Well the sleep over parties have begun. all the teenage girls on the block seem to flock down to my house. April and the girls hang out all day and all they do is compare notes on all the guys.

It is kind of fun to listen in and find out what the chat is about. When the bad gossip begins I just walk away. All of her friends think I am mean for grounding her at the age of 16 and a half. But she just never shows respect to anyone and if it's the last thing I do on this earth, that girl will learn some respect before I die.

It is strange... more

The life of a teenager is not always a "Party." They are struggling to become young adults. To make the right and wrong decisions for their own selves.

They are managing school, home life and peer pressures. They deal with the decisions to take drugs, to smoke or to drink alcohol. They make the choices to have sex or not have sex. Knowing all the dangers of STD's and Pregnancy.

I for one would not like to relive some of my teenage years. And, I was a good child. My parents didn't know how good they had it. I didn't smoke, drink or do... more

The teenage girl across the street from us is only 16. She is now five months pregnant. She will tell you if you ask her that she is ready for a baby of her own. She says that she has nephews and nieces and she is looking forward to her own baby.

Today I tossed her a diaper and said, "well Mommy it is time for some on the job training. Christian (my 7 week old grandson) needs a clean diaper. Then he needs a bath and by then he will need a bottle."

A look of fear came over her face. I reached her the baby. Then I said "If you need some help call me ... I will be watching my soap operas."

After saying "but" about seven or eight times, I said "But what? You told... more

Jenny is a fourteen year old girl who lives at home with her dad and her fifteen year old brother. She often comes to our house and spends time and stays over night when she needs a female to hang out with.

Recently she came and has stayed the week with us as her dad is working some late night shifts. We welcome her with open arms. She is well mannered and very good to our daughter Paige.

This week she came home from school and she was so happy. She won first place in track for the mile run. She beat the State record and the coach told her that if she can do that next year she will get a full scholarship to college.

We all celebrated and made over her and told... more

In prior weeks I wrote about some one very dear to me named Pastor Don. Recently I spent a weekend down helping his son and the family get all of his important papers signed and ready. that they will be needing very soon.

Hospice has now been called in and Pastor Don is resting at home with his family instead of the Hospital. While this is his wish to be home and the choice of his family.

My concern is for his grand children. They love him so much and they spend a lot of time with Pappa Don. They are in and out of his room all day. But no one had seriously discussed with them what was happening and why Pappa Don was not awake as much. Or why he didn't get up out... more

There are some great movies out there for our kids. Many with Family Topics. Recently I watched "The sisterhood of the Traveling Pants."

It was the most delightful movie I have seen in ages. It would be wonderful for any teenage girlfriends to kick back and watch together.

The movie tells about four young girls who have grown up as friends. They are each very different and the movie portrays their first summer apart from each other.

It tells of what each girl does for the summer and how they find this one pair of jeans that seems to fit them all. The decide to pass the jeans back and forth over the summer to each one of the girls. Then they follow up... more

Noise was filling the air this afternoon as the buses rolled in and the kids all got out of school. You can sure tell the weather is getting nicer. The kids are all more alert and noise is in the air.

I very much enjoy being near a grade school and bus stop. I have always loved the sound of children laughing and playing. It is music to my ears on days when I don't feel too well.

I also like being aware of the kids and watching out for them when the are coming and going from school.

Today was a little comical to say the least. The high school kids were all swooning over one another and the boys were pushing each other and the girls were giggling. Teen romance was... more

I have been doing some on the spot interviews with older children who were adopted or have been in foster care for a series of reasons.

I wanted to ask a few questions and sit back and listen to how they answered the questions. If you ask any teenager today most of them say, "Nobody listens to me." or "My parents don't have a clue."

I have heard my daughter say that over and over, so I wanted to make sure if I asked the questions, I had the time to listen.

The questions I asked are:

1). Tell me about your family? 2). What are your best memories of your childhood? 3). What is the one thing you would change if you could about your childhood?... more

Sometimes I wonder where the reasoning or fairness apply when schools expel or give detentions.

I don't know if it is just the schools we have been exposed too. It just seems that if you have a problem child no matter what happens they always seem to blame your child. Even if you child is not the one who instigates the situation.

Kids can be so cruel, with words and actions. They do not understand other children with emotional and or mental disabilities. So when incidents happen the school usually sends the normal kid back to class and the parents of the emotionally challenged child get a phone call.

I cannot tell you how many times my daughter has taken the complete... more

This is the day of intelligence. The children begin to use computers in kindergarten and proceed on to learn the new world of Internet.

It is an exciting time. It is also an unmanageable time. No matter what you try as a parent you can not keep them safe from predators on the Internet. Furthermore they themselves are becoming so intelligent that it is getting them into big trouble.

Recently my friend had a mess on her hands. Her son who is about to graduate this year with high honors was caught with a complete list of everyone's name and address who attended the school or worked there.

In his attempt to make it easier to write out invitations for his graduation... more