Love is complicated.
To motherhood!
“Teenagers are the most misunderstood people on earth. Treated like children but expected to act like adults.”
I saw the above quote on Twitter and it made me think. As a parent of two teenagers, I know that navigating the transition from child to adult can be tricky. One minute they seem to have everything under control. The next minute they see to revert back to being a toddler where the simplest task is a mystery for them to master.
I only focused on my job to help guide my girls through this time. I didn’t concentrate on things from their perspective. Princess told me that, “Being a teenage is a struggle.” The seriousness on her face as she said this gave me pause. She is right.
Teenagers today have a lot more challenges to overcome. In my day, we had the usual things like school, dating, sex and drugs. Today they have all of those things combined with the internet age. Now a teenage mistake can follow you throughout life. The internet is forever.
I reminisce on my own teenage years and I remember feeling confused and misunderstood all the time. I especially felt that my parents were clueless. I vowed that I would do things differently with my own kids.
They say that you become your parents but I disagree. Okay, you may have the tendency to follow certain actions and beliefs of your parents. But I think most people strive to be better than their parents.
I may not always get it right with Princess and Diva but everything is done out of love. My goal is to raise two responsible adults that will treat people with respect. I want them to be smart enough to surround themselves with positive people and contribute something good to society. I want them to be comfortable in their own skin and accept people who are different from them. I want them to choose a career that is satisfying and enables them to pay their own bills. I want them to choose a life partner wisely. I want them to be happy.
Bottom line: Yes, being a teenager is a struggle. Being a parent isn’t easy either. But together, we can make it through.
What do you think? Any teenage stories to share? Advice?
I got a professional to design an ebook cover for my upcoming short story, Lie to Me. What do you think?
I love it. It’s much better than my feeble attempts.
Lesson learned: Hire professionals.
Enjoy!
I must admit I recently downloaded “The Hunger Games” based on the popularity and discussion of the movie. However, I was disturbed by the back lash against the movie because of some Black characters.
If you have read the book, it is clear that the characters in question were people of color. My question is, why is that a bad thing?
As a writer, an African-American writer, I often wonder if my work will be read by people of all races. I understand that people easily relate to others that are most like them. But is race the defining factor. I enjoy Jodi Picoult’s books. The main characters are White and yet I empathize with their plights and root for them the same way I do with a book by Bernice McFadden or Kimberla Lawson Roby. Why does it matter? A good book is a good book. Period.
Most of the time, I don’t enjoy the movie adaptation of books because the visual element limits the experience. I do enjoy it when the character on screen mimics the picture I had in my head. Of course, reading comprehension is a learned skill. Maybe those fans of “The Hunger Games” that were surprised about a character’s ethnicity should go back to school.
Please click the link below:
The Book Bench: White Until Proven Black: Imagining Race in Hunger Games : The New Yorker.
Today is my 18th wedding anniversary! We have been through our share of challenges just like the next couple but I feel we have grown stronger as a result. I can say today that I love my Hubby more than I did on our wedding day. Each year it gets better.
When you live, learn and grow with one person, it takes commitment to make it work. One key area that helps is communication. I think this is the most important area but it’s also the one area that is easy to mess up. How many times has a gesture or action been misinterpreted by your significant other? Maybe its time you learn your partners love language.
I highly recommend Dr. Gary Chapman’s “The 5 Love Languages”. The main idea of the book is that people love and show love based on their unique “love language”. That language may or may not align with your partner’s. Using common sense techniques and examples of the five love languages (Words of Affirmation, Physical Touch, Acts of Service, Receiving Gifts and Quality Time), this book is a guide to better communication. We took the assessment quiz and learned we have different love languages. This knowledge helps make a positive difference in the way you “see” your partner and what they need to feel loved.
I’m off to enjoy the day with my Hubby. By the way, his language is “Quality Time” and I am “Physical Touch”. Sounds like fun, doesn’t it?
What is your love language?
Excellent reading.
Every time I see or hear about the GOP’s attack on women I get angry. Are they really trying to get elected/re-elected by denying women reproductive health care? They do realize that women make up a huge voting block, right?
Now this isn’t a political blog but I have to ask the question. What you believe is what you believe. I think everyone should live their lives with whatever beliefs they like. Just don’t try to legislate said beliefs on the masses. After all, God gave everyone free will. If God can respect a person’s choice, why can’t everyone?
I posted the link below on Facebook over the weekend.
Dear GOP: You do know how pregnancy works, right? | Angry Black Lady Chronicles.
I am working on a short story that I plan to prepare for sell. Sort of like how musicians release a single in advance of their album. This short story will be my single. A major selling point for ebooks are the cover. That’s where you come in. I would appreciate any feedback on the effectiveness of this cover. Feel free to let me what you think. Thanks.
Synopsis:
When Andre discovers that his girlfriend/finance is cheating on him, he does what anyone would do. He pretends it’s not true. But when reality forces him to make a decision, will he simply walk away? Or will he make her pay for her transgressions?
Everyone has heard about the school shooting in Chardon, Ohio. Seventeen year old T. J. Lane opened fire in the school cafeteria shooting five students. Three of those teenagers have died.
I am not here to get into a debate about gun control or bullying. My heart weeps for every family affected by this event. Especially those parents that have to do the unthinkable and bury their child.
No, this post asks a question. How can you protect your children in an increasing evil world?
As a parent, it is terrifying to admit one simple fact. We don’t have any control over what happens.
A good parent teaches their child how to behave. We illustrate values and establish rules. We correct with love. We demonstrate how to treat other people. A good parent tries to raise a responsible and considerate person.
Then we release our child into the world (a friend’s house, the movies, or school) and we trust them to make good decisions. We trust them not to text and drive. We trust them not to drink or try drugs. We trust that they won’t pick up a gun to solve a problem. Perhaps the greatest faith of all, we trust that they won’t get shot sitting in the cafeteria.
Here’s the parenting moment: This is what I told my girls, “If you know someone has a gun in school, tell. If you see or hear someone with a gun, run.”
I’ll have to continue to trust they will come home from school each day. And pray. I’ll be praying for your children too.
Any parenting advice to share? Feel free.