Ten things to do while waiting for your teenager. By Kate Johns

Don’t you get this all the time from your teenager—“Hang on!” “In a minute Mom.” or “I’m too busy to do the dishes!”

My teens have kept me waiting for them to get things accomplished , get out the door into the car to drive them to THEIR events for what probably adds up to a few precious years.

With those few precious years  now forever gone, I came up with a great idea—-Instead of yelling, nagging or threatening, walk out of the house into your car, allowing your teen to be late. Allow her to learn the responsiblity of time management, by yelling your last warning and getting something done while you wait , besides getting your blood pressure up. Here are ten ideas I came up with while waiting for my teenager to be late for another event:

1. Check your email, answering a few while waiting.

2. Send those waiting text messages you have not had the time to get to.

3. Throw a load of laundry in to wash and or to dry while waiting for your  late teen to get it into gear.

4. File your broken nails down.

5. Check your social networking sites while waiting for your teen.

6. While waiting for your late teen, clean up the biggest items in your car. Give the last warning. Closing the front door,  go to the car, using that extra time, (mine, they may be late), to clean out the car. Pick up tissues, old coffee cups, old water bottles. I have even manged to scrub off the car windows while waiting for my late teen.

7. Write to do lists while waiting for your late teen. I carry a small notebook in my purse or in my car. When my teens are running late, I use that time to write grocery lists, or write writing ideas down. My daughter said at a swim meet one night exactly what I was thinking while we were waiting for her last meet; “I could’ve written a book in this amount of time.”

8. Instead of wasting time nagging your teen into getting to work on time, thus wasting your breath and your time when you are driving her to work, or an activity–pick up items lying around the house. In just five minutes, you can tidy up a living room, a front hall,set up the sprinkler, or water your plants.

9. Unload the dishwasher–which usually takes 5 to 10 minutes.

10. Fold a load of laundry which usually takes a couple of minutes also.

Why waste any more time waiting to drive your late teen to an activity? Make it her responsiblity to be on time by turning your attention to getting something else done. When your teen has to face an irate coach or boss, she will learn time management, and how to be responsible. Copyright 2012, written by Kate Johns a professional writer since 2004!

Does your spouse only hear the last word of what you say? by Kate Johns

My husband and I have been married for 25 years. I discovered very soon after getting married that my husband not only has a hearing problem, but that he only hears the last word of everything I say. So if I say; “I saw two rabbits chasing after each other today. I’m sure they were going to have rabbit sex.” Then I get that look shot at me from across the room with my husband saying, “Okay when?”

I know he has a hearing problem; he’s been losing his hearing for many years, but won’t get a hearing aid, because he is a stubborn man.

But I fully know that he only hears the last word of each sentence I say. I know this because last Christmas I said, “Please do not get me any more bracelets for Christmas, because our daughter has already made me about ten for Mother’s Days.” I ended it with—“No more bracelets.”

What did he get me for Christmas—a really pretty, non returnable bracelet. I can’t take it back to the store because he ordered it online.Which I told him not to order anything online for Christmas, because then we have to pay for shipping to send it back. You see, he thinks he is getting a great deal, and is being a smart-old sage, by ordering things online, but next year I’m going to have to hide his computer.

For my birthday this year he did it again! He bought a bracelet from a co-worker because she was selling them. I am seriously thinking of  selling all of my bracelets online and using the money towards either paying bills, or buying something I really want!

In a move I thought was pretty dang smart, I started making statements to my husband about what I really want. But you see the twist is, I end the sentence with that really want word as the last word such as; “For Mother’s Day this year I really want  a new bike.”

Okay, he heard that one, and took me to a store to buy one, but when I saw those cute sandals and all of those roses, I changed my mind, thinking of a way to say it without hurting his feelings,and to have the last word as the word my husband will hear. So I figured it out, “Dear, for Mother’s Day, could you not get me a bike, but those sandals,and those pretty roses.

 

Teach kids to think for themselves by Kate Johns

Parents teach your kids to think for themselves.

When my husband and I moved from a big city to a medium-sized city I became a stay at home mom, even though we couldn’t afford to do so. What I noticed was kids not thinking for themselves. Kids  are taught in public schools to work in groups, go with the crowd, do as everyone else does, and basically to not think for themselves.

So, I am putting out a call to action parents, that you must teach your kids to think for themselves. Kids are taught from the time they enter pre-school to work with a group, to work with their friends. What I’m seeing in public schools, and with many kids today, is that they are just following each other. It does not help that kids are following each other and big name stars on Twitter, Facebook and other social media.What it comes down to is kids follow each other, and seem to be very much like the character in the Wizard of Oz; The Tin Man who didn’t have a brain.

It is up to you mom and dad, to teach your kids to think for themselves. You must teach your kids to not always follow what everyone says and does. That’s what makes kids able to function in society.Raise a leader, not a follower. Tell your kids that if they don’t like what the other kids are saying or doing to walk away, or to not engage in that activity.

Just because there are numerous social networking sites on the Internet and numerous reality Tv shows enabling our children to become followers of self promotional stunts, drinking excessively, doing drugs does not mean you have to raise a follower.

Teach your kids to think and stand up for themselves. Raise a pack of leaders. Leaders led our great nation of America into what truly makes America a great nation. If it had not been for leaders thinking for themselves over 200 years ago, there would not be an America.

Teach your kids to think for themselves, otherwise they will follow you around the house, watch a lot of TV, and never let you get any work done. If you teach your kids to think for themselves, thus becoming strong, independent people, you are ensuring successful adults with great futures.Copyright 2012, written by Kate Johns a professional writer sicne 2004!

The Big Talk by Kate Johns

My son asked a cute girl from his Robotics team if she would go to the junior/senior prom with him. At first she told him she already had gone to the prom the year before with someone else, and she said no. My son was crushed. After all this was the first time he had asked a girl out on a date.

I gave him some motherly advice saying, “Try again. Talk to her at school. Use your charming sense of humor. Maybe, after asking her several times, this will work for you.” Tom asked Sara to the prom several more times, and she told him, “No, you’re too young for me.”

She was a senior, he was a junior.

Tom was smitten. After all Sara was pretty, had long brown hair and they had been working together for a year building a robot for a major high school competition.

The third time was the charm, after talking to Sara again at school, Tom made a third attempt, she said a reluctant, “Yes.”

Once the prom was agreed upon, Tom was on the phone every night talking to his new girlfriend. We could hear him talking in hushed tones through his bedroom door. Not that we parents were spying or anything.

Two weeks before the prom, my happy 17- year old bounded up the second floor stairs, proudly boasting his pronouncement of, “Mom, I need a tuxedo for the prom.” My husband started laughing and said, “I don’t think they’re going to have your size—-super skinny, and super tall.”

As my two boys set off to the mall, I grabbed my husband, whispering, “Give Tom some dating advice.” I asked Tom what color Sara’s dress would be, and he said, “Green.” I said, “What color green? Your vest should match your date’s dress.” He said, “I think she said her dress will be light green.”

When the afternoon of the prom arrived our son took a shower and then spent about an hour in his room getting his tux on, pacing back and forth. This is when I wanted to give Tom some motherly advice on what to do and how to treat his date, but I figured that I couldn’t tell my firstborn what to do, so I said, “Be on your best manners, talk to your date, open doors for her, ask her nicely to dance.”

I asked my husband if he had given our son any dating advice yet, and the answer was, “Nope, I’m waiting for the right moment.”

Driving our nervous son over to Sara’s parent’s house, I said to my husband, “Now might be a good time.” My husband shook his head, no, and we drove in silence to what seemed like impending doom

When Sara walked into the kitchen wearing a light green, floor length prom gown, I smiled saying, “Sara, you look so pretty!” After looking at my son and his new girlfriend, I said, “You two look so cute together.” Then I elbowed my husband’s ribs saying. “Is there anything you want to say to your son, dear?”  My husband eloquently blurted out; “Don’t get anybody pregnant.” Copyright 2012, written by Kate Johns a professional writer since 2004.

Kids should have cellphones in the classroom by Kate Johns

Allow kids to have cellphones in the classroom. It might save their lives!!!

This will always be a topic of debate, but for people who do not have kids in school, or people who do not have any kids, it’s easy to say, “Kids should not have cellphones in the classroom”.

Numerous kids’ lives will be saved by having cellphones in the classroom. When a kid goes berserk, or a nut gets into a school, losing it, shooting up any child within his insane mind, kids need to have cellphones to use just in case. Kids will have to run for their lives finding shelter in mere seconds when another person gains access to a gun and loses it shooting any child he sees.

Kids take videos of bad teachers! Teachers have been yelling at kids for years. When a teacher insults and singles out a child, then a child needs to have proof of the bad teacher’s acts and needs to do something about it. Cellphones with video will be the proof needed to convince a principal, parent, or other kids that something wrong is going on inside a bad teacher’s classroom.This might be the evidence needed to convict a person of harmful acts to a minor in sexual molestation cases also.

Limit kids use of cellphones in the classroom, but don’t take away the privilege! Tell kids in classrooms that they can keep their cellphones in their bookbags, or in their pockets, and can only be used in emergency situations. In other words, they can’t pull out their phones to use as calculators unless told they can use their phones.

With kids using cellphones during the day, parents can remind their kids to bring home  homework assignments, or to have a great day. Parents can pick up a child who missed a bus, or find out if a child is sick during the schoolday.

Classroom use of cellphones could be made into a requirement allowing kids to use their cellphones as smaller computers having Internet access,and email access. Kids could use their cellphones to tape videos, look up necessary info for projects, homework assignments, and much more.

We should allow our children to have cellphones in the classroom, because cellphones save lives! Copyright 2012, written by Kate Johns a professional writer swince 2004.

Casey Anthony Case teaches parents how to get away with murder by Kate Johns

The parents of small children are getting away with murder.It’s sick, it’s unjust, and it is happening all over the United States. When Casey Anthony was allowed to walk free because the case of her allegedly killing her daughter Caylee Anthony was not proven beyond a reasonable doubt. In other words the prosecution could not place Casey Anthony at the scene murdering her child.

Yes, I know what I am saying sounds horrible, and I am placing blame on a young mother, but obviously something is wrong with the fact that Casey Anthony was allowed to walk out of jail and to live her life in freedom after her daughter died, and she lied about the child’s whereabouts. She lied about who took her child. She went out and partied like it was 1999, and had a great time doing exactly what she wanted without having to take care of her precious little daughter.

Now, almost on a daily basis, we are seeing that more children are suddenly missing from their homes. They are gone, without a trace. And I for one am blaming the widely publicized Casey Anthony case for this rash of missing children. If this case had not been pushed at people by the media on a daily basis, then we would not have known so much about this case. People learned how to murder a small child, and then how to cover up the crime. In a sense I am blaming this oversensationalized case, and the media for publicizing the Casey Anthony case everyday.

Since Casey Anthony walked out of jail and is living a life of freedom, many small children across the United States have become missing. This is happening to little kids, and it is sick. And yes, I am allowing my emotions to get the better of me. But someone has to speak up for the small children who are becoming faces of the missing seen on posters, and on the side of milk cartons.

It’s to the point where I do not want to watch the news anymore at all. I just want to put blinders on, so I can’t see what horrible things parents are doing to their small, helpless, unable to defend themselves children.

Are public schools dumbing down our kids? by Kate Johns

My mother warned me that public school systems have been dumbing down our kids for years.

How do I know schools are dumbing down our kids?

I am seeing it happening firsthand. My kids are being taught a less than stellar education. They think I am being mean, or hyper critical when I edit their language arts skills, or lack thereof. My kids think I’m being unreasonable when I tell them to write coherent sentences, using complete sentences, and correct grammar. When my mother attended school many years ago, she told me she had a class size of about 40 students. The teachers were strict. Kids had to learn, or they were not allowed to pass onto the next grade. Today,  kids are passed up to the next grade, even though they can’t complete a simple sentence, and do not have any knowledge of American history.

In today’s public schools, kids are offered a myriad of learning options, that have nothing to do with gaining a basic education, such as learning how to dance, learning about other countries, and they are offered several languages they may never use such as Mandarin. Although, I am upset over public school budget cuts, removing all the “extras” from my daughter’s school system such as computer keyboarding, and other languages kids may need to know such as Spanish.

My mother was taught at a small public school many, many years ago. The kids at this small school were not offered numerous sports, and group activities. But she has perfect penmanship. She gained a wonderful knowledge of the English language. My Mother was taught our country’s history, so that she would have a working knowledge of how our government works, and what previous history America had.

In my Mother’s day in school, kids were also taught more useful business skills, of typing, writing business letters, how to act professionally at work, and how to dress at work.  When I was in high school professional skills were not taught, but typing was offered. Professionalism is not taught at public schools today. Sad to say, public schools are dumbing down not only the system but our kids as well.

Outraged by Teens Bullying Other Teens by Kate Johns

I want my kids to have a great life. But I also know how hard it is on kids today with being bullied. I was bullied, and given a hard time when I was in middle school. It wasn’t an experience I would ever want anyone to go through. Because I was shy, skinny and tall I was given garbage by kids until I reached about 16.

It was rough. It is worse for teenagers and young adults today, because kids are ganging up on each other on social networks. They threaten, taunt and terrorize kids at school, in school hallways, anywhere and everywhere where teachers,school officials, and cameras are not present to see what is happening.The problem is many kids will just follow a larger kid, or the captain of the football team because they do not want to be ousted from the group.

My parents always told me to treat other people as I would want to be treated. I decided well into middle age, that I want to treat other people with respect, and friendliness. It’s something you would expect from other people right?

With the growth of social networks, kids think it doesn’t matter what they are saying. Teens think things like, ” Who cares what I say to someone else when I can’t see that person and they can’t see me. I can say whatever I want, and do whatever I want.”

But when one teenager is going through a difficult time, it is time for teenagers to stop and think. It is not normal to not accept other people because they are different from you. That’s what makes the world a great place; having different life experiences to lead a fulfilling, awesome life.

Parents need to start teaching their kids to be leaders, not followers. Parents, teachers and school administrators also need to teach kids to respect themselves and other people, and to accept other people’s differences.

Maybe kids should be faced with living life in another person’s shoes for one day to see what it is like to live the life of someone who is really thin, overweight or not popular. copyright 2011, written by Kate Johns who is a talented professional freelance author, who has been writing  since 2004!