MaBarks

Motherhood, middle-age and marriage. Insights, stories, tips, and musings on the joys and challenges of motherhood and marriage in middle age. Experience and reflections of a career woman with two teenage kids and a loving husband.

Monday, July 20, 2009

Raising Teens in a Recession

Raising teens is challenging enough but if you have kids in their mid or late teens the current recession adds additional challenge. While they are aware of the recession they still grew up mostly in a time of entitlement. While I always tried to instill the value of money and hard work this was a generation that did not grow up with the same values that I did -- and it was a challenge. Now that the economy has been totally turned upside down these kids don't have the luxury of entitlement. In some ways I think it is for the better but it is a pretty severe mindshift that has to happen.

I find that it is easier with my one kid who has always had a bit more of a healthy work ethic to begin with then the other. But communicating the reality of the economy and what it means to them without igniting anxious concern is a delicate balance.

We all want our kids to be happy but the world they are entering after high school and college is not the same. Although when I graduated the state of unemployment was about the same as it is now. So at least I have some practical insight and experience to share with my kids as I try to get them going...to succeed and be happy in the "new" economy.

Friday, July 10, 2009

Proud MoMMa

This week was a banner week for me and MoMMa pride. My son, who is incredibly talented, clever, handsome and charming (no really, he is) is not a great student. He took the initiative however to take two summer classes at a local college and got a B+ and an A. Sharing that triumph with him was pure joy...

...and my daughter...well I got a report from her drum teacher that she is a natural drummer if he has ever seen one! She was amazing at her recital - she did the arrangements and everything. She really, really loves it...and when she sits down at those drum the whole world smiles with her. Truly.

As much as our children may frustrate us sometimes, these are the moments we cherish...aren't they?

What proud MoMMa moments have you had recently?

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Is Overnight Camp a Good Thing?

Well, I shipped my daughter off to camp a couple of weeks ago. She tells me she is having an awesome time. And I know she is. She loves overnight camp and has been going for 6 years now. I never thought about it as "getting rid of her" or free time for me or my husband...but when I listen to other parents it seems that some of them do think of it that way. And in the reverse, one parent at a recent house party was saying that she would never send her daughter away to camp. She thought that it was her parental responsibility to keep her at home and that parents who sent their kids to camp...well she implied that maybe they shouldn't have kids??

Now, she never went to camp herself so maybe she doesn't understand the kind of experience it is. I did and I loved it. Or maybe overnight camp is really not a good choice for her kids. For me, as a kid, it was a major influence on my personal development and socialization. I have vivid, wonderful memories of it and I wanted to bring that to my kids...but only if it seemed right for them. My son went to day camp a few years but never to overnight camp. It wasn't right for him. But my daughter is another story and I know that camp is a vital part of her life. This is her last year and while I know she is somewhat sad about that, she is also ready to move on to different adventures.

If you are truly focused on your children, their needs, personality and not your needs as a parent, you have the best chance at creating life experiences, including camp that are right... I think....but let's face it even parents with the best intentions don't always make the right decisions.