Growing Pains

I've experienced some growing pains this week, and I have to tell you, it ain't fun!

Kayti is not like most teenagers. In fact, she has pretty much been an anti-teen; she could care less about fashion, boys, make-up, talking on the telephone, and any other obsession most teen-age girls have. I have always been very thankful for this, and I really have never had too much to worry about with her. We get along great, and I can always count on her to be my easy-going girl.

Keeping all this in mind, image my surprise when this week we got into a huge blow-up. I can't remember a time that I have been more mad at her. And I'm not sure if I was more mad at her, or hurt by her. It was a pretty minor incident, really, when I look back on it. I was talking to all of the kids, venting some frustrations that their father and I share over the cleaning habits, when all of the sudden my sweet, mild-mannered girl smarted off to me! I was floored. I have heard other girls her age speak to their parents in a way that would make the hair on the back of your neck stand on end, and I have always prided myself on the fact that my daughter would never speak to me in such a way. And, truthfully, she didn't, but the fact that she talked back at all really had me riled up. I stewed about it all day, and even gave her the silent treatment for half of the day. I was able to calm down and we talked things over that night, but I'm not sure how I will handle this again if it happens in the future. I know that it will happen, that is just the nature of things... kids grow up and learn to speak for themselves, and express opinions in ways that we as parents find unnerving. We teach our kids to think for themselves, and stand up for themselves, and then get really mad at them when it is aimed towards us ;)

When Kayti was 11 or 12 she told me and her dad that she didn't want to become a teen-ager because whe couldn't stand the thought of being mad at us or having us mad at her all the time. Barry told her then that as long as she was respectful that we shouldn't have a problem. We told her that it was ok to have a different opinion about something than us, and as long as she voiced that difference with calmness and respect we could always talk about it. I guess that it what I have to keep in mind. And I guess that I need to remind her of that as well. In the immortal words of Aretha Franklin, it all boils down to R-E-S-P-E-C-T!

On a much lighter side of things, Barry took Kayti out driving for the first time yesterday! I have video of her pulling in and out of the parking space! It took them about 15 minutes to actually back out and get going. They drove around the neighborhood a few times, and Kayti had had enough of it. Her poor Driver's Ed teacher! I feel for him! You can read her thoughts on the experience on her blog.

Josh made it home safe and sound last night. He had a great time, and although he is sporting some bruises, he is fine otherwise. He did run into and knock down an "old lady" (his term) on his first run down the bunny slope! It sounds like she was not the only one that sufferd that fate, either!

School starts back tomorrow for the kids. All of mine are dreading it, but it will be kind of nice to be back in the routine of things. Well, everything except the alarm going off at 5:00 AM. I could really do without that. Only 10 more weeks until Spring Break!