AnneOnParenting

I remember being a teenager.  The mood swings were horrible.  I remember thinking how bad I felt for my mom and how I treated her; how I wished I could stop.  I was twenty years old with my first child when I apologized to my mother for my teenage years.  I even gave examples of times when I knew I was a brat and did not know why.

Having two teenage daughters is a blessing and a curse.  I really cannot complain.  When I remember my teenage years and then I look at my daughters I am truly thankful they are who they are and not who I was.  This is by no means to say I think they are angels; that would be far from true.  No, they are human and not without flaws and they are special in their own ways.

Frankie can be the sweetest child ever.  Many of her teachers love her, although that number is smaller now that she is older.  In either case, many adults love her for her mature attitude and polite nature.  Then there is her “the world revolves around me” attitude when she cannot hold her evil twin side at bay any longer.

Lulu is definitely different.  She has always come across as shy and quiet.  More like her mom, Lulu tends to be shy around new people and things then gradually warms up and at times you cannot shut her up.  Yes, like her mom.  When she is unhappy she will not talk and avoids everyone and everything.  When she is ready she will tell you why and not a moment sooner.  This can be exasperating.

Benny is still a tween, but only until March.  He already shows signs of the teenage angst.  A prelude to what is to come.  I have a feeling it will be harder with a boy.  It is already hard.  He is a good kid, though.  Maybe it will not be all that bad.  Maybe.

Ah, for the days of the terrible two’s when the teenage years were but a far off future.  Today they are the reality.  Tomorrow comes much too soon.

Oh, oh, oh, I know this one!  Interactive building toy.  And you thought I was going to say computer game.  Shame on you.  

Frankie gave Lulu a K’nex rollercoaster kit for Christmas.  Lulu spent the better part of Thursday putting this together.  She stopped once for a SlimJim break.  That is commitment.  Five hours and one sore back later Lulu was proud to say she was still shorter than her creation, but it was her creation. 

She has a smaller version of an octopus ride; Frankie decided to build that one yesterday.  This took about an hour and is now sitting on top of our entertainment center.  Well, if there is not anything good on television tonight we could always watch the octopus ride go round and round.  Hey, it would kind of be like watching NASCAR.  

That is it for today.  Thanks for stopping by!

Tis the season of the holiday concert.  Frankie has been a very busy girl this December.  She helped with the middle school band this semester extending into the concerts played.  She played with the seventh grade band; a concert I missed.  Then she played with the eighth grade band and flute chorus.  It is amazing how much one improves from eighth grade to twelfth.  I remember attending Frankie’s eighth grade concert thinking how far they had come from sixth grade.  She also conducted for the first time during this concert.  Then she played her flute during three choir performances.

Frankie and Lulu played their final holiday concert this past Saturday.  This concert was different.  The performers consist of very young children to adults.  Frankie and Lulu take private lessons and this is the bi-annual concert of all the students taking lessons.  I can only say they all play better than me.

I have a great little video clip of Frankie and Lulu playing a duet called Dance. It is especially great since they messed up a bit and smiled a lot.  Frankie conducted during this performance and played the solo piece The Dance of Two Pigeons on flute.  Lulu played Bach’s Minuet on clarinet.  I never question the lessons once I hear them play.

Here is to a wonderfully musical holiday season for everyone!

Today I made cookies.  Only two different kinds, so far.  More will be forthcoming with the help of Frankie.  She has two parties tomorrow at school.  One is during her second period English class.  See, her English teach is also in charge of the yearbook and throws parties for her yearbook students regularly.  So the second period English class decided they wanted a party too.  Frankie was chosen to bring cookies.  Of course Frankie has many many things going on preventing her from being available to make the cookies.  Unfortunately I did not anticipate the lack of vanilla extract, although I seem to have vast amounts of almond extract.  Who would have guessed?    

I had Frankie pick up a few ingredients I happened to run short on for the holiday baking.  With IDL practice today and the errand she did not get home until after 7 pm.  We made chocolate chip cookies tonight.  

Lulu went to bed early.  Poor thing, I think she has a cold.  She has not been feeling too well, but with winter break almost here she has been muddling through school until then.  She has a pre-winter break party in Spanish class.  I think Frankie and I made enough cookies to go around.  

Frankie also enlisted me to make cinnamon rolls for the first IDL competition.  Should be fun.  Who says being a stay at home mom is best for those with younger children.  Teenagers, well my teenagers, see the benefit of this in the cooking and baking.  To think a teenager who wants their mom involved in what they do.  Am I lucky or what?

I love music in all its many forms.  Acoustic is my favorite then comes alternative.  But I will listen to just about anything.  This comes in handy when you have three kids.  Frankie listens to most anything like her mom.  Although she tends to lean more towards alternative pop; is there such a thing?  Lulu is an alternative rock type of girl.  Much of what she listens to is borderline thrash.  But I have the most fun listening to the HD alternative radio station with her.  Benny is into hiphop and dance music.  It is a good thing I can listen to just about anything.  This is handy when bonding with the kids.

The music I love best though, is what my children play.  Frankie wants to be a Music Education Teacher.  She currently plays flute, piccolo, oboe, piano, violin (just started), and will be playing xylophone/bells for IDL (indoor drumline).  Lulu plays clarinet and saxophone.  There is nothing better than the sound of your children playing music.  The school system here is wonderful in that they continue to teach the children how to play as long as the parent provides the instrument.  When it comes to percussion, the school provides the instrument.  The school also offers some other instruments for the kids to learn once they’ve taken a year of their primary.  

Frankie started piano lessons two years ago.  Basic piano is needed for any music major.  She and Lulu have been taken lessons on their primary instruments, flute and clarinet respectively, for the past year and a half.  It is worth it just to listen to them play.  I was thinking about taking up the triangle; I have no musical inclination.  

Music truly transcends the boundaries of the parent-child relationship.  It brings us closer and gives us something to talk about.  Go listen to some music with your teenager today. 

“Music is the universal language of mankind.” ~ Henry Wordsworth Longfellow