From Terrible Two's to Terrible Teen's

"I forgot". This seems to be the new phrase as of late around my house.


Did you finish reading your book? "I forgot."



Did you unload the dishwasher? "I forgot."


Did you bring your dirty laundry down to the laundry room? "I forgot."


Did you feed the dog, the cat, the other dog? "I forgot."


Okay, you get the picture. Teenagers' brains are on one speed. "ME". The world revolves around them. They are just checked in their room at Hotel Spoiled (insert your last name) for the next 5 to 7 years of their life.





After receiving a wake up call every morning, they are served breakfast of their choice. Then, the bus-mom, clears the table and the dishes while teen is getting dressed for school in her own bathroom, filled with all the hair products, flat irons, crimping irons, curling irons, (no clothes iron) and Bonnie Bell lip gloss and OPI nail polish than any 13 year old should need. I think my teen is a rep for Bare Escentuals. She made a great pitch on the fact that it would be good for her skin since it is all natural, she wouldn't look "made up", and it contains spf. She also told me that she thought I would benefit from it as well. Umm, didn't you hear, make-up now has cancer curing properties..... heh. that was sarcastic, so you know.

I have to admit, it is great, but this isn't an ad for it. Unless, Bare Escentuals, you would like to overflow a cancer-ridden, and I'm not exaggerating when I say ridden, mother of two's make-up bag full of your product... *wink* It really does help with my hollow eyes and dark circles. The concealer works wonders on the radiation "+'s"! I would also love, love, love me one of the new "HEROE's" collections! anybody hear me over there at i.d. bare escentuals? Get it.. Heroe's...I'm a cancer survivor..hopefully twice!....awwww you're not listening....... and I don't like to beg.



Anyway........


After said teen has slipped into her freshly pressed clothes and bounces downstairs, I have packed two lunches, put my tween's hair up in the usual ponytail and straightened her "side bangs". (Why am I still a hairdresser to an 11 year old?) I have washed the sink full of dishes from breakfast, ran the dishwasher, it was too full to hold the breakfast dishes..someone "forgot" to run it the night before-remember, and started a load of laundry. I also had a cup of coffee, if not two, while watching Matt Lauer and the headlines of the day.




Then the chauffeur, um, that's me, drives them both to school.




I feel as if I need to wear some Lycra catsuit with a cape and thigh high boots.




I envision the color red and black boots. But I will settle for another couple of cups of coffee or a sugar free Red Bull instead. Same power and energy and I don't have to wear the suit. Thank Gawd!!




When I walk back in the house from dropping the girls off, I get a whiff of my SC1's Juicy Couture, yes, a splurge on her instead of me...and I realize, this is my life. I look around at all the smiling photos and you would not know the entire story reflected back in the smiles. I have done my job. I am at peace.




The death of my husband, cancer once and cancer twice, and I would not trade it for another life.




So on I go, after a breathing treatment, a self injection, pop a tamoxifen, and finish cleaning Hotel Le Spoiled, make a batch of cookies for "after school talk" and know that I am spoiled.











spoiledmom

From Barbie to Reality

Presidential Barbie
photo by flickr

This is the year, we, as women, can make a change. Not just a change by voting, but a change by voting for the Woman. If we all band together, we can have the first female President in history. It will not just be a "Barbie" dream. It will become a reality.

Our daughters and grand-daughters will SEE that it is possible for a woman to become whatever she wants to be. Even President of the United States of America. The mere fact that Hilary is campaigning is amazing in its own right.

My daughters see Hilary's progress and her determination and fight to erase what was once "an all boys club". Sure, at 11 and 13, my girls do not know about the REAL concerns of the war, hard working people losing their jobs due to their employer moving overseas for cheaper labor, taxes, and minimum wage. But they see a woman, a woman like their mother, standing up for these "things" their innocent ears overhear in their mother's conversations. I want them to understand. I do teach them. By talking, by actions, and by listening to them.

I want a better world for them. I vote. I take them to vote with me.

I want the world to be here for them. I do my part. I teach them to recycle. We decide what we can do as a family to go green.

I grew up in a world of no war, no worries of a parent losing a job. Nor did I have to worry about an absent parent as well. Now, this is common place in a lot of children's lives.

In military families, one, or both parents, may be absent fighting the war.

The parent that loses their job may also be absent because they have to commute longer to and from new employment.

If a parent loses their job, they may often be "absent", mentally and emotionally, due to stress and worry over finances.

They may also spend relentless hours seeking out other employment.

They may perhaps have a feeling of failure.

This can, in turn, lead to separation or divorce and a broken home.

I am sure we do not realize how many latch-key kids there are in our schools.

Yes, our daughters need to see they can overcome. They are capable of achieving whatever they desire. They can dream and dream big.

"Red or blue", "right or left", or down the middle, teach your child.

Knowledge is power.

Wouldn't you love to one day say, "My daughter is the President"?

Whether it be followed by a company name or, " of the United States".

Here are some websites to get you started:

Girl Scouts of America: http://girlscoutsusa.org/

League of Women Voters: http://www.lwv.org/

Kids Voting USA: http://www.kidsvotingusa.org/

Vote 411: click on title or: http://www.vote411.org/

League of First Time Voters: http://www.firsttimevoters.com/

SpoiledMom

Chrissy