4/8/2011 I have a daily battle with both my daughters about organization. I back off most of the time and try to look at their positive contributions—despite anything they’ve ever done or not done, said or not said, they are my life and bring my more joy than I can explain. That doesn’t mean they don’t drive me crazy. My older daughter has moved out and can now irritate her roommates with her sloppiness and disorganization and it doesn’t affect…
4/7/2011 I was diagnosed as clinically depressed at around 18, my father suffered from depression, and my “troubled teen” is being treated for it. So, I wondered if depression is truly hereditary. Here’s an interesting article to explore that question. Is Depression Hereditary? Written by Faye B. Roberts “Depression runs in the family” or “It’s in your genes” are commonly given as causes of depression. If you are suffering from depression, being told you are “bound to get it”, can be a very…
4/7/2011 I’m an avid reader, enjoying everything from classic American literature to true crime. But nothing is more interesting to me than understanding my children and improving my parenting skills—and finding out if it’s even possible to change your behaviors in order to help your kids. Parenting teenagers is especially cumbersome because they turn into creatures you don’t even recognize. You have all the proof that they’re your child—stretch marks, baby pictures, bags under your eyes—but you just don’t recognize…
4/7/2011 It figures—after being so frustrated with my daughter and what she DOESN’T do, she goes and DOES something lovely that makes me forget all about it. She has the gift of a close, warm relationship with her grandmother, my mother, and she fully appreciates it—and yesterday , she showed it in all its glory. My mother, a passionate movie lover, invited me to see one of the film festival films with her. I begged off because I was just too…
4/6/2011 Venting time. This has been a frustrating week with my daughter. She hasn’t been “bad” and hasn’t gotten into trouble, so that’s not it. It’s the day-to-day annoyances that are getting to me. I have to ask her repeatedly to do something, which she pleasantly promises she will do, then she completely blows it off. Here’s a big one—she in advertently locked her cats out of the garage where the litter box is kept, which ended in disaster for…
4/5/2011 “I love you with all my heart. I can’t wait until we move into our new house. We’ll have so much time together.” That is a recent text from my “troubled teen.” I put that in quotations purposely—that’s what a mother will wait a lifetime to hear, and when she does, she forgets the past in an instant. She tells me these types of things quite often, and I truly believe that’s how she feels. However, there’s a part…
3/31/2011 My younger daughter has been so testy lately. She jumps at everything I say, and talks to me like I’m ridiculous. I feel like she’s 14 again, and it sucks. It starts out okay and I measure my words, but it’s not long before I hear, “Stop it” or “Do we have to talk about that now?” It’s quite unpleasant to be around her lately and I’m getting irritated. It began to be noticeable when I took her with…
3/31/2011 You can sometimes find us: Eating Middle-Eastern food at our favorite restaurant. Going places we went to when they were children to see how they’ve changed. Talking about how great they have it compared to other people. Talking about how special their relationship is with their Nana, and how they knew her when she was young and fun. Watching Jersey Shore and Teen Mom and making fun of the cast. Listening to the morning radio show antics and analyzing…
3/30/2011 My older daughter never had the same issues as my younger one with depression or hyperactivity or even rebellion. Her problems arose in college. She noticed that she was having trouble finishing her work or paying attention to lectures. I thought maybe she was too interested in her social life or her classes were boring. But then we noticed that she was unable to finish one conversation before starting a new one, then would forget what she was talking…
3/30/2011 Both my children take prescription medication on a regular basis. There, I said it. I’m not proud nor ashamed of this fact; it is what it is. I resisted it for a long time—not sure if I was in denial that they needed drugs for their issues or if I was afraid of the consequences or outside objections—but what I do know is that my girls have benefited greatly and I don’t regret it. My younger daughter, as I’ve…