I'm officially old I guess becuz I am ready to start my rant about how ungrateful and rude teenagers today can be. Not all - I will not be so obtuse as to incorporate every teenager out there into my diatribe - but a vast majority, I can perhaps safely say. Too many, at any rate.
I know kids were like that when I was in high school so I know it really isn't just teens now. The frenz I had were just not like that. We were grateful for what we had. If we could borrow a rattletrap car off a parent for an evening, that was like the best thing ever. There was never any complaining about what kind of car it was.
It seriously is maddening to see how many kids feel like things are owed to them simply becuz they exist. What happened to working for what you have? I was certainly not handed anything in my life and I am glad for that. My husband and I have worked hard and done things largely on our own throughout our lives. (We did not grow up together, just similarly. Had to clarify.)
My son asked me the other day as he was playing on the laptop (this was our only computer for years) if I liked to play on my laptop when I was a kid. I had to remind him I had only gotten a laptop a few months prior - the first computer I have ever owned, at 31. We were barely able to make our bills when I was growing up, much less have any extra for luxuries. Are you kidding me?! My husb grew up the same way and we very much appreciate everything we have. Besides the fact that laptops were not as common until recently.
My first trip to Hawaii - age 30. My son's first trip to Hawaii - not quite 3 years old. What! Of course we want better things for our kids and want more for them than we had growing up. I also want my kids to appreciate the things they do have. There is always going to be someone out there with way more than you have and also someone with way less, no matter where you are at in life. It feels good to work hard and be able to buy things for yourself. There is nothing quite the same as working for something to make you appreciate it so much more.
When I see teenagers, or any age child for that matter, assuming they should have something just - becuz - nearly sends me into a frenzy. Freaking be grateful for what you have. Stop assuming people are going to pay your way. Be willing to work hard. No job is beneath you. You are not better than anyone else, regardless of what label is on your pants or shoes, or what little metal hood ornament or sequence of letters and numbers CX38 or whatever is on your car - none of that matters. It does not make you any better than anyone else.
I find it interesting when people we know make fun of our old van. Yes, it is 13 years old and has no backup camera or seat warmers and has a taped up side view mirror (I broke it once, paid $300 to get it fixed,and promptly broke it again. It works and is fine.) As a general shout out to all those who have commented, WE CAN AFFORD A NICER CAR, please don't worry about us. We chose to purchase an older car to have a low payment and guess what, we have no car payments now. So thanks, I will happily roll around town in my old ass van.
That took a different turn but related to the - you aren't better than anyone else based on what you drive - small retort from me felt necessary.
I'm so glad many of my frenz with kids are raising their children to be thoughtful, kind, hardworking, and appreciative. Here's hoping we create a grateful and decent new wave of teenagers for the future.
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Things I would not post on Facebook
There are many things that should probably never be posted on Facebook but there are also a handful of things I personally would not post:
1 - Sonogram pictures. I get that everyone is excited to announce their pregnancy via Facebook and it is a long thought out process "When are you announcing on Facebook?!" type thing and how will you do it, like with what cute way to tell everyone, eeee! A new baby is exhilarating, I get it, I just miss the part where showing everyone your uterus and its contents is desirable. I am just as excited for you, I really am, but I admit that I really glaze over people's sonogram pics. I find them quite personal - they almost always have the mother's full name and sometimes ss# on the pic, the doctor they go to, lots of info on one picture. I know you are so thrilled to be expecting and I am so thrilled for you, I just am not interested in viewing everyone's sono pics. Sorry.
2 - RIP. It is always sad when someone you love dies and I absolutely think it is appropriate to let the FB community know of course. I just don't get the RIP thing. RIP to me is found on a headstone at a haunted house or in someone's yard for Halloween. Rest in peace, okay, and sure, it is the same thing, I just find RIP Tacky Jackie. I feel like RIP is the same as tipping a 40 to someone - again, fine, but devoid of taste, really. To each his own but not for me.
3 - Some cliffhanger that is supposed to incite people to inquire more. "Excited!" "3 more days!" "Sad...." Either say what you mean or don't post. You are obviously trying to get some attention which is okay but just say "I want attention!" Maybe I should call this list my own pet peeves. They are that as well, but at the same time, definitely things I would not post so my original title still stands.
4 - Giving shout outs to someone who is not on FB while addressing them as if they are. "Happy birthday to my little boy who is 2 today! Mommy and Daddy love you so much and are so glad to have you in our lives!" Tiny Johnny is not on Facebook. I do not address my posts to folks who do not only not have accounts but will never see that post ever. I get the wanting to give a shoutout and would say myself something like "Happy bday to my son - we love him and ...." but it is not specifically addressed to him. Just not my cup of tea.
5 - Song lyrics as status updates. Oh geez. If I ever did this, it would only be becuz aliens took over my body. I cringe a little when I see this. So of course would not post this shiz on FB.
Not trying to hate on folks that do this and of course it is not personal. Mostly everyone does at least one of them and again, to each their own. They are just things that will not be an update from my own body.
1 - Sonogram pictures. I get that everyone is excited to announce their pregnancy via Facebook and it is a long thought out process "When are you announcing on Facebook?!" type thing and how will you do it, like with what cute way to tell everyone, eeee! A new baby is exhilarating, I get it, I just miss the part where showing everyone your uterus and its contents is desirable. I am just as excited for you, I really am, but I admit that I really glaze over people's sonogram pics. I find them quite personal - they almost always have the mother's full name and sometimes ss# on the pic, the doctor they go to, lots of info on one picture. I know you are so thrilled to be expecting and I am so thrilled for you, I just am not interested in viewing everyone's sono pics. Sorry.
2 - RIP. It is always sad when someone you love dies and I absolutely think it is appropriate to let the FB community know of course. I just don't get the RIP thing. RIP to me is found on a headstone at a haunted house or in someone's yard for Halloween. Rest in peace, okay, and sure, it is the same thing, I just find RIP Tacky Jackie. I feel like RIP is the same as tipping a 40 to someone - again, fine, but devoid of taste, really. To each his own but not for me.
3 - Some cliffhanger that is supposed to incite people to inquire more. "Excited!" "3 more days!" "Sad...." Either say what you mean or don't post. You are obviously trying to get some attention which is okay but just say "I want attention!" Maybe I should call this list my own pet peeves. They are that as well, but at the same time, definitely things I would not post so my original title still stands.
4 - Giving shout outs to someone who is not on FB while addressing them as if they are. "Happy birthday to my little boy who is 2 today! Mommy and Daddy love you so much and are so glad to have you in our lives!" Tiny Johnny is not on Facebook. I do not address my posts to folks who do not only not have accounts but will never see that post ever. I get the wanting to give a shoutout and would say myself something like "Happy bday to my son - we love him and ...." but it is not specifically addressed to him. Just not my cup of tea.
5 - Song lyrics as status updates. Oh geez. If I ever did this, it would only be becuz aliens took over my body. I cringe a little when I see this. So of course would not post this shiz on FB.
Not trying to hate on folks that do this and of course it is not personal. Mostly everyone does at least one of them and again, to each their own. They are just things that will not be an update from my own body.
Thursday, June 21, 2012
How do I get there from here?
If you're like me, you are sitting here at an age when you thought long ago you would've accomplished much more than you actually have and still feel like you are not doing what you are supposed to be doing. Driving in my car alone today - blissfully alone - listening to Deana Carter, singing my face like I am Deana herself in concert, the words I was singing resonated. "How do I get there from here?"
My life goals are simple. I always wanted to marry a wonderful man and have a beautiful, healthy family, kids, a house, a couple cars that ran, and vacations. Kind of simple anyway. I have the man of my dreams and have 2 very active - sometimes a bit crazy - kids. I am grateful every day for all the blessings in my life. I have sisters and brothers I love and mostly get along with, or who at least keep life entertaining. An amazing mother who is my closest friend and whom I love with a ferocity of a bear. So many wonderful things I am aware of and thankful for every single day.
I could expire tomorrow and would be okay not having been to Europe and every national park and not been to my American Girl lunch yet. That'd be alright. But what haunts me daily are the career dreams I have always had for myself that are not yet realized. How do I get from here - a stay at home mom (which, thank you heavens that I can do this - what an amazing blessing right there) to being a lead in a Hallmark Christmas movie? Or a Lifetime movie? Or ABC Family?
I've wanted to be an actress since I was 12 years old. My first boyfriend, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, was an actor and I love love loved watching him and figured he would realistically be my boyfriend if I were an actress too. But the crush on unsuspecting MPG waned and the desire to be an actress did not.
My mother and I would watch Lifetime movies together and I always enjoyed them so much. The acting didn't have to be good, the drama was so palpable, the love stories so anemic and yet it was all frothy warm and as comforting as a mug of hot cocoa being sipped beside a roaring fire on a cold winter's day. It felt wonderful to me. I loved watching these stories unfold and there took root in my little soul, the burning desire that I too, would be an actress on just such a 2 hour drama, love story or based on a true story tale.
The years have passed - many a year! - and still the dream lives on. A wise man once told me "When you have a desire to do something that doesn't fade away, it means you are meant to do it." Wonderful country logic from a delightfully uncomplicated man. So now I need to get serious - I still want to be a lead (eventually! Right now I will take neighbor/best friend/cousin) in a Hallmark/Lifetime/ABC Family movie. I'm not trying to be some famous actress and in fact would rather avoid that lifestyle. I just want to be able to jaunt up to Canada or North Carolina or Kentucky for 6 or 8 weeks and film a charming little tale of - something! - and be able to bring my kids and family with me and be filming, have a trailer, lines, a hair and makeup person and be able to do something I really truly love. Just make a few of these bad boys a year, like 2. So now I have to figure out how to get there - the collective television screen in a holiday tale of mischief, love and mischance, or whatever! I must get there.
My life goals are simple. I always wanted to marry a wonderful man and have a beautiful, healthy family, kids, a house, a couple cars that ran, and vacations. Kind of simple anyway. I have the man of my dreams and have 2 very active - sometimes a bit crazy - kids. I am grateful every day for all the blessings in my life. I have sisters and brothers I love and mostly get along with, or who at least keep life entertaining. An amazing mother who is my closest friend and whom I love with a ferocity of a bear. So many wonderful things I am aware of and thankful for every single day.
I could expire tomorrow and would be okay not having been to Europe and every national park and not been to my American Girl lunch yet. That'd be alright. But what haunts me daily are the career dreams I have always had for myself that are not yet realized. How do I get from here - a stay at home mom (which, thank you heavens that I can do this - what an amazing blessing right there) to being a lead in a Hallmark Christmas movie? Or a Lifetime movie? Or ABC Family?
I've wanted to be an actress since I was 12 years old. My first boyfriend, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, was an actor and I love love loved watching him and figured he would realistically be my boyfriend if I were an actress too. But the crush on unsuspecting MPG waned and the desire to be an actress did not.
My mother and I would watch Lifetime movies together and I always enjoyed them so much. The acting didn't have to be good, the drama was so palpable, the love stories so anemic and yet it was all frothy warm and as comforting as a mug of hot cocoa being sipped beside a roaring fire on a cold winter's day. It felt wonderful to me. I loved watching these stories unfold and there took root in my little soul, the burning desire that I too, would be an actress on just such a 2 hour drama, love story or based on a true story tale.
The years have passed - many a year! - and still the dream lives on. A wise man once told me "When you have a desire to do something that doesn't fade away, it means you are meant to do it." Wonderful country logic from a delightfully uncomplicated man. So now I need to get serious - I still want to be a lead (eventually! Right now I will take neighbor/best friend/cousin) in a Hallmark/Lifetime/ABC Family movie. I'm not trying to be some famous actress and in fact would rather avoid that lifestyle. I just want to be able to jaunt up to Canada or North Carolina or Kentucky for 6 or 8 weeks and film a charming little tale of - something! - and be able to bring my kids and family with me and be filming, have a trailer, lines, a hair and makeup person and be able to do something I really truly love. Just make a few of these bad boys a year, like 2. So now I have to figure out how to get there - the collective television screen in a holiday tale of mischief, love and mischance, or whatever! I must get there.
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