5/27/11

Repeat after me...

No, not you, but this is what I had my daughter repeat after me last night.

Lane,

I am being a dumbass.

And, I am soooo sorry.

I know that there are

only 4 days of school left

and, I promise

to do my best

and to take care

of my own responsibilities for at least that long.
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At what age do they stop doing idiotic stuff? She is missing assignments at school. Sydney swore to Rob that she's turned them in. Yesterday, she went to the teacher and pulled them out of her binder to give them to the teacher. She had not turned them in.

Another thing that's missing is a reading log to show her teacher that she reads at least 90 minutes per week. I have to sign off on the reading log. I signed the reading log. But, she didn't turn it in! She reads for hours every week. Hitting 90 minutes is a breeze and should be an easy hundred points for a homework grade. But, because they're late, her max possible score is seventy points. What the Hell?

Lord give this child a brain. Please! I need her to take care of me in my old age and to make sure I end up in a nice resthome.

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Last night was the choir concert. It was wonderful. I love the very unconventional choir teacher. She just doesn't let anything throw her. She adapts to it and is not above turning around and pointing out one of her students to the crowd for misbehavior. And, every concert, she chides parents that bring crying kids to a choir concert. Good for her. I know I couldn't do it.

Tonight is the dance. Rob and I have both been rooked into working ticket sales. Imagine, if you will, 350 sweaty, horny teenagers crowding in the door and stopping at the ticket table. They approach like a smelly tsunami, rolling over every obstacle we use to try to slow them down. Now, it's not so much their fault. We'll have several lists that we have to check their names against. That makes it a slow process and they're excited to get into the dance.

Procedures suck.

After taking tickets, we get to go onto the dance floor. We always enjoy that. Now that I've relaxed enough to actually dance with the kids, it can be very fun. And, I know the trouble makers names and their mama's names, too, so I'm expecting some really good behavior.

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So, when am I gonna get back to sewing? Tomorrow! I am going to sew tomorrow! I am, I AM!

I have two quilts to bind; one machine, one hand. And, I want to cut out a shirt. And, I'm still quilting West of Paris, Texas. That should give me plenty to do. I've also been asked to make a denim picnic quilt before our vacation in August. So, I'll be pulling out the old treadle machine and doing some denim work. We'll either end up with a denim beach towel, or a quilt that is so heavy that it has to be washed with the water hose in the back yard. Only time will tell.

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Okay, so one last thing. While I was in Cleveland, Maryann was able to post my guest blog, so here's a link to Rocknquilts and my guest blog. Please visit Maryann and read about how I started quilting. And, if you wouldn't mind, leave a comment to thank MaryAnn for inviting me. I'm sure she'd like to hear from us all.

Everybody have a great weekend. I'd like to propose that we all plan a vacation together and send our kids to a boot camp. How does that sound?

Lane

12 comments:

Linda said...

You know that a person's brain is not fully developed until they are about 26. My husband, sister, and I always comment when we see a teen do something irresponsible - "Bless their heart, their brain is not fully developed!" She's pretty much acting like a teenager. Unfortunately, your job is to help her through it. (I'm glad those days are behind me! I have 3 sons!)
Here's hoping you can get back to quilting soon!

Lynette said...

It's not particularly comforting, and I haven't found an answer yet,

but -

It's extremely common at this age (particularly among boys), this not-turning-things-in problem. It blows my mind, too, especially when they've done the work, that they wouldn't turn it in. But it's a lot more common than you'd think.

Lynette said...

And "heee!" Yes, the bootcamp ;D

Anonymous said...

I love your blog! I am a grandmother and I am watching my son and daughter-in-law dealing with what you are going through. They have a 16 year old girl and 13 year old twin boys! I have to smile because I went through the very same thing with my son. It is frustrating but you know, you will both live through it and come out stronger at the other end. I certainly sympathize with you but coming from someone who has been there-this too shall pass. Now I look back and realize how special those days were even with the frustrations. And remember she will someday face the same challenges with her children-kind of brings a smile to you face, huh? What goes around comes around!

Anonymous said...

I love your blog! I am a grandmother and I am
watching my son and daughter-in-law dealing with what you are going through. They have a 16 year old girl and 13 year old twin boys! I have to smile because I went through the very same thing with my son. It is frustrating but you know, you will both live through it and come out stronger at the other end. I certainly sympathize with you but coming from someone who has been there-this too shall pass. Now I look back and realize how special those days were even with the frustrations. And remember she will someday face the same challenges with her children-kind of brings a smile to you face, huh? What goes around comes around!

qltmom9 said...

Your guestblog piece was fun.~

I hope Linda is right and their brains are more functional after 26yo because my first 3 children...ummm...are much like Sydney.

Lucy~

Elizabeth said...

Hey, I just remembered that I have a 'stash' of holey/outgrown jeans that I've been saving for a denim quilt. I have six men's pairs in various stages of fading and disrepair and seven or eight kid's pairs {all with holes in the knees}, plus a dozen 6 1/2" squares and a dozen or so 5 1/2" squares left-over from a denim quilt project I did a long time ago. If you want them, they're yours for the price of shipping. I don't know what you have planned, and I don't know that you couldn't find denim in a similar condition for less than shipping at Goodwill, but you're welcome to it if you want. There are only so many quilts a person can do and a{nother} denim one is not high on my priority list right now. LMK if you're interested.

xo -E

woolywoman said...

Gawd. My kid does the same thing. How can a kid stay up late to finish work, make his mom stay up late, struggle, cry, and then not turn the work in? Drives me NUTS!

I made a denim quilt with a fleece back that I was planning to keep in the car for picnics, but my older son took it because he likes how heavy it feels to be tucked under.

Mary Ann said...

Dear Lane,

I'm smiling about the fact that my school year is now complete and that the sweaty, hormone-enraged group can now go swimming, biking and hiking instead of sitting in a classroom cramped in during good weather. They're also really tired from sandbagging in our town - the flood here in Bismarck, ND on the Missouri River is getting worse unfortunately. Thank you for the shout out in your blog post - happy sewing and quilting! Mary Ann @ RocknQuilts Please visit http://www.cindysezsew@blogspot.comfor a community service project/$325 give-away!

Unknown said...

I have a neighbor who is a teacher of middle schoole kids. She is going crazy right now - the kids are so ready to get out of school, they are unable to focus on much else! She says the teachers are much the same!

I vote yes on getting together for a vacation! We just came back from Lancaster, PA and went to some wonderful quilt shops and saw some amazing quilts! I will post some photos soon!

Becky said...

Hang in there... these are the roughest years until their adult brains kick in at about 25. Our son will turn 25 this year and he still has "moments' that we say WTH! The US Navy two years ago really helped him with focus. ;)

Gail said...

I raised two girls through the teenage years--don't know what happens to their brains.

There were times when I thought they'd been sucked out by aliens. Then all of a sudden, it clicks, and they become responsible and conscientious! Wait till next year--you'll see!