That is so nice, thank you !!

I been playing Persona 3 Portable...so much, then I'll be getting a Ps2 soon...hehe.

Also found out some things that left me like; "O.o"

D'you know...This morning we got up to discover that somepoint during the night, the daughter had written us a list of things that are pissing her off...All of which essentially seemed to be "I'm 13, and I want to do whatever I want"...

Considering how much I try to do with what little spare time I have, to try and keep everyone happy and what-have-you, this really was a mega kick in the nadgers (karma Lucien?)...

Robert is unhappy... ...

As you were...

Welcome to the world of 13 year old girls world-wide. The hormones come in about that age for females - think about how your wife feels/acts every 30 days when her hormones come in; then multiply that by 10. The reason the child has it worse than your wife is because when the hormones first come in :

1. They are a brand new thing the child has never felt before - unlike your wife who is used to having them. So the child doesn't know how to control the emotional upheaval and moodiness they cause.

2. When the hormones first come in, it is in a surge - a flood. It is overwhelming to a young teen.

3. Everything she has ever known about herself is changing right now. Her body, her temperment, her moods, her feelings about everything. She doesn't know what she really feels right now, and won't for about 4 - 6 more years. Get used to it now, lol.

4. Last year she was a child, and this year she is racing toward adulthood. One day she will want to be treated like an adult, the next she may still be wanting to play dolls and dress-ups. This is a very confusing age for girls.


** Whatever you do, don't take it personally. Just realize what she is going through and love her through it - and it will be hard at times, but it is worth it.

Tips: if you ever had a "Pet Name" for her when she was a tyke - now is a good time to resurrect it. She'll need that reassurance going through her teen years.

Hope this helps, many of us have been through it, lol.

Hwut she said!!!

And the 3rd vote is in....

My youngest daughter is 12 going on dead...I got your back on this one McB. We can commiserate together while we "Love then through it." (I was teasing about the dead part, but don't tell her that.)

Here's the thing though that I don't understand. I sorta kinda remember when I decided I wanted to super glue my mom's mouth shut at about 13 or 14 and it went on like that until I was, oh, say...well it's still that way sometimes...but I also have a 25 year old daughter that, in the scheme of things, NEVER gave me s***. She didn't argue, she didn't question my authority, she told me everything AND still does. Sorry, I know everyone is different but both of these girls came from the same two people....I think that's one thing that kind of ramps it up for the younger one, when I was younger and more patient my patience wasn't tested, now that I am OLD I don't want some young punk, my kid or not, questioning everything I say...Just sayin

Now, all that said, the younger daughter is beautiful and smart, she is FAR too perceptive for her own good and has been or acted like an adult since she was 3. The benefits to that are that she has NEVER been bullied like both of her brothers, she speaks for herself she doesn't need someone else to do it for her, but she is very respectful to her teachers etc. (THANK GOODNESS!)

OH YEA one more thing, take heart McB, the younger daughter read me a study the other day that said children that argue with their parents are less likely to smoke or use intoxicants....at least there's that.

I’m right there with you, the 13 and nearly 12 year old have shaken things up considerably in Grits world. In our case The Boy is older. They seem to have launched their hormonal madness simultaneously. Like mALX said I try not to take it personally, even when it’s a list of the ways I’m ruining their lives. Not easy.

I have lived through all of this once, a 25 year old girl and a 22 year old boy. They didn't fight with each other, just bickered a little. The boy tested me some until he realized he was taller than me and got in my face and I told him I would take him out at the knees with a bat if he didn't back off. We laugh about that now but it wasn't funny at the time. We both thought he was going to hit me.

The younger two, a girl 12 and a boy 10. It is World Wrestling at its best most of the time and of course the other one always started it...I have made them stand facing each other with their palms together for half an hour, until they both dissolved in laughter...With the older two I was much quicker I think to catch and call, but with these two I don't know if it's because I am slower or they just got straight for each others throats without a warning.

Our parents talked about how different things were from when they were kids and I say the same, but honestly just a matter of 10 years makes a huge difference.

All was not well in my world when my lil sis began her journey down that road.... *Shudders*

Anyway, I am coming to you all from little ol' NOC out here. Started my second semester and, so far, things are great. Good teachers and so people I actually know are in my classes (So far. Still have one to check on.) so a study group will be easy to find. Things are going well over here!

That sounds great! Congrats, Arcry !!

McBadgere: If it makes you feel any better, having just come out of my teenage years as a mature, intelligent, extremely attractive young man who's modest to the point it almost being self-depricating (yeah right! ), all I'll say is that eventually she'll feel like the biggest idiot in the entire affair. In the meantime, all I'll say is put up with it, give her a bit of give as she gets older, and generally you'll look back on it all and laugh.

Also, in other news, I finished writing a story that's taken me just over eighteen months to complete and is a touch under 300,000 words. I both feel somewhat lost and somewhat awestruck by it all...

I'm glad that I don't have kids o.O.
But yea...sometimes kids, well tend to act/say something without thinking, blame the burst of hormones really.
I can't really put it better than what mALX said

Also congrats Arcry!

Thanks for that bit of heartening advice from such a modest young man, we truly appreciate your profound words.

My 10 year old appreciated it very much.....hahahahaha

Yes, Fawkes, I agree, mALX put it much more diplomatically than I, she is such an artist with words that one....

ROFL at the first paragraph - and a huge CONGRATS on the second !!! That is awesome news !!

That "somewhat lost" sensation is that you had a goal and now it is ended. The tremendous drive that pushed you on to finish that story now has no where to go.

The secret is to set another goal and give all that energy and purpose another focus and direction.

Congrats again, Wonderful News !!

Cheers all...

Glad to know I'm not the first to go through this... ...

Sadly, I kinda made light of what was said...Y'know that part of Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves where Alan Rickman says that he'll cut his heart out with a spoon...

When she sits there and writes everything out, making sure to change colours when appropriate...*Shrug*...

I shall endeavour not to take it personally...But right now...

Mega congrats Mustard...*Applauds*...

GAAAAAH!!! Alan Rickman ... I wish they had made him the new Dr. Who !!!!


Yeah, I had to apologize to my children a few times for not "getting it" when they were being serious. Keep a lot of chocolate in the house for the next six years, it increases endorphin levels in the brains of females (a natural mild mood enhancer).

What mALX said but the flip side of that is don't take it personal when you are being serious and they make light of it, works both ways unfortunately.

Chocolate is good, sometimes being unconventional is good, and make sure to shine a bright light on the things she does well but don't highlight the things she doesn't.

But always, always, keep your sense of humor because even being in the throws of it myself right now I know this too shall pass. And the memories will be priceless not to mention really good blackmail material.

Thank you to whoever fixed the downed server !!

I had something wise to add, but then someone said Alan Rickman. (Color won't work? Pretend that's in pink.)

That’s tremendous, Colonel!!

Tonight in Grits world is one of those nights that’s pouring down rain but feels cold enough to be an ice storm. I finally found the Christmas tree Peeps and Terry's chocolate oranges that Santa was supposed to put in the stockings, so we are having a chocolate feast and watching Farscape. I just witnessed The Girl dipping her chocolate-covered marshmallow into her cocoa. That kid knows how to live.

Did someone mention Alan Rickman ???? (drool, drool...)

Dodging the Alan Rickman fest. Although not the chocolate--- mmmmm chocolate....

Sorry, where was I?

Oh- right then.

McB- speaking as a former teenager and one who seemed to spend most of his time between depression and undirected anger... and perhaps more to the point, having spent some time around girls of the same disposition.

Take heart from the fact that she is still willing to communicate. Even if the gist of the communication is "You are all making my life miserable- and I HATE you!"

Because- in the weird way of adolescents- what that really means is, "There is so much going on right now that I do NOT understand and YOU are supposed to FIX IT for me. BUT- I want you to FIX IT while at the SAME time LEAVING ME ALONE!"

Which is why- clever doggie that I am- I skipped right over parenthood and went directly to being a grandfather. Much safer all around.

Um, Trey, would the "girls" you are speaking of happen to include anyone I KNOW????

If he won't tell you I will, I was probably the one at the TOP of the list on that one.

***NOTE***
He knows what he's talking about, just take my word for it.

Except where he dodged mentioning Alan Rickman.


Lucky for me no one brought up Colin Firth (drool, slurp, drool)

Now you've done it!!

*Grits keels over*

Did you see him in Valmont? I haven't seen it in two years and still have dreams, lol. His Pride and Prejudice is my absolute fave of all time - and he actually takes his shirt off when he swims in the pond in it, too !!!

Maybe some of the adults are feral too

Just sayin

ROFL !!!

You like Colin Firth?...Go to Netflix and get the two St Trinnians movies...You will thank me for it...Yes you will... ...

David Tennant's in the second one too...David Tennant?...No?...He looks like Alan Rickman a bit...-Ish... ...

Ohhh Colin Firth is very sexy, I believe i first saw him in...er I think it was Pride and prejudice, watched it in one of my high school classes, It took around a whole week to finish the movie! Hehe... but I alas I must admit I have had a tiny crush on Harrison Ford ever since I was a kid , sure as a kid I will watch all these action movies and what not, but I watched them for the hot actors

I been playing Persona 3 Portable since forever now, and yes the sad parts still make me teary eyed, and I hate doing the Sun Social link...urgh it gets me depressed then the little music that they put.

They still don't put what books I'm going to need, but I'm cringing at what their prices are going to be

I just dropped $230 to get used books. That isn't all of them either. I'm holding off buying one book until the class actually starts to see if we actually USE the damn thing. I have a book from last semester that I never cracked open.

Today is MRI day! Usually I would be looking forward to the experience as a chance to meet some fun new friends in the medical imaging field, but I saw a picture of the machine. It pretty much looks like a big toilet paper roll. With a tongue. That you lie down on. And it eats you. That can’t be right.

Anyway, let’s hope that Mission WTF Is Wrong With Grits (we are NOT using the word “Operation”) will be a success, and my posts will soon be peppered with smilies once again. Like this one:

Grits, I am an old hand at MRI parties, kind of like birthdays for me , seriously, I really wouldn't want to count them. ANYWAY, I'll be there with you in spirit. Close your eyes, sometimes they give you a headset so you can listen to music but if not, meditate on the sound of the machine, don't focus on something frightening, I usually think about space ships and how awesome it would be to fly through the universe.

GO AHEAD!! Laugh people, but it works! When you are staring at that big thing that looks like....what Grits said, I won't tell you what I said it looked like....it helps to have a plan BEFORE you get there!!!

Best of luck, hope it isn't anything major, let us know how it goes.

Keep smiling, it makes them wonder what you've been up to!!

Sunshine and rainbows!!!

Grits - best of luck, hope it goes well.



For uni books the library is your friend. Get the book out for a week and have a read to decide whether it's worth buying before you shell out for it. I don't know if the US is the same but here the 1st/ 2nd year textbooks are never worth bothering with, they're too basic then really - you want books to have more depth than lectures.

News here is that I've just applied for a PhD so assuming I get it (very likely) and funding (probable) then that's another three years in academia. See I can keep hiding from the real world.



You can keep Colin Firth. Harrison Ford in his earlier films is certainly nice to look at though But I'm going to have to mention Robert Downey, Jr - mindless action films and very... scenic

You aren't avoiding the real world Olen, just becoming one of those professional students. Only thing is, the pay is on par with starving artist....

Good luck with the PHD!! Hip hip Hooray!!

Oh, bless your heart!

MRI's are LOUD and feel like you are in an earthquake, I've heard and felt them (but never had one). I hope everything turns out all right and they can fix the issue without surgery. I miss your bubbliness too.

... .... ..... Er .... ..... I hope it had nothing to do with ... er... ... tossed salad.

I'm glad I wasn't thinking THAT! It was a snug fit, unlike the spacious one in the picture. My arms were squished in. I'm not sure what they do with big people.

Thanks, folks! The hardest part was finding a place to park. The spaceship idea really worked, Athynae!

That's great news, Olen! I have Robert Downey, Jr and Harrison Ford on the brain now. There goes my calm!

Um no, nothing to do with tossed salad, more to do with mortuaries, AND THAT is why I didn't say anything.

I am really glad you made it through, and that my suggestion helped some. I do hope they can fix it without anything invasive. We are ready to have the Grits back that makes our smileys wear shades.

BY THE GRACE OF NYARLATOTEPH! Or CTHULU! Or whatsevah. Monday is the beginning of school! Just spent the last days preparing, looking forward to it. My graduation's nearing, too. After I leave my JHS, I will now have to enter a world full of competitors to enter my designated HS. If I get it right, I may have a laconical school life for 4 YEARS! If I fail, then..... I'd have to wait 1 year to get that test again...

@ Athynae - Well...Grits said a toilet paper roll and a tongue, so when you said you couldn't say what you were thinking...I (of course) thought (a relative term in my case) it must be ... er ... something along those lines. Then I had to try and figure out what worse couldn't be....er... never mind, ROFL !!!


@ Olen - Ooh, a PHD !!! Congrats !! I'm sorry I missed that earlier, Athynae and Grits distracted me with dherty images of ... well, never mind, lol.


@ Grits - They probably put a tiny thing like you into the "Children's sized" MRI. I am so glad it went well - now let's hope the Radiologists reading of it is just as trouble-free !!!


@ Uleni Athram - Good luck on your test !!!

Good luck Grits. Let's hope they don't find anything TOO messed up!

Thanks so much, folks! I'm rooting for something I can fix myself. So is the physical therapy practice I've been going to, where my co-pays could probably fund a nice group vacation!

We'll root with you for that too. I hope that Phys Ther place gave you some good home advice on how to keep your spine straight while sleeping - the five pillow rule. It relieves a whole lot of stress on the spine (and related muscles) if it is kept straight at resting.

You ain't whistlin' Dixie on that one Grits, I've spent enough on physical therapy to buy a nice vacation property somewhere.

mALX I never thought there was another person that had thoughts that were as um, colorful, yes that's it, colorful as mine. WOW I sure was wrong on that one.....ROFL!!!!!

Grits, of all the things that are regular chores that we don't think about there are 3 things that I was told several years ago that are the worst so DO NOT SWEEP, MOP or VACUUM. The therapist that told me this said the movements of all three not only stress the core muscles but also the secondary muscles. I don't know exactly what the movement is that is common to those three and nothing else I'm just sharin'. AND it's a good excuse not to do those things, hehe.

YEPPER we are rooting for the best possible outcome!!!! Ye betcha...

Yep, I sleep in a pillow fortress. It’s ridiculous. I also have this thin pillow thing strapped around my waist. When The Girl first saw it, she thought I was going to wear it all of the time, out of the house. She was horrified. It was even worse than the day I wore red pants. She made me stay in the car while she (age 11) ran in to pick up dinner. I’m sure she has a list of complaints somewhere with “wore red pants” and “took all of the pillows” written on it.

They were my Christmas pants. I didn’t plan to get out of the car.


But Athynae, those are my three favorite things!! I was also accused by the PT of having too much wiggle in my walk. This was when I was just about dragging one leg. WTF?! Sometimes I think they’re just trying to amuse themselves.

I can't wear my red pants either if it's any consolation, nor am I allowed to "bounce to the beat" when I pick them up from skating. And the list goes on....don't sing in the store, don't this, don't that, yeesh, you'd think someone raised us wrong or something.

Three faves huh? Yea like my favorite thing is washing windows, right.

PT thing, so in Nov of '97 I had a ruptured disc in my neck putting pressure on the spinal cord which in turn had my arms curled into my chest and was drawing one of my legs up. Therapist says, "You know if you'd straighten that leg out your back would feel better." NO S***!!!

Pfff, I wear red pants all the time...


Never out in public though.

I blame Foxy, lol.


@ Grits - RE: the red pants, lol. Even without ever wearing red pants, I've still been accused of going out of my way to embarass them, lol.


@ Athynae - RE: Your therapist's brilliant deductions:

Athynae: "Doctor, Doctor! I get a stabbing pain in my eye every time I drink coffee!"
Doctor: "Have you tried taking the spoon out?"



@ KC - ROFL !!!!


*

Yep mALX that's about how it was. I swear some of these people got their learnin' from a Cracker Jack box no joke.

IT IS ALL FOXY'S FAULT!!!!!!

I DO go out of my way to embarrass them, it's what I live for.

Hey KC I dare ya...

I have a bunch of doctor jokes, that was the only clean one, lol.