Oral Surgery

Brandon had oral surgery to get ready for braces. He is doing really well, not much swelling. He is suppose to get the braces started next week. He is off school for another day to heal.

Pray for Them

I will be leaving for Chicago and leaving the boys in the hands of their Grandfather. He really doesn't watch them very well so just pray they will think before they act and make good choices. I have told the one I can not fight for my physical life and his spiritual life all summer. He will need to take care of his self and do what is right. This week is like a trial week to see if he can handle the summer when I will be going back and forth to Chicago.

This is where I vent

Since nobody seems to read this blog and I really don't know what to do about one teenager I guess I will just write down my thoughts and maybe an answer will come to me. How to teach him to be thankful for what he has. How to teach him not to be manipulative in getting what he wants for himself. He is so self centered. He cares about no one but his self. I guess this is typical for a 16 year old, but is not typical for someone who proclaims they are living for God. To be thankful.

It seems with a child who had nothing he would be thankful for what he has. Instead he just wants more. He wants to have name brand things and doesn't care how he gets it. Is he so low in self esteem that he thinks the clothes make the man. And if he is, does that really matter? Are we not to die to ourselves and give it all to God.

Does he show thankfulness in anyway? I don't see it. He acts like he is better than others because he has things that some don't. I want to take everything away from him. Will this teach him to be thankful, probably not.

So here I am once again, can't sleep because I don't know what to do to help this child live for God. To help this child make it in this world and not let it become what he desires.

Lord help me, we took these children in to show them your love. To show them a better life. One filled with your goodness. He is only after the fish and bread. What did you do? He is yours.

Peace without Teenagers

Well the teenagers are gone on a retreat and what a respite for Mom. They left today and won't be back until Saturday late. A nice peaceful way to bring in Easter. Have a great weekend folks.

Not disappointed

Can you believe it, they did not disappoint me? They went to the youth function last night and called to see if they could go out with the others and get something to eat. I said okay. Then they called and wanted to go back to the youth pastor's house for a bit like some of the others. I said okay but you need to be home by midnight. Guess what, they got home at 11:57. Cool huh?

Had an ARD meeting

Had an ARD meeting today for one of my teenagers. Would you believe not one negative thing was said about his behavior or his trying. I had to take him out to lunch after that. He was very proud of himself. It was nice. I am still very unhappy with the amount of time they spend on improving his reading, but what can I do? Can't seem to change the system overnight. Positive is always better than negative though. Go Son!

They Have a Car

How scary is that? A young man from church gave them a car. They are so excited. They moved it the other day, in the driveway. This is a scary adventure. They don't even have a permit yet. Both of them need to learn, but I am not the one to teach them.

Do they Listen

Both of the boys hear but do not listen. They have both been told to stay away from certain people. They have been told not only by their mother but by their pastor.

Last night both sat by people they have been told to stay away from for an eight hour rock a thon. Nobody is listening. I would love to have some 16 year old consequeces if anyone has any suggestions.

One More Stupid Mistake by Mom

So, (as my mother always started out a conversation) I go to Wal-mart to get some things we needed. While I am there I buy my son a zip up binder. Why, because he is carrying around a three ring binder that is falling apart. He taped the top of it the other day. I thought he would like this one, he could put everything in it and not lose anything. Well, don't know what I was thinking, he doesn't want it. When will I ever learn not to buy this child anything. Unless it is from a name brand store, other than Wal-mart.

Raising Teenage Boys Without a Dad

This has been the hardest year of my life. I can not be a mother and father to two teenagers. I can only be who I am. I am their mother without a husband. I know they have enough role models around them. I attend the most wonderful church in Texas, or the US for that matter. They have youth leaders and big brothers that are wonderful men of God. But they don't have the everyday time they need to spend with a Dad. A Dad to horseplay on the ground, to throw the ball with, to go fishing with, or just talk to. So as a parent without a spouse, I will just try and keep them surrounded with other male role models and pray that everything will work out as it should.

A Nice Thing about Teenagers

They go on outings. They leave the house for hours. I am scheduled to have a nice quiet evening at home because the two teenagers are leaving town with the youth group and will be gone all night. YES!

"I Don't Get It," he says

I see that one of the boys has a few zeroes online for a few assignments. I print out the grade report and tell him he needs to take care of this. He assures me he has the papers and will get them turned in. Well, the next day comes around and the zeroes are still there.

I ask him if he turned in the papers and he said yes.

Then why are there three zeroes online.

Oh I haven't turned those in yet.

So you just lied to me, go to your room.

So after 20 minutes I tell him he can come out and he comes to me and says "Can I ask you something"

Sure.

Why did you say I lied, I didn't lie.

What, you told me you turned in the papers, didn't you?

Yes

And that was a lie, was it not.

Oh, okay, I'm sorry I lied to you.

Sooooooo...I'm thinking surely he knows he lied from the beginning. How does he think he is going to get away with it.

Just another converstion with a teenager. So what kind of consequences can we have here?

Intro to Self

I am 51 years old. I was married for 32 years when my husband died of a massive heart attack. This left me to raise two boys that we had adopted when they were ten. They are now 16 years old. I thought I would start a blog just for others that might be raising teenagers. Of course if you already have and might have some suggestions at different times feel free to post. I raised two boys who are now grown. They are in their late 20's. Now I am doing my best to raise these two. At times it just helps to vent and get ideas from others. It seems so different from the other two. Times are different. Circumstances are different. Since I am doing this alone it helps to read about others and talk with others.

Then I think I could blog about adopting older children. I could blog about having cancer and fighting it for over three years. I could blog about how good God has been to me through everything. So this might be about whatever. Just another blog journal. It is good to journal, to reflect back on things. This helps us to put things in proper order. Welcome to my new blog.