Can you hear the dripping sarcasm?? Nothing big, just lots of joyous adventures and attitudes with my almost 13 year old. I know they are battles worth fighting, but I am so tired of fighting lately. Someone once told me...little kids, little problem, bigger kids, bigger problem. This is so true.

Anyway, just breathing a sigh of exhaustion. Her two things today that have me at edge. Just refusal to work on her science fair project. This wouldn't be a big deal in elem, but it isn't a few hour project. She still has to write a 4-6 page paper, do a board, fill out her journal. She made notes for the past month on notebook paper, but it all has to be formatted in this notebook. By time it is all said and done there will be about 50 pages in the notebook. Plus she did research, but didn't bookmark sites or print pages, so we have to surf to find the sites she used. If we push it hard I think she can finish this is 15 or so hours, it will be far from a stellar job. Now I have been pushing her for a month, first gently then stronger, again this is DUE friday, that means if she works her butt off tonight, it is only 5 hours a night. So she has managed to sit and do nothing with her time tonight. I refuse to do it for her, I think she thinks I will. I really don't want her to fail, but if she doesn't ask for help, she just sits there and looks like she is writing and isn't. I keep checking on her now every 10 minutes. So I go to read with my youngest and she pops up to take a shower (ugh). I go in and explain clean up and get out, you still need to work. Only to find she had an ink pen explode and didn't mention it to me, her bathroom was clean on sat, so this probably happened sunday, there is ink everywhere and nice and set it. UGH! So much for her countertops. I got a lot of it off, but there are several spots the size of a dime that are set in.

Anyway, again, nothing big, but boy is she pushing my buttons tonight. It is going to be a long week!

Oh and in the midst of this evening, she gets to talking about her birthday (which is 1 month from tomorrow) can she have 6 of her friends sleep over, and oh she wants a cell phone. Honey, do you know I am really mad enough to spit nails, you think tonight is a good time to discuss your birthday. Geesh...gotta love the teenage years!

By Annie2 on Tuesday, January 23, 2007 - 11:35 pm:

Kaye, I hear you loud and clear!!!
DD's are 15 1/2, 13 next week and 10. Plus add in a younger brother, who is 9!

Mix in personalities, hormones, school work, social issues, sports.....UUghhh, I do wish they were little again. Sometimes I wish that the only problem I had was a dirty diaper and a toddler that wouldn't eat anything besides spaghettios! LOL

Now it's disagreements about bathrooms, hair in the sink, pee on the rim, too many minutes used on cell phone, not having a cell phone, someone wants a rabbit.......

Hang in there. Honestly, don't stress about her project. Let it be in her hands now. Either she will pull through in the next few nights or she will notice that her lack of effort made a difference when she sees her classmates' entries. I've laid off on my older dd's projects. She is a "last minute" girl and her grades are great.

By Annie2 on Tuesday, January 23, 2007 - 11:45 pm:

I like the quote that Deanna entered on the other thread...

"With children, the days are long and the years are short".

By Karen~admin on Wednesday, January 24, 2007 - 07:51 am:

All I can say is BTDT, so I feel your pain. At 13, as much as YOU don't want her to fail, it's time she accepts her responsibilities. I wouldn't discuss her birthday plans with her at ALL until these projects are completed. It's up to HER to do her schoolwork, and if she doesn't, then she should have consequences. I know, easier said than done. It's really difficult to sit by and watch your child sabotage themself.

On a brighter note - there *IS* life after teenagers!!!!! And one day you'll look back and wish for those years again. I know........doesn't seem like it right now! LOL But it happens, I promise!

Hang in there!!!!!!!!!!

By Kaye on Wednesday, January 24, 2007 - 08:20 am:

Karen I know I wish for the terrible threes again, so I do Know that this is just small stuff.

I would get quite so bent out of shape about this, except come to find out she currently has 3 zeros in the class so far, I am try to schedule a conference and figure out the problem. She has two 100's on 3 zeros, so she really just can't afford to fail. She is going to play golf for the school, and no pass no play.

So last night she finally got to working, she asked if she had all the "board stuff" written if I would type it for her. Sure I will do that.

I love the quote about the days being long!

By Karen~admin on Wednesday, January 24, 2007 - 02:10 pm:

Kaye, it is NOT small stuff, believe me, I know! There were about 6 years that I didn't think I'd make it through with Jen......and it definitely wasn't small stuff at the time.

I just meant, that now that all my kids are grown, I MISS those days, troublesome or not!

By Trina~moderator on Wednesday, January 24, 2007 - 05:05 pm:

A preview of what is yet to come... Not looking forward to it. LOL! However, I must say that I've already got a taste of kids procrastinating on assignments. I have let both of them suffer the consequences, and although it drove me crazy, they both learned from it.