Sunscreen!!

How much do you have to preach to a tweenage girl that you know they want a tan, but they need:


Sunscreen!!!!!


Apparently more than once :)

"The Perfect Child"

So how do you raise a child so that they don't think that they are perfect? I am not sure how. My husband and I try to give "creative criticism" to the kids, but it always seems to backfire. They take it as though we have told them they don't know anything. For example, the tweenager is a great runner, so we told her she would be even better if she increase her food intake and ate better nutrition wise....well that went over like a lead balloon. "What, you don't think I can beat my friend? I am not a good runner?" I can't....I'm not...stomp the feet, slam the door....
How can you talk to a child and let them know there are better ways of doing things without them thinking you are really criticizing them?
HELP!

New Driver

Well, the Man-Child passed his test for his permit. He drove home from the beginning of the neighborhood, pulled in the driveway and almost rear-ended our van! This could be a very interesting next couple of months. We are in for a "ride"!

Drivers Test

 Well, the man-child took his drivers test yesterday and did not pass. I think the world ended for him, more so that he was afraid his friends at school would make fun of him :(
He was nervous and probably just rushed through the test. He will return on Wednesday and try again. Pray that he passes!!

16

My baby boy turned 16 today! WOW, I can't believe how fast time has gone. He had a party with family and 2 of his oldest friends. Sure hope he had a good time. He didn't get a car...YET! We have decided to wait until he gets his actual license. That will give us some time to do some shopping and saving. I am not worried about him driving, he is a very cautious kid. I remember when he was younger and had learned about what speed limit was. We would be driving along and he would tell us to slow down that we were driving to fast (while looking at the speedometer). He also told his Papa that several times as well. He is wanting a Ford Ranger and has already done his research on how much gas per mile, price, and what years have gotten the best review. WOW...I never thought about those things when I started driving, but then again internet wasn't available. He is a good kid, think I will keep him around since his warranty expired 15 1/2 years ago, so now I can't return him :)


Happy Birthday Man-Child!!!

Tidbits...

So here are a few bits of advice when raising a teenager/tweenager:


1. When they bathe, tell them to use soap...don't assume they will.
2. After they bathe, tell them to use deodorant...don't assume they will.
3. Tell them to brush their teeth...they won't do it on their own
4. When they are finished eating, tell them to put their dirty dishes in the sink/dishwasher...don't assume they will.
5. When you tell them to take out the garbage, tell them to replace the bag...don't assume they will.
6. When the dishwasher is finished, tell them to  put away the dishes...they won't do it on their own.
7. When it is time to do the laundry, tell them to empty their pockets...they won't do it on their own..
8. When laundry is done, tell them to put it away...because they won't and will put dirty clothes on top of the clean ones.
9. When taking containers out of the cabinet/refrigerator, check to be sure the lid is on...don't assume they put it back on, because they probably didn't.
10. When taking containers that are supposed to have leftovers, don't assume it will have food still left in it...it probably won't.
11. When it is bedtime, tell them to go to bed...because they won't until they are told.
12. When you want them to do something, tell them to do it now...because they will assume if they wait long enough you will forget you told them and do it yourself.
13. Tell them not to slam the door when they go out...because they will.
14. Tell them to shut the door when they come in...because they won't.
15. When they tell you they are doing homework on the computer, check...because they probably aren't.
16. If they have braces, tell them to take care of them the way the orthodontist said...because they won't.




Nuff said!

Why?

So, I was bringing the tweenager home from running practice and we were talking about this summer. As a family we are going on a 7 day cruise, our first! Her running club is having a camp the week that we arrive home so she is upset because we won't let her go with a group of kids and a handful of adults. We are protective parents...period! I can not have peace of mind sending a 13 year old to the Smokey Mountains to run the trails without her father or myself coming...again we are protective. Would we have let our son go...maybe?
So the whole ride home she sulked, curled up in her seat, not talking to me unless she said, "Why?"


At this point all is can say is "Because I said so, that's why!" End of story!!

Runners!

So it is official....ALL the Burgin family are runners. My man-child just completed his first 5K this weekend (he ran in middle school because we MADE him) and did great!!! He and I started out together, but I pulled out ahead of him when he had to stop and tie his shoe. My goal was to be his carrot and see if he could catch me, I think he might have if the last mile wasn't all up hill. He still did a great job!


The tweenager competed in the Kentucky State Track Meet in Lexington, KY this weekend and finished in the top 10 for the 2 mile race. She had a meltdown when she realized she didn't hit her goal (11:30) and didn't get in the top 8 (which means you get a medal). Silent ride home, silent evening (what was left of it) at home. This morning back to her usual perky self....mood changes scare me!! I have learned that sometimes you just don't speak to her and let the mood swing play itself out. It isn't worth the fighting when you know it will be gone by the next hour or day!


Good job this weekend Burgin children....soon to be Burgin teenagers!

I am bored!!

So the tweenager is upset/bored because I am making her take a day off of running. She won all the 1600 meter meets this year that she ran for school and she is running the 3200 meter at the state meet on Saturday, so she needs a day of rest. I know, I know tweenagers are invincible. They NEVER have shin splints, aches, pains, etc. So, out of anger/boredom she goes up to her brother and calls him a Turd...yes I giggle as she does this. Why does that word always make people laugh? It's not a pretty word, just funny.
She is wondering around aimlessly looking for something to do. I said we could go get her birthday invitations after dinner and  go in Pet Smart to look around.....her answer is "That is torture" because she will not be getting a new pet. We are now a pet free home!
What is she going to do this summer? Glad I will be at work!!

Happy Mothers Day!

Happy Mothers Day to all the mothers, mothers to be, stepmothers, mothers-in-law, and those trying to be mothers.


This is my 16th year of celebrating mothers day (counting the year I was pregnant with the man-child). I love being a mother, but sometimes I wonder if I am doing the job to the best of my ability. Wouldn't it be nice if a manual came with kids before we left the hospital with them? We would need one for boys and one for girls. They are different in soooo many ways.


My mother is one of my best friends. I try and talk to her several times a week. She is not in the best of health and I do worry about her most of the time. She has had a hard life, but she has made the best out of what she has. I do wish she lived closer so the kids could see her more often. They just adore her! With both of us working and the kids doing all of their activities, it makes it very hard. Hopefully she will be able to get disability (due to her health) and then maybe she will be able to come up and stay with us sometimes on the weekends?! Happy Mothers Day Mom, I love you.


My step-mother is a very good person. My kids adore her also and she spoils them each time they stay with her. She treats them like they are her own grandkids (I am very thankful for this).  Happy Mothers Day Violet, I love you.


My mother-in-law passed away before I met my husband. He tells me that she had a very hard life. She passed away while she was living with my brother-in-law of heart problems. My husband says she would have spoiled our kids rotten (like they aren't rotten enough). I wish I could have met her, but unfortunately it wasn't meant to be. Happy Mothers Day Corine, I know I would have loved you too!

Comment of the day...

So the tweenager comes home from school and says, "My Spanish teacher broke her water! Is that funny my Spanish teacher has her baby on Cinco De Mayo!" 


First of all I tell her, "Her water broke."  Isn't that embarrassing that your water would break while teaching, almost as embarrassing as if happened at the grocery store! At least there you could drop a jar of pickles or something to cover it up.


Second, "Do you know what Cinco De Mayo is?" She sure enough did. She must have been listening in at least one class ;) 

Comment of the day...

While taking the tweenager to track practice (in the pouring rain) we were just chatting about the day. In the middle of the conversation she turns to me and says, "My butt hurts." I thought-Why? Did I really need to know this? Was there something medically wrong? Why? Really? Why?

Then I giggled a bit (actually a lot) and the conversation continued...