Grant Wood's Teenagers

9 days, 9 posts?

After the manner of Grant Wood, but in pastel chalk, made in 2004. Gawky, awkward, feeling out of place, like everyone is staring at you, bumpy. I would hate to be a teenager again. It is something you survive, and don't look back on! Getting through unscathed is miraculous. Dealing with the fears, the uncertanties, the hormones, the changes, the expectations, the stress...tough stuff.

Our Evening Has Just Begun

Before we left for the gala: Suzu is our photographer tonight.

Living room, in front of teal linen curtains.
Lazy Saturday morning. I read a book in bed while John took the boys to the Church for outside clean-up. Ironed, cleaned some, then at 4 pm I gave a talk at a baptism for the most beautiful blond-haired boy.

In less than an hour we are going to a gala fund-raiser at the library, cocktail dress. I was worried about what to wear months ago. No LBD for me. I own a BIG black dress, but it is more suited to dancing-super full skirt. Guys are so lucky, wearing suits and looking shiny in their ties. Harder for women to be modest and comfortable and feel attractive and fashionable...with no shoulders bared. It is warmer to be modest, I've noticed. I am wearing a silk skirt I made from two $3 ones from an outlet store, a thrift store cashmere blue sweater, and flowers I made from an old scarf. It was shedding, so I tipped the ends in silver paint (the same paint on "husband & wife" mural and on our living room ceiling).

The gala is over at 11 pm, but I know I will be ready for pumpkin hour much earlier. Max asked what that meant. I explained the Cinderella reference. He looked dubious. I should have read him more fairy tales.

He and Stewart are at a Church dance, which includes a Laurel-Priest activity: etiquette dinner, speed dating, and then the dance! Can't wait to hear what the boys have to say about their evening!

So even if we get home early, we will stay up to see them safely home and hear how it went. Teenagers don't need diapers changed; the parenting is still time consuming, just differently. They need to be listened to, questioned, time spent talking.

Teaching Your Own

I know they watch us. Catch us in our weaknesses (eating Friendly's Pistachio ice cream straight from the carton in front of the computer).

"Do what I say, no matter what you see me doing!"

Sometimes I have wondered why it is so hard to teach some things to your own kids, easier for someone else to get through to them, or easier for me to teach someone else's children?

Are we more forgiving of teachers or students that we don't know as well? If we don't know their faults, does that make a difference? Or are we more patient with strangers/acquaintances?

I went to college to be an art teacher, but art lessons at home always seemed to back-fire and didn't last long.

I didn't try to teach my kids piano, but paid $ for someone else to do it.

Having my own kids in a Primary/Sunday School class always seemed harder. They acted out or felt picked on, like I was harder on them than the other students.

So I've wondered how it would be with THREE of my teenagers in Daily Seminary 6 am class every school day.

Suzu told me today it is her favorite class all day long.

Wow.

She gushed on happily about how interesting it has been, even though it is mostly review and overview of things. She loved the Plan of Happiness foam map I gave them today, on a ring, that they had to fill out. I wanted something tactile and interactive, color symbolic, possibly useful in their future missionary teaching and Family Home Evenings.

I asked her some questions about seating arrangements and logistics in our classroom. She was upbeat and helpful. Good feedback.

So I am pleasantly surprised that it is going so well, 4 days into the 36 weeks!

I've already made drastic summer plans, ways to widen doorways, make our home more crowd-comfortable. Ideally the whole kitchen wall between the dinning room or even the other direction into the living room would get knocked down and a window on the driveway side of the house punched through so the kids can see their rides pull up while they are socializing in the kitchen (and WHY is that the most popular gathering room in every home?).

I love this group of kids. Love listening to them. Love spending time with them. Love sacrificing sleep to teach them, be with them, laugh with them. Love LOVE love them.