expat on the go...

THE TEEN'S AN AMERICAN CITIZEN

Yesterday, April 12, 2010, the Teen became an American citizen; three years after my husband and I became citizens.

Why you may ask?  We were living in France and it made it difficult to file all the necessary paperwork.

But to date - we are all citizens.The little guy was born here (Philadelphia), hon and I became, by filing and then the Teen 'piggybacked' on our citizenship.  All is good for college applications in 2 years!

Here's the Teen taking her oath...

THE TEEN'S COMING BACK TODAY

The Teen (on the left) turned 16 this year and for her birthday we okayed a trip, with her friend and dad, to Jamaica.  I have to say that the past week HAS been quite quiet.  The worrying was turned down to very low!

Having a teenager IS a full time job.  I thought it would get easier as the years advanced, but 'au contraire, mon frere'... the worrying is worse.  Of course, the 'physicalness' of caring for a teen is less (ie: she can make her own meals, she dresses herself, she IS able to wash her clothes - but doesn't, etc).  That, by the way, is my fault!  I acknowledge that !  

Someone once told me, "Small kids, small problems; Big kids, big problems".  I have to admit, that at the time, I was not sleeping through the night yet (she was 4 months), I thought he was being a little 'sassy' and not understanding MY situation!  Boy was I wrong!

As we get older, we like to go to bed earlier, but our teens go to bed later (sometimes much later than the parents!) - result: trouble sleeping - again!.

They go out with their friends - what are they up to?  Alcohol, drugs, boyfriends, drinking and driving?  The list is long... The worrying is horrible.

And you thought your sex life would get better as the kids got older - HA - that's what I say.   Do it while the kids are young, innocent, going to bed early and sleeping through WWIII.

Some say you have to go through these 'not so easy' years to be able to let go of your precious young.  I BELIEVE IT!

THE LITTLE GUY

Yesterday was the 'Winter Concert' at the little guy's school.  He's in grade 4 and he plays the recorder.  Needless to say, he HATES it!  My neighbor called me yesterday morning to let me know that the Winter Concert was that morning. 

I asked the little guy, "You didn't tell me it was the Winter Concert today?"  

The little guy, "I forgot.  Anyway, I don't want you to come!" 

Me, a little taken aback, "Why not?  I enjoy seeing you play an instrument!!"

Little guy, "OKAY!  You can come, but sit in the back row and DON'T look at me!!! "

Me, "Okay!"

Before the concert began - and, NO, I didn't sit in the back, because I was with my neighbor and she wanted to take pictures of her son - a few parents were discussing this particular issue!  Half of the moms said their child WANTED them to attend, do or die!  And the other half, either the kids couldn't have cared less or (as in my situation) the kids didn't want their parents to attend.  How do you explain that?

Oh, and yes, I did look at him!  He kept looking at me and pointing his finger to 'look away'.  I smiled and I winked at him.   

I wonder what would have been his reaction had I not showed up?  Does he know or expects me to show up?

It's another 'how a kid thinks' mystery!!!

THE GRAVITY VAULT, NJ

My honey and the little guy went 'rock climbing' yesterday.   While in NYC, a few weeks ago, we stumbled upon a sports store that sold mountain climbing equipment, but for the winters climbs (!) - with the shoes with the 'pick ax' at the end and the heavy harnesses, etc... He told me he wanted a harness for Christmas, forget the X-box, legos, etc...  His beautiful blue eyes lit up, like I've never seen them light up.

The honey decided to take him 'wall climbing' to see if he would, indeed, like it.  He LOVED it!  He got a little scared on the last climb, but wants to go back and finish it.

Here are a few pictures:

 

 

Looks like he had fun!  He wants to go back on Sunday.  They have a group of youngsters that meet on Sundays.  Here's the info:

THE GRAVITY VAULT

107 Pleasant Ave, Upper Saddle River

(201) 934-ROCK (7625)

www.gravityvault.com

LITTLE GUY'S POST

BY THE LITTLE GUY :l

I REALLY LIKE LEGOS.

I REALLY REALLY ONE TYPE OF LEGO. 

IT'S THE DEATH STAR.

IT'S 399.99 EURO!!!!!!

TO BE CONTINUED...

J-J THE JELLYFISH

              

   Every night the kids go out and play on the beach.  Today was an especially windy day.  They came back with a friend and apparently, had buried - and gave a 'proper burial' to its friend:

 

They buried J-J with it's 'mom', Jerald the Jellyfish (I'm being told that it's Jerald with a 'J')....  

On another note, I was talking to the Teen about a family I met from Colorado, that lived in Paris for a year.  They were then moving back to Idaho (Sun Valley) - were there is nice skiing and outdoor activities to do.

Me, "How would you like Idaho?"

Teen (in gangsta 'speak'), "I-DA-HO?,  no, no, YOU-DA-HO!" 

Was that funny?  I thought it was!

THE BALL-CRUSHER...

Last summer, the little guy and I came here to check out the house that we had rented.  He tried this 'bungy' type thing and when he got off of it, he had this really weird face on.

I asked him, "Were you scared?"

Him, "No, it crushed my gremlins!"  (His 'little word' for testicules).

So this year he wanted to go on it again!  I reminded him that last year he nearly lost his manhood - he didn't care!

 

 

 

 

 

I hope this doesn't hurt the chances of me becoming a grandma one day!

 

THE TEEN...

So the Teen has been going out with her friends right and left!  She obviously needs money, right?

Well, this morning, I asked her to get the lunch at the bakery and she said she hadn't showered (recurrent theme) and she was watching a movie - may I remind you the movers are coming tomorrow morning...

Me, "Teen, can you get the lunch today, I'm really busy with the packing, etc..."

Teen, "NO!  I haven't showered yet and I'm watching a movie!"

Me, "If you go out tonight, I won't have any money to give you because I won't have showered and will be watching a movie!"

Teen, "Oh, oh, oh, funny mom - OK!  What do you want for lunch?"

Is that bribery? Coercion?  Controlling?

Oh, who cares!  It works!

TEEN QUOTE OF THE DAY...

The teen is out at Starbucks right now.  THE teenager hangout of the era.  As she leaves to be with her friends, I say, "Be good!"

She says, "I'm never good - I'm bad - I'm so bad, I need a theme song!!!"

What do you say to that?  I laughed...

 

LUNCH WITH THE TEEN...

Remember, a few posts back, I went to the restaurant with the Teen, for lunch.  She wasn't feeling good so I kept her home - she had strep throat, so I didn't want her 'spreading the love' at school.

I asked her if she would like to come to the restaurant with me for lunch - it was a beautiful day outside and I thought it would be nice to be out with 'my girl'.  She first said, "No, thank you".  I insisted (this is where I went wrong, as the parent of a teen!  I should have said "ok", took my book and headed out by myself to have a nice, peaceful lunch).  But, again, I insisted....

Teen: "It'll take me 1 hour to get ready, I haven't showered".

Me: "How can a shower take 1 hour?"

Teen:  "I have to wash, dry and straighten my hair, MOM ! "

Me: "I give you half an hour, get going!"

Teen, once she's showered, dried and 'straightened -  "Are we eating sushi?"

Me: "No, anything but sushi, I've had it with sushi!  How about a little bistro we haven't been to?"

Teen, "How about McDonald's?" (I am NOT  kidding, people!!!)

Me: "Ahhh, NO!  How about this little bistro?  We've never tried this one?"

Teen: "No, I won't like anything there".

Me: "Okay, how about this one?"

Teen: "Yeah, whatever, I'm not eating".  (Todays' teen's way to drive mom berserk - how come I didn't think of that when I was a teen?  Oh yeah, I would have had a smack behind the head  OR  made contact with a wooden spoon!)

Me: "Okay, your choice".

We get to the restaurant and wait to be seated.  The waitress takes our order, as we are standing up and waiting to be seated (ok up to now).  The waitress asks my (usually polite) daughter what she would like and she says:

"Un steak tartar".

Waitress: "Avec frites?"

Teen: "Oui".

Me: "Un steak tartar, svp, et oui, svp".

Teen = NOT HAPPY!!!

We get seated. 

Teen: "So why can't I paint my room black?"  

* I'm not even going to comment on this comment!!!

And the other conversation we had:

Me: "So, next year you'll be 16, you'll want to start thinking about a summer job, camp counselor, ice cream place,...".

Teen: (with horrified, disgusted look on her face) "I'm only going to go to work when I'm done with college, MOM!"

Me: "Ah, no, next summer is the start of you 'career',  'cause if you want money to spend, how are you going to get it? ".

Teen: "Ah, it's called "D-A-D".

End of conversation - we had a 1 hour and a half meal and that's about the extent of our conversation.  Next time I'm taking her to the sushi place, just so I don't have to deal with the sourpuss face and immature behavior!  But then, her bad behavior would be rewarded, right? 

No, next time I take my book and go to the restaurant I want, when I want.  She can join me when her usual polite, pleasant self shows its face again...