This generation of children....
is going to school and doing their homework and obeying their parents and going to church and riding their bikes and playing volleyball and reading books and laughing and loving and dreaming.
Katie hates it when she hears how awful her generation is.
She takes it personally.
I think the kids these days are wonderful.
I meet nice, respectful, smart teens every day.
I bet you do too.
I always expected the best from my children. I expected that they would obey me.
Mostly they did.
I think they live up to our expectations.
This generation is going to be wonderful.
That's what I'm going to believe.
Encourage one another,
Donna
p.s. The school's theme this year: Peace begins with me.
I totally agree, Donna. I get to see the same things in my home and amongst the girls I work with at my church. I know from my girls that not all teens are like them, but I am so happy that they choose to be the young women they are. Makes me happy!
ReplyDeleteMe too.
DeleteI couldnt agree with you more DOnna . I hated it when my mother in law would say "This is an awful time for you to raise your kids" It is a fantastic time to be the new generation. afterall, they have us a parents!!
ReplyDeleteYay!
DeleteThank you for the encouragement. I'm not really around many teenagers at this time in my life. Seems like all I hear is negative things, though.
ReplyDeleteI really do admire your family, Donna. You are in the group of people that I look up to when it comes to parenting and raising children. Yep, it's true.
Peace begins with me...what a great theme. Now I need to look up the song!
Happy Tuesday,
Sarah P. from Iowa
I have a daughter the same age as your Katie (nearing 14 & in 8th grade). I am so proud of the person she is and is becoming. I have a deep respect for her. Her friends, although varied in their interests and their personalities, are all respectful to me, respectful of our home when they are here, and are generally happy, friendly, and responsible. I can't wait to see the people they become and the things they accomplish in their lifetime. It's exciting! Like miss Katie, my daughter is also offended when others generalize and lump all "teenagers" into the same profile. I remind her to be careful of doing the same to others.
ReplyDeleteI will watch for an opportunity to mention that too!thanks
DeleteI couldn't agree more. The unfortunate side effect of our connected world is that we often see more of the bad than of the good. I have the pleasure of seeing teens and preteens every day who rise to the expectations of their parents, coaches and teachers - and even soar above them. I can remember when my boys were very young, and they would sit quietly through church, or through a ladies' meeting, and other mothers would ask me if how I got them to do that.
ReplyDeleteMy answer was always the same..."Because I expect them to."
They aren't perfect. Neither am I. But for the most part, they are kind and considerate and eager young men.
Donna,
ReplyDeleteI struggle a LOT with my teen at home. It is hard, hard, hard.
But, my daughter is delightful with others. She did service work this year in South Central Los Angeles painting a school and visiting skid row. When she babysits, she plays with the kids and cleans the house and does the dishes--parents love her. She also volunteered in a pre-K class for summer school. The teachers thought she was fantastic.
So I'm encouraged that she is so helpful, kind, and hard-working out in public. I was told by my family doc that if your kid is appropriate in public not to worry too much about behavior at home.
Today was a good morning because she and I were both kind to each other at home, too.
hmbalison
Allison your words so touched me this morning. My daughter and I go day to day as well. Love her with all my heart but I had no idea that it would be so challenging living these years.
DeleteI think you would be surprised to hear Katie and I shouting at one another. Can you believe she has the nerve to disagree with me and yell? Actually it surprises my husband when we argue....he says it reminds him of Matthew and me.
DeleteWe are so close....but we have similar personalities and temperments too.
Emma would never yell at me. But my darling Katie does. Matthew would fight with me. Patrick Jr. would not. So. Believe it or not. I understand.
They are imperfect. I am imperfect.
I still expect them to do the right thing.
Whether or not they do the right thing is up to them.
{{{LIKE}}} a lot! Brings back all sorts of memories of raising my girls. Its like the Marines. ;-) the toughest job you'll ever love.
DeleteI agree, Donna.
ReplyDeleteI just hope my children won't become as some I see... My husband tells me it can't be, because we educated them. But I'm still so scared...
ReplyDeleteAxelle, I think fear is always a choice away for a mother. The world does seem complicated, and full of potential dangers and plenty of ugly role models! I try to remind myself that our children were born for this time, and that none of the complexities are a surprise to God. It comforts me when I am tempted to panic! I am in an easier season right now, but there have been years when panic was very familiar! Blessings on you and your family.
DeleteDi
Thank you very much, di, for your reply. It's always a good thing to have others mother's point of view and I'm happy to know I.m not totally alone to feel this feeling of panic, sometimes. Very friendly.
DeleteI want, once again, to go to Katie's school. What a great theme for the year.
ReplyDeleteJohn just finished his TWENTY-FIFTH year of teaching middle schoolers. He still loves it, and the thing he loves the most is the students. He has daily stories of nice kids doing good things, working hard, wanting to learn, being kind. He often reminds me that good things are happening in the hearts of students.
I look at my five children, all so different from one another, and I am proud of them and find them such good company. They make me think and laugh and I miss them like crazy when they get silly ideas in their heads about moving too far away. They are five (now six with a d-i-l) of my favorite people in the world.
Blessings on Katie as she works for peace in her sphere of influence.
Love,
Di
I agree with you (mostly) because I see it in the teens around me (we don't have children) but I think that stems from the fact that they come from a FAMILY unit that instills respect, honor and a sense of giving back for what they have. They are also involved in their churches. It seems the kids who are "troubled" are those whose parents are absent from their lives ... either physically or because the parents are out "doing their thing". Kids want rules and boundries even though they may seem to chafe against them. They view those rules/boundaries as evidence that you love them enough to care about them. What a GREAT theme for their school year ... I think it's wonderful that schools do that ... set themes for goals ;-) Linda
ReplyDeleteLove their theme this year. In addition to children living up to their parents' expectations, I think the same is true of ourselves. I think people often set the bar too low (me too sometimes, especially in areas where I feel shy or unprepared).
ReplyDeleteLove Katie's braid!
Thank you for the reminder today, Donna. I am have been thinking about all the kids I know at church, in our co-op, in our neighborhood and I can't think of one badly behaved teen. They are kind, considerate, and polite.
ReplyDeleteJust because we see one teen looking for attention and acting out in VERY poor taste, doesn't mean we need to sterotype that generation.
Have a great year, Katie!
Agree! Biggest concern is temptation and inappropriate content on media and on Internet. And kids getting technology too early. Good post!
ReplyDeleteI wish that children would always live up to their parents’ expectations. I’ve seen quite a few situations where, for whatever reason, the child (or teen or young adult) chooses to go down a path that their parents would never, ever choose for him or her. Haven’t we all heard a friend or relative cry out “What could I have done differently?” or “Where did I go wrong?”. Sometimes it is not because we haven’t taught them well, they just stray. And it can be very, very painful.
ReplyDeleteThis parenting gig isn’t for sissies, is it? On positive note, I have high hopes for this generation. Some of my very favorite people are teens. They have so much energy, enthusiasm and HOPE.
Mary Z
I love this, Donna! Your outlook on life is my favorite. <3
ReplyDeleteWhat a great blog today and such wonderful QL comments. love and prayers, jep
ReplyDeleteI agree!! I have pre-teens and teach 8th grade and thy are awesome!! Love that pretty dresses are in style now instead of low rise jeans!
ReplyDeleteI agree! When I was a teen I was so furious about the slamming of my generation... My generation couldn't hold down a job (I got my first real job the day before I turned 16 and worked there over 3 1/2 years, only quitting when I was offered a full time job at my SECOND part-time job that would force me to become a night college student at the ripe old age of 19 lol but would pay 70% of my tuition if I made good grades--duh that was a no-brainer!). I paid 1/2 of my first car and all the bills required to maintain it, including fuel, insurance and all maintenance and repairs. I got my first tiny apartment at the age of 19 and bought my first home on my own at the age of 21, yet all I heard was how lazy my generation was! I try very hard not to continue that cycle of negativity. My kids are still young yet (8 and 5) but I see much hope for the future.
ReplyDeleteSuch a wonderful read this morning. Yes, I am a bit behind. Kate is wonderful. She is a normal, yet extraordinary person. She has been blessed with parents who adore her. That is huge. Those parents also believe in something bigger than themselves, and don't just talk the talk, but walk the walk. Kate also is adored and humbled by older siblings. They have been an incredible gift in her life. She watches and she learns.
ReplyDeleteMy last statement is not about stuff... so here it is. Much has been given to Kate, but much is expected. She is living up to that. It is a gift knowing you, Kate, and it will be a gift watching you continue to grow. Thank you for that. Thank you Donna, for opening your lives to us, and for being my friend. xoxo love you
Oh my word. I love that school year theme.
ReplyDeleteI love teens. I love children. I believe great things are happening with them. Kaishon has been a bit more difficult since becoming a teenager. I can not deny that. He is mouthy. He pushes boundaries. You know? Normal teenage stuff. I hope I do enough to help him get through. It is very hard to have Sabriah and Naji here in the summer because their lives are so different. They see so much more than Kaishon has seen. I know they expose him to a lot of things I would rather hide from him. I hope we expose them to some good also. I wonder if I will ever know.
I hope Katie has the most wonderful year. I love her first day outfit.