Parenting: The Middle Child Complex

For some time now, I have been dealing with the middle child complex.  I didn’t want to realize that he was attributing to some of the behaviors that are associated with the Middle Child Syndrome.  As a parent, you want to believe that you have done a great job not to show favoritism when you have more than one child.  However, I believe I missed my own memo somewhere. 

Being that he has an older brother that excelled in sports, he doesn’t want anything to do with sports.  I really believe if he could change schools he would play a sport because he has mentioned that he don’t want to live in the shadow of his brother. 

Parenting: Dating the DMV!

It was time for my younger son to get his driver’s license; I can’t believe he is ready to drive already.   Since it was time for him to get his license which meant I would have to start dating the DMV!  I am not sure if any of you have experienced getting your child a DL, but this story is one for the books.

To begin my “dating” process, Zay had to take driver’s education for a week.  He had to get the driver’s book to study and complete the class.  He did exceptionally well and he was ready for the next step, which was get his permit. Getting the permit wasn’t that horrible of a journey.  We got to the DMV, he took the test, passed it and took the picture for his permit.  That was the best date the DMV and I had.

Parenting: The Promise Ring

On my way into work today, KB and I had a different kind of discussion.  We usually have a heart to heart talks, but I wasn’t ready for this talk.  He asked me, “Mommie what would you say if I gave Syd a promise ring?” I had to gaze out of the window and catch my breath for a second before I replied, “WHAT, like promise to marry? He shook his head and said, “I think so.”  Trying to lighten the situation, I said, “You can get one out of the bubble gum machine.”  I then told him, “Maybe you could give her the one your dad gave me when I was in high school.” We both chuckled and I quickly changed the conversation.

 

When I got to my desk, my mind started racing.  Reasons being, I have an unsettling feeling about this particular girl and is my son really ready to promise marriage to “one” girl right now? 

Parenting: Sixteen and Horny

My middle child, who is sixteen, has begun sending messages to girls that he wants to engage in sexual activity.  When I read the messages I began to hyperventilate. It was just yesterday that he was running around stark naked trying to not get dressed and couldn’t sleep alone after watching scary movies.  I guess I have blinked through the majority of his years and now I am dealing with this. 

I was sixteen when I found out I was pregnant. It was too late for my mom to find text messages in my cell phone; oh yea, we had no such thing! I was seventeen when I had my first child and I try my best to not have my children rearing kids at a young age.  So, now you can imagine why I am so heartbroken after reading these messages.

As much as I would like to look at him as being my young son and want to keep him tied to my hip, I realize that is pure silliness. He is growing up so fast and wants to start making some “grown” man choices.  I just want to believe that I have instilled in him the values that will dictate some good decision-making on his part.

Family Mixer: The Kids Meet Up

EP and I had been planning the perfect time for our kids to meet.  We finally decided to have everyone get together the weekend of his work family picnic.  Being that my children met EP during his vacation for the Mardi Gras holiday and I met his daughter during a road trip to Atlanta, we felt comfortable and ready to have the children finally met.

Like anything else that has to do with family mixings, I was very nervous about this, because I was taking my children into his element as our children meet.  Sometimes when children meet, that can make or break a relationship; trust me, I have seen it firsthand. 

My kids and I began our journey to Atlanta.  We started our journey really late because traffic where we live was extremely crazy.  We got into Atlanta late so EP decided to pick up his daughter in the morning. 

Family Mixer: Meeting The Family

It's been several months since EP started swimming in that uncharted river so; he is scheduled to fly back for a visit soon.  What will be different about this trip is, he will meet my family.   Yes, I am almost ready to say I have a boyfriend (manfriend) but; that family approval is needed first!  

Being that I have been married, and through other break ups, my family isn’t accepting of men, anymore.  Sometimes I understand their position on this, because my last boyfriend was really involved with my family.  Therefore, I wasn’t the only person that had broken feelings because that relationship didn’t work.  After, that break up, they were like, “don’t bring anyone else around us!”  But here I am again; about to do what they asked me not to do; chuckle! 

Parents Do Know Best

I had an epiphany lately!  I am acknowledging that parents really do know best!  When you are young and green you believe that you know it all and “parents just don’t understand”.  We don’t realize that our parents have been through something similar or worse! 

Well, now that I am the parent.  I am beginning to see my children repeating some of the dumb mistakes I made when I ran around believing that I knew it all!  You know what I am talking about; the talking back (well, try to), the thinking that someone else’s parents are better or cooler than yours, when they go to sleep we can get up and be up all night; I ask to use the car to go one place but end up somewhere else.  This list can go on and on, but you get the point.