Domestic Psychology

Is it summer yet?

// May 19th, 2009 // No Comments » // parenting, school, teenagers

Me: “Studying for your finals on Wednesday and Thursday?”
Sarah: “I have tests EVERY day this week!”
as she said it, flames shot out of her eyes and my face melted off. I skulked off to lick my wounds.

A few hours later, Sarah emerged from her room with a very wet painting. “I wasn’t happy with the painting I was working on, so I changed it. The “change” was taking a peaceful, pastel colored painting and covering it with a thick finger-painting of what can only be described as Cookie Monster with rabies. I didn’t know that Cookie Monster has giant fangs. He looked like he wanted a lot more than cookies.

I think we’ll spend the rest of this week sliding cookies under Sarah’s door and protecting the younger children from the wrath of finals week.

Prom 2009

// May 2nd, 2009 // 2 Comments » // flickr, parenting, teenagers

Yes, I know everyone is sick of hearing about the prom, but it’s been the topic of almost every conversation in our house for weeks and weeks. The dress couldn’t have sleeves, but it had to have straps. Long dresses were “too dressy” and it didn’t matter what the weather forecast was, shawls were for “old ladies.” Eye shadow only, but all five ear piercings had to coordinate. “I’m just going to straighten my hair” became, “Can you make my hair look like this?” “I want to eat at Chic-fil-a” negotiations changed dinner to PF Chang’s. Half a dozen mom phone calls, several lectures, 3 promises and one embarrassing photo opportunity later, they are at the prom. Their first prom. My first prom. Now, I sit at home and do what? Stare at my phone so I don’t miss any calls? Monitor the police scanners? I’ll go with my regular Saturday night routine and wash dishes. With the phone in my pocket.