures, but also with beautiful, valuable gifts to offer, you will see those gifts shine through and the teen years will be a lot more positive for everyone. 

Will there still be mood swings and eye rolling? For sure! Lots of it will come from them and plenty will certainly come from you as well. How about we try to focus on the positive moments, though, and let those be the ones that define what it means to raise teenagers and watch them becoming the unique, amazing people they were created to be. All the teenagers I know are actually pretty awesome people if you just give them the chance to show you.  

Why I Keep Dropping the Dishwasher Ball

I was in the kitchen getting ready to make supper on Sunday evening. The sink was full of dirty dishes, as usual, so I decided to unload the dishwasher and re-load it with the dirty plates, cups, and utensils before I began cooking. I opened the dishwasher and realized that I had loaded the dishwasher with messy dishes the night before, but had, once again, neglected to hit the start button. I cursed under my breath just as my husband walked through. 

"Did you forget to start it again?" he asked. "Sometimes, I really worry about you, my love!" he chuckled.

You see, it's a running joke at my house - me forgetting to start the dishwasher - because it happens quite frequently. In fact, it seems that at least once a week I find myself in this same predicament. 

Hitting the button should be the easy part, right? So, why do I keep forgetting this tiny, simple little thing?

Well, it's because I've got a lot of balls. 

Ahem. I mean, I’ve got a lot of things going on - a lot of proverbial balls I'm juggling. 

I read a blog post recently that contended the majority of the "mental load" in a household rests on the shoulders of the mom. I would have to agree. Now, don't get me wrong. My husband has plenty of things to juggle, too. He is the primary breadwinner for our family and that rests heavily on him, I know. Although I do work part time, I do not have the amount of work stress he does. Of course, he is also helping with some household things and dad things, too. 

However, when it comes to "the daily grind" of running a household and a family, it's mostly on me. I'm the one making the appointments, planning the menus, cleaning the house, doing the shopping, and trying to figure out how to get everyone where they need to be. When school's in, you can add to the list filling out all the forms, sending all the emails, washing the uniforms, making sure the homework gets done, and even more scheduling and transportation logistics. Did I mention I have job outside the home as well??

For us, it's not like one day after we had kids we sat down and said, "Here's a list of all HIS responsibilities and here's a list of HERS." It just happened this way. Partly because his work requires a lot of travel, but mostly just because this is the way it is. It's the same in most (but not all)  of the families I know. The moms are the ones juggling all (or at least most of) the balls. And, it's exhausting.

So, yes, occasionally I drop a ball or two. Sometimes it's the ball with the appointment I forgot or the friend I’ve been meaning to call. Sometimes, it's the house cleaning ball or the ball with the instructions for that diet I meant to try. It might be an email I forgot to send, a blog post I never found time to write, or a book that took me way too long to finish. Often, it's laundry that didn't get folded or crumbs that didn't get mopped up. And, yes, quite frequently it's that damn dishwasher ball that gets clumsily fumbled. 

I'm not perfect and I’m not trying to be. I got over that a long time ago. I am, however, trying my best to keep juggling all these balls and make sure that at least the most important ones don’t get dropped. The dishwasher ball?? Well, I figure those dishes will still be dirty tomorrow, so I’m not going to worry about hat one too much. 😜 I'll just have to pick up that ball and try again. 

Peeks of Light

It's time for Finish the Sentence Friday and, today, we're supposed to share a photo and a story to go with it. I can't share the photo I want to, though. It's a picture of my oldest daughter and some of her friends that was taken a couple nights ago when they were having a sleepover to celebrate the end of a grueling sophomore year and one of their birthdays. It is a photo of love, friendship, and pure joy. 

While I'm certain they have each put this same photo on all their social media accounts (because I've seen and "liked" each and every one), I don't feel it's my right to slap their faces up here on my little piece of the internet. So, instead, I spent way too much time on Canva finding this stock photo of joyous friends to share! It's missing the green grass and the familiar faces, but you get the idea.

So what's the story that goes with the photo??

We made a decision two years ago to enroll our daughter in this extremely rigorous academic high school/college program. Every day since then I have wondered if it was the right decision. I have seen her completely joy-less and far more stressed out than any fifteen year old should be. At the same time, she has made some great friends and can definitely say she has overcome some incredible hurdles. It was actually an enormous relief to see such joy on their faces in that photo.

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Thursday afternoon (the day I picked her up from the sleepover), we were driving with my around town when we witnessed a pretty bad car accident right in front of us. The car in front of me ran a red light and got t-boned by another vehicle. The next thing we saw was the homeless man who is almost always on the corner at that intersection. His sign says he is a disabled veteran. Using a cane, he was hobbling across a very large and busy intersection as fast as he could to check on the people in the cars that had collided. HE WAS THE ONLY PERSON WHO WENT TO THEM! (I called to report the accident while sitting in my car, but admittedly did not get out of my car. I just didn't feel it was a responsible, safe thing to do in so much traffic and I have no medical training to offer anyway.)

Later, my daughter and I were discussing what we had seen. After all, she has her learner's permit and will get her license in just a few months. It was a teachable moment, for sure. We both made mention of the homeless man and what a selfless thing it was for him to risk his safety to go check on the people in the wreck. She said, "Moments like that restore my faith in humanity." 

Maybe it was just something people say, right???

But, maybe not. In the instance of maybe not, I had a few thoughts:

1) It makes me sad that my 15 year old daughter has a sense of lost faith - faith in God, faith in people, faith in goodness. I cannot shelter her from news of school shootings, angry people, and natural disasters. Kids these days are under so much pressure to excel at academics, look a certain way, grow up too fast. I wonder what hand I've played in the dim outlook she has and what it means for her, all her friends, and my two younger daughters in the future. 

2) I am delighted that she still sees peeks of light in the dark. In reality, she has always been a "glass half empty" kind of person. It was refreshing to hear her refer to the homeless man as a sign of hope and to see the sheer happiness on her face in the picture I'm not posting. It was, yet again, a relief to know that some optimism still exists in her and that maybe our choice of high school program coupled with all the terrible news in the world has not completely stolen away every last drop of her childhood innocence.

As parents, we make decisions every day - big ones and little ones - that affect our children's lives. Sometimes, it's so hard to know what the right choice is. We just have to do what we think is best in the moment, move forward with love, and hope for a good outcome. Then, we have to take the peeks light as they come and hold on tight until the next one comes around! 

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Linking up with Kristi and Kenya for Finish the Sentence Friday! 

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What's on the Menu? Food Frustration

Sometimes, I love food. A decadent piece of chocolate cake or a hearty bowl of pasta; sinking my teeth into a juicy, perfectly seasoned burger or a creamy cone of cold ice cream on a hot summer day. Just this week, I had food from a restaurant I had never tried before - a Hawaiian pulled pork taco topped with pineapple and paired with some amazing sweet potato chips. Sounds yummy, doesn’t it? Yep. Sometimes, I love food.

Sometimes, though, food sends me to the brink of angry frustration. Dieting and calorie counting vs willpower and “I don’t care!! I’m going to enjoy this dessert!” Constant menu planning, lunchbox packing, and “Mom, what’s for dinner?” interrogations. I get so tired of trying to figure out what to cook, what to plan, how to work our busy schedule around fitting in reasonably healthy meals and something a plethora of differently picky eaters will tolerate. It is a weekly, daily, hourly struggle. 

Sometimes, I get so tired of the struggle that I wish food was not such a necessity. I wish it was not something we needed; something we have to constantly keep in consideration. Sometimes, I wish there was not such thing as food - no such nuisance; no such thing to be a constant thorn in my side. 

Then, there’s those tacos and sweet potato chips; cheesecake and fresh strawberries. 

Life would be so much easier without the need for food, but also much less interesting. 

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Linking up with Kristi and Kenya for Finish the Sentence Friday! 

Long Days, Short Years

My alarm goes off at 5:30am. I hit snooze once (or maybe twice). Then, shower, get dressed, put on make-up.

I head down the hall to turn off the alarm, feed the dog, and start the coffee. There must be coffee. 

I make the rounds to wake up my girls. Sometimes, I stop short and just stare at them for a few seconds. They look angelic when they sleep and I can still see the toddlers they used to be. It's fleeting, though. Soon, I am thinking to myself, "How are they ever going to make it when they go off to college and I'm not there to wake them each day?" I say their nicknames and give them a gentle shake. "Wake up! Time to get going!"

I head back downstairs to make my coffee - stevia and lots of creamer. I need to pack the lunches. Oh, how I despise packing those lunches! Day after day and picky eating kids. I throw in a Lunchable or an Uncrustable and a apple, then I feel guilty for not packing something healthier or more creative. Shrug. I Gave up on being creative a long time ago. 

I make the rounds one more time just to make sure everyone is awake. They're not. "Get up! Get up! Come on!!" No time for sentimental gazing now. 

I have my usual breakfast - a bowl of protein cereal. Brush my teeth and gather my things. One by one, they come down. "Get your shoes on. Grab your bag. Do you have your lunchbox?"

Out the door for the carpool runs. Drop off the youngest two. Then, a coffee date with my oldest daughter. Focus. Cherish. There aren't many of these left. She can drive herself next year. 

Drop her at school, then off to work. Meeting. Emails. Work. Meeting. Emails. Work. Wash. Rinse. Repeat. 

Back to the car for pick up rounds. Phone keeps dinging with emails, texts. "Hey there girls! Did you have a good day?" "Yes. Do you have any snacks?" 

After school activities - some days there are more than others. Maybe an errand if we have a few minutes to squeeze it in. It's probably a grocery run if we do.

Finally, home again - just in time for me to need to start dinner. Cook it up. Serve it up. Clean it up.

"Do you have homework? Then, get to work."

Remind them to shower. (Why do they need a reminder to shower?)

Send them to bed. 

Laundry. Dishes. More emails. Maybe TV. Maybe a book if I can keep my eyes open long enough to read a few chapters. 

Finally, my head hits the pillow for a few hours of sleep before it's time to do it all all over again. 

It's been long day. 

Most days seem like long days these days. 

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Rushed sips of morning coffee and a bowl of cereal. I scroll through my Facebook feed. "You have memories to look back on today." Click. 

Their tiny faces stare back at me through the screen. Still the same, but also different now. 

Six years ago? Nine? 

Has it really been that long since they were that small. Not possible. It feels like it was just last week. Just a couple days ago.

Look at that face! Look at those curls! 

I remember that outfit. I remember that day. I remember sleepless nights and toddler tantrums. I remember sticky fingers and midday nap times. 

I thought those days would never end, but here we are. How did we get here?  It's a different kind of chaos now. A different kind of crazy. 

Somewhere through the miles and miles, my little ones became tweens and teens. Nap time was replaced by homework and I hear "Mom, can I go out with my friends?" instead of "Mommy, come watch me again!"  

Those days seemed long, so very long. THESE days seem long, so very long. 

But, oh the years! They fly by so fast! 

Hug tight. Don't blink. Hold on. Let go. 

Long days. Short years. 

Long Days.

Short years.   

Ten Things I Hate This Week

Last week was spring break for two of my kids and I took the week off work, but my oldest was still in school and my husband was away on a business trip (that wasn't to anywhere worth tagging along). So, we didn't go anywhere or do anything very exciting. There were plenty of "I'm bored!" utterances and raiding the pantry just to kill time. By Sunday evening, I was actually almost looking forward to Monday, getting back to routines, having things to do,  and interacting with other humans besides my kids. 

What was I thinking?!?!?!?!?

For real, guys! This has been the longest week E.V.E.R. It really felt like it should have been 5:00pm on Friday by about 2:00pm on Tuesday! 

Anybody else feeling this way?

Well, because the week is taking so long, I've been in a weird mood. (Or, perhaps those should be reversed!) I've been a little grumpy, a little annoyed, a little silly, and really tired. In the midst of that weird mood, I read the prompt for this week's Finish the Sentence Friday and immediately thought, "Yes! I'm doing this one!" After all, a little bit of grumbling can be kind of cathartic, right? 

So, here's my list of things I hate more than anything this week (and most other weeks, too!).

1. Math homework. Seriously. There have been more tears in this house over math than pretty much anything else this school year. I never liked math when I was in school and I think I like it even less now that I have kids! 
2. Drama. You might think that with three daughters, I would be used to drama, but the thing is  - I don't do drama. My girls are actually pretty low key when it comes to the tween/teen girl theatrics, but, occasionally, they get caught up in the hullabaloo others have created. I have very little patience for those who stir up craziness in order to get attention and even less patience when my daughters get sucked into it. 
3. Group projects. Here's what I would like to propose to all teachers everywhere (I say this with utmost respect, too, because I come from a long line of teachers.) If you feel it necessary to assign group projects, let's first teach the kids how to MANAGE said projects. For example, maybe one student could be a project manager? Maybe we could use the opportunity to teach kids how to DELEGATE tasks and LISTEN to the ideas of others. We could talk about deadlines and respectfulness and responsibility to others. You might think group projects would be less stressful because there are more people to carry the load. However, there is inevitably someone in the group who wants to control things and someone in the group who doesn't carry their weight. In the end, it often creates the drama I mentioned above. I'm honestly not sure who despises group projects more - me or my kids! 
4. Packing lunches -  It's near the end of the school year. I'm out of ideas and out of motivation. So over it!
5. The grocery store might actually be my LEAST favorite place on earth! Yet, the way these kids go through food, I find myself going there quite frequently. They eat all the time, so I have to re-stock the pantry almost daily sometimes. 
6. Trying to lose weight. 
                             


7. Mornings - Two of my three kids are not morning people and neither am I. It's not a good combination.They don't want to get out of bed and I get tired of having to wake them up and hurry them out the door. 
8. Interruptions - Do you know how many times I tried to type this post before I was actually able to finish it? I don't either because I lost count amidst all the interruptions that diverted my attention.
9. Opening up my blog and realizing how long it's been since I actually wrote and posted something. Then, also realizing that I didn't really miss it all that much. 😩😢 "To everything there is a season" I suppose.
10. Only being able to think of 9 things for a list that's supposed to have 10!!! So there! 

Well, it's finally Friday (after I started this post on Thursday), so I think I can safely say I've made it through the week relatively unscathed. We have seven more weeks until all the kids are out of school for summer - not the I'm counting or anything. I sure hope those weeks don't go by as slowly as this one did! 

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Linking up with Kristi & Kenya for Finish the Sentence Friday.

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