tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75836769053537872232024-03-03T16:26:12.535-08:00My Teen, The AlienLynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11018971758884547117noreply@blogger.comBlogger122125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583676905353787223.post-16586242064454719622015-05-10T10:46:00.000-07:002015-07-29T10:48:38.343-07:00Getting ready to face an empty nest
After 21 years of priceless homemade cards and many bowls of soggy cereal lovingly served to me in bed, I regret to inform myself that this Mother’s Day will likely be the last one I spend with either of my children for a while.
My youngest daughter is 17 and will graduate from high school in a few short weeks. Soon she will be flying off to college in the footsteps of her older sister, Lynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11018971758884547117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583676905353787223.post-42911330392979096612015-04-16T21:23:00.000-07:002015-04-16T21:23:04.878-07:00Vaping among teens is out of control!
Is your teen vaping? Read the story I wrote about this dangerous trend among middle- and high-school students.
http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2015/04/16/killer-vapor-your-vaping-teen-could-be-sucking-formaldehyde-and-antifreeze-160041Lynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11018971758884547117noreply@blogger.com46tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583676905353787223.post-77891600498875090312014-09-14T08:21:00.000-07:002014-09-14T08:30:44.782-07:00Texting is the New Parenting
I’m exhausted. I
just had a lengthy and very heated discussion with both my daughters -- at the
same time, mind you. My eldest daughter and I went back and forth about nursing
school and all the expenses associated with that. And the youngest wants my
permission (and signature) to get her driver’s license, even though she is
nowhere near ready to do so.
Lynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11018971758884547117noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583676905353787223.post-66428354539787479432014-05-04T09:11:00.000-07:002014-05-04T09:20:43.224-07:00The divorce bug is going around
I know firsthand that being divorced can lead to a lot of sniffles. I just had no idea it could be so
contagious.
According to a study from Brown University that examined data from
thousands of people over three decades, if you have a friend or a loved one who
is divorced, itLynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11018971758884547117noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583676905353787223.post-6040837664718355552014-04-18T21:22:00.000-07:002014-05-08T21:31:32.301-07:00Go ahead -- eat the head off that chocolate Easter bunny!
One of the saddest days of my
life was an Easter Sunday -- many, many sunrises ago when I was young enough to
still believe in the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy and all those other
fictional characters that lent a little magic to our childhoods.
I woke up excitedly at the
crack of dawn and ran to the window facing our backyard. I pulled back the
curtains, expecting to see the Easter Lynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11018971758884547117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583676905353787223.post-10571925750411583712014-04-10T09:52:00.001-07:002014-04-10T09:52:17.647-07:00Teach your teens to save and work hard!
Around this time every
year, many people have money on their minds. With another April 15th
nipping at their heels, those people who owe taxes are dreading the inevitable
day of reckoning with Uncle Sam. And I would venture to guess that those citizens
getting refunds have eagerly filed their taxes already and long ago spent their
windfalls.
&Lynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11018971758884547117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583676905353787223.post-70418574522466136412014-03-19T21:11:00.000-07:002014-03-19T21:30:22.454-07:00Canyon Bakehouse makes gluten-free a GOOD thing
Dairy-free. Nut-free. Soy-free. Sounds like a recipe
for something absolutely flavor-free, doesn’t it? Which is why you will be as
surprised as I was at how wonderfully delicious the breads are from CanyonBakehouse.
To be honest, I had
never heardLynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11018971758884547117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583676905353787223.post-60202142488519197012014-03-11T20:10:00.000-07:002014-03-11T20:12:23.208-07:00Rachel Canning -- you're a BRAT!
My last daughter
remaining in the house has told me that she might want to go live with her
father in Southern California for her senior year. It’s a bold move on her
part, to switch schools in her last year of high school. But she’s not having
much fun up here lately, having recently been bullied by a mean girl in school
(see previous “Notes” column). Besides, this other high school has an Lynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11018971758884547117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583676905353787223.post-7501557290273853402014-02-17T19:54:00.003-08:002014-02-17T20:02:07.186-08:00Mean girls are simply bullies with lip gloss
No mother likes to
see her child in pain – either physically or emotionally. I always thought the
physical blows to my daughters were the most painful to endure – for me, that
is. I’ll never forget when my youngest daughter broke her pinkie finger trying
to field a ball during 5th grade recess. She was fascinated that her
little finger was pointing in the other direction. I was queasy.
&Lynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11018971758884547117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583676905353787223.post-91894537763407115082014-01-18T13:04:00.000-08:002014-01-18T13:04:29.458-08:00History lessons for your teens<!--[if gte mso 9]>
<![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]>
Normal
0
false
false
false
EN-US
X-NONE
X-NONE
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]>
Lynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11018971758884547117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583676905353787223.post-25179388188051649332013-10-17T08:33:00.004-07:002013-10-17T08:35:49.354-07:00Homecoming Heartbreak
This past weekend, my 16-year-old
daughter attended her Homecoming dance with her very first date ever. It was an
epic moment in her life, starting from the night she was asked to the formal
with a serenade and a trail of rose petals leading up to our doorway, and
ending, sadly, with a wilted corsage and teenaged heartbreak.
Mothers of boys . . . we need to talk. First
off, I am glad Lynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11018971758884547117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583676905353787223.post-7927741832828461662013-09-28T09:26:00.000-07:002013-09-28T09:37:24.157-07:00Top 10 Risks Teens Take
Taking healthy risks is an essential aspect of childhood development, and is one of the best ways for kids to learn about cause and effect and the consequences that come from their actions. Parents should encourage youngsters to take safe risks when the situation arises, but there are a host of not-so-healthy risks that come into the picture when little ones grow into teenagers. To adults, it Lynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11018971758884547117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583676905353787223.post-79389394006820322422013-08-21T21:22:00.001-07:002013-08-21T21:37:01.005-07:00When it comes to teens, God is brilliant!<!--[if gte mso 9]>
<![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]>
Normal
0
false
false
false
EN-US
X-NONE
X-NONE
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]>
Lynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11018971758884547117noreply@blogger.com0North America38.548165423046562 -106.87513.026130923046562 -148.183594 64.070199923046559 -65.566406tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583676905353787223.post-88516036920091229162013-02-24T10:20:00.001-08:002013-02-24T10:33:40.160-08:00Tom Fletcher's Wedding SpeechCommunication between me and my oldest teenager, for whom I originally started this blog, is sporadic, at best. See, she's away at college, and checking in with mom is not a high priority next to cramming for tests, working, an internship and of course, a boyfriend.
Every now and then, like today, we make a strong connection inadvertently through a Facebook post. She posted this Lynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11018971758884547117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583676905353787223.post-64473711047040176802013-02-05T19:25:00.004-08:002013-02-05T19:32:35.584-08:00Helicopter Mom Or Ripped-Off Consumer? You Decide.
Maybe you can help me. I could be one of those parents who wants to jump in and save her
daughter when the going gets tough and life appears to be unfair.
Or I could just be a ticked off, ripped-off consumer. You decide.
So the story goes that I enrolled my daughter in a
volleyball club. She’s 15 Lynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11018971758884547117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583676905353787223.post-24171855685386395682012-10-24T16:45:00.003-07:002012-11-04T08:12:28.219-08:00Bad Lip Reading Gets The Teen Vote!
My oldest daughter's first words were, "Shut up!" Please, let me explain. During nice spring days, I used to tie up my beloved Cocker Spaniel, Higgins, outside in the front yard -- in the shade! -- because he liked it there. Lots of stuff going on to engage his senses, I guess. Problem was, he barked all the time, at everything, even ants crawling by on the sidewalk. It drove me crazy, all Lynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11018971758884547117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583676905353787223.post-20128115726156682672012-08-16T10:09:00.000-07:002012-10-03T16:47:45.654-07:00Winging It With Teens
Motherhood is a work in progress; a
lifelong dedication to on-the-job training. Our children aren't born clutching
Owner's Manuals, so as parents, most times we are winging it when it comes to
raising them.
My oldest daughter, who goes to
college out of state, is home for the summer. She did a lot of
growing up this last year while she was away Lynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11018971758884547117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583676905353787223.post-29423314489096196872012-06-23T18:24:00.001-07:002012-10-03T16:48:38.447-07:00Regretfully, Yours
Over chips and guacamole one night, my 14-year-old daughter
asked, “Do you have any regrets, Mom?”
After subsequently choking on a chip, I began mentally flipping through
a Rolodex of regrets in my life. Number one was marrying her father, who didn’t
turn out to be the best of men. Of
course I couldn’t tell her that, so I dug deeper.
“I regret that I didn’t go to the rodeoLynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11018971758884547117noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583676905353787223.post-31840483522531686272012-05-13T14:43:00.000-07:002012-10-03T16:49:35.700-07:00IT'S MY DAY!
Today is officially Mother’s Day. The one day out
of 365 days where moms, like me, are supposed to drop the laundry basket and not
do a damn thing except RELAX! Who,
me? Relax? It’s a tall order for most of us mom
types. And it was all I could do to stay
in bed while I heard my youngest 14-year-old daughter frying up homemade donuts
in the Lynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11018971758884547117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583676905353787223.post-88865980938590796212012-04-29T08:38:00.001-07:002012-05-02T17:22:55.932-07:00Long Time, No Post
Yes, I am still alive. And my daughters are very well, thank you. I
know it's been a very long time -- years, really -- since my last
post. But I have a good explanation: My oldest daughter asked me to
stop writing about her. Above all else, I respect my daughter's right
to privacy.
She understands that her mom is a writer,
and that writers write about their Lynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11018971758884547117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583676905353787223.post-74871680274971411342010-07-29T23:47:00.000-07:002010-07-30T00:40:55.230-07:00She Got Her Driver's License, And I'm Never Going To Sleep Again!My teenager grew a wing today. She passed her driving test with flying colors. Well, maybe "flying" isn't the best choice of words when we're talking about driving, but she's well on her way to a whole new world.In my view, she really wasn't ready to take her test. She has driven on the freeway only twice, and about three times at night. She still has some issues changing lanes. Tends to take herLynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11018971758884547117noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583676905353787223.post-68038958061992874742010-07-11T09:21:00.000-07:002010-07-11T09:25:21.359-07:00Lance Orton, The Times Square HeroWe can probably all agree that it’s the people you meet along the way that make life – and vacations – really interesting. My daughters and I vacationed in New York City this summer, and while we met some very memorable characters, the highlight of our trip was meeting Lance Orton, the Vietnam veteran-turned-hero who stopped the Times Square bombing by alerting police to suspicious smoke coming Lynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11018971758884547117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583676905353787223.post-75966900378022385052010-06-27T17:30:00.000-07:002010-06-27T17:37:42.253-07:00New Yorkers Are MUCH Nicer Than Bostonians!You hear it all the time – especially if you’re from California: People from New York are whiney and rude!I am here to tell you, as a true-blue Californian who recently traveled to New York for summer vacation with my two daughters, that this stereotype is not even close to being true.Quite the opposite. I found New Yorkers to be some of the nicest, friendliest, most helpful people I have ever Lynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11018971758884547117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583676905353787223.post-49041140576775373812010-06-18T08:32:00.000-07:002010-06-20T07:06:25.173-07:00Hello, Summer!This morning, I got a text from my 16-year-old daughter: "I just took my last final! You own me a mani and a pedi!" Today is the last day of school for both my daughters.The temptation to "check out" of school earlier, however, happened about two weeks ago. To keep their momentum going of staying focused on school, I did what any smart, hands-on parent would do: I bribed them. And it worked, Lynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11018971758884547117noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583676905353787223.post-18282702348699996782010-04-19T20:05:00.000-07:002012-10-03T16:50:13.911-07:00I Crashed My Teen's PromOne day my oldest daughter is making me a macaroni necklace for Mother’s Day and the next thing I know, I’m clasping a faux-diamond necklace around her neck for the Prom. Where did the years go, besides to my hips, butt and gut?So this past weekend, my teenager attended her Junior Prom. As you can imagine from the photo I posted of her dress, she looked like a princess. (Have you ever seen a moreLynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11018971758884547117noreply@blogger.com3