BlogHer - teenagers - Comments

World's Most Dedicated 4-year-old

ClizBiz — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:11:02 -0500

Wow. I'd be curious to know how she came to that decision - is it something she overheard at pre-school? Something she saw on TV? I'd love to know the reasoning behind the switch.

I'm so impressed with her resolve - and so young! Whether she changes her mind or not, that kid is going places.

~ClizBiz

BlogHer Contributing Editor, Animal Concerns, Proprietor, ClizBiz

Not sure it has anything to do with the internet...

rachelinbar — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 14:13:56 -0500

I think it could be that there is just more awareness to vegetarianism.

My 4-year-old decided 4 months ago that she wants to be a vegetarian. I didn't think it would hold up, but it has. And she's really strict, like she won't eat french fries that were next to a hot dog on my plate or anything.

Although I completely respect her decision, part of me definitely wishes that she would change her mind (which we've assured her is fine too). Another part of me really respects her for being able to make a decision like that and sticking to it - she started a month before she turned 4.

Rachel - http://www.despitemotherhood.blogspot.com
http://www.fertilitystories.com/fertilityblog/

I'm Impressed

ClizBiz — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:46:52 -0500

Honestly, I remember finding that out and being alarmed by this fact but with no vegetarians in my life, my family or in the media, it never occurred to me to take this course.

I applaud the kids of today - they are much more mindful than I ever was. Glad to see they are asking questions and pondering the answers.

~ClizBiz

BlogHer Contributing Editor, Animal Concerns, Proprietor, ClizBiz

It's their choice

Vered — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 11:46:58 -0500

For now, we all eat meat. But my youngest has recently inquired where does her steak come from, and when she realized it was formerly a cow, she said in disgust, "so I'm eating a dead cow?"

I can see her point and will allow her to make her own decision.

----

Need to hire a blogger? I’m a mommy blogger and a blogger for hire.

Old Enough To Know

Jane Becker — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 18:56:26 -0500

Martini Mom--Yes, you're right. Several years ago I interviewed a doc for an article about teen sex and she said, by the time they're teens, it's almost too late. Those talks have to begin early, when they're not so loaded.

As to the Hanes, well...:))

Kudos!

MartiniMom — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 16:56:57 -0500

Ha! The Hanes are what we wear to keep ourselves from falling into bed too quickly. Like a modern day chastity belt. Am I right?

[silence]

Oh. Maybe that's just me.

Regardless, I applaud you for your openness with your kids. I've always believed that if they're old enough to ask then they're old enough to know, a stance that has made many a friend and extended family member raise an eyebrow or two. My son is 7, and I'm rapidly adopting the "if he doesn't know it yet, I want him to hear it from me first" approach. I don't expect it to be easy, but I prefer frank, open, too-much-information conversation over the alternative any day.

Martini Mom
http://kbhotmama.blogspot.com

Organizing through Lists

conversationswithmoms — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 19:25:54 -0600

Wow, you're really maximizing lists. Lists do help keep me on track and organized. It's writing them down that I don't always feel like doing.

Great Job!

Maria Melo

http://www.conversationswithmoms.com

Hardest thing I've ever done

katherine-raisingfive — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 11:23:03 -0600

My, oh my, how things have changed for our oldest, haven't they? I haven't let mine drive in the Big City yet - so glad we are out here in the boonies, where the worst things we have to worry about are roadkill and very large ditches. Of course, two-lane roads (especially on dark nights - I didn't even know where the brights were!) bring on their own set of stressors!

About sending them to driver's ed...even if you send them somewhere to learn the basics, it's the hours of practice - with Mom or Dad - that you can never get around. You're right - ultimately, the decision to let them get behind the wheel (even if they are "old enough" to drive) is the parent's.

Trying to remain calm in the passenger's seat,

Katherine

wow!

Colormepink — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 15:28:21 -0600

I'm on the other side of that. My boy child is 13 and is very interested in girls - all of a sudden, one girl in particular. We homeschool and she's a part of another family in our homeschool group. They tried to sneak off together at park day last week, but I, always watchful, saw and redirected. 13 is far too young for any of that, as far as I'm concerned. It's remarkable - when I was their age, no one knew where I was or what I was doing. Different world.

Your daughter sounds terrific, you should be definitely be proud and I'm with you - let's keep them young as long as possible!

Christine
It's My World. Welcome To It.
Blog: http://www.colormepink.com
Homeschool Blog: http://web.mac.com/colormepink/
Jewelry Blog: http://www.starbrightjewels.com/blog

Oh how I hate it

Liz Wilkey — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 16:43:35 -0600

I'm in the process of teaching my third - and last - daughter how to drive.

I have control issues myself, and it's really hard not to be in the "driver's seat." I have to confess, once my first two daughters got their licenses, I have never once been brave enought to drive with them again!

Liz

http://amomonspin.com

You may surprise yourself

Jennifer Satterwhite — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 07:21:42 -0600

Somehow, for me, having the control of being the one showing them what to do and teaching them the rules of the road gives me more comfort than handing the control over to a complete stranger and hoping they can get through to my kid. But then again, I do have control issues. ;-)

~Jennifer Satterwhite~

Personal blog: Mommy Needs Coffee

Founder group blog: Mommybloggers

Send them to driving course

caseymadaline — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 23:15:04 -0600

I don't think I will teach my children drving. I prefer send them for course. As a mother I know I must learn to trust their ability in driving. But I couldn't imagine how to stay calm when they start run the car... For me they are still like my little babies.

Casey

I go through this all the time, Jenn

Nordette — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 12:02:26 -0500

I go through this often internally, Jenn, which is why my blog covers mommy and family less now. But I still talk about being a sandwhich-generation mom sometimes and family in general. My take is similar to yours.

Personally, I no longer feel like I have the right to tell the world
about the events of their lives. At least not without their permission and with obvious exclusions. The tide has turned and those adorable mother stories I had have become theirs to own and share if and when they want to share them. I am, however, a mother and therefore I can share how their lives and their experiences effect me.

I have a teen son and an adult daughter who lives with me. I think the last time I wrote specifically about one of their personal experiences of which I was not a part directly was last year in my defunct New Jersey blog.

If a post mentions them now (never by name) I let them see it. And I never write anything that would embarrass them. God knows a teen male would be embarrassed by what a mom could write him. :-) Most of the time they get a kick out of my finding a blog topic related to something they've said or done, but I bet if I used their names they'd be edgier on it.

Nordette is a Contributing Editor with BlogHer.com whose personal blog is hosted on another site at this link. Recent BlogHer post, America's Dark Night of Soul.

I agree!

sweetmummy — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 00:17:51 -0500

I agree with you on this one.

It came to my mind early on in blogging because my husband is a pastor and pastors often use family stories for sermon illustrations. He said right from the beginning that he wouldn't use any specific stories without permission from us (whichever one the story was about) and if he was going to mention a 'general' kind of thing that he'd always tell us before hand so we wouldn't just sit down and be surprised to hear our names in his sermon. I appreciated that (and still do).

I also had a dear friend who really crossed the line with the stuff her son was going through in grades 9-11, and told too many people and definitely the wrong people TOO many details, not in blogging, but just in every day life.

So, I saw how awful that was in person and figured it wouldn't be any better online. I would need to use some discretion with my blogging.

I don't use any of our names, but many people who know us in real life read my blog, so that doesn't fix things either. I just have to be sensitive to what I share. I'm more than just a momblogger, too, so it's not so hard - I have lots of other things to write about! ;)

Thanks for this post. It's a good reminder that our kiddos are their own people and we need to respect that!

---------------------------------------------------------------

Who decides what's normal, anyway? It's OK to be WEIRD!

Blogging with Teenagers

Our Red House — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 19:34:46 -0500

Although I write about our lives I have never used my children's names or shown recognisable photos of them. My children are 14, 11, 10 and 5.

My teenager has always made it very clear that he does not want me to discuss him on the blog and I respect that. I think we have to be very careful. There is so much cyber-bullying out there; why increase our children's risk of being a target?

Kate

Our Red House