Signs of maturity in my teenager....

[Shine]

ShineBoy surprised the hell out of me this morning by helping to empty the clean dishwasher this morning, on his own, without me even asking.

He is starting his part-time job with the Girls' Softball League Snack Shack today after school(ShineGirl has been playing for years). He's got two shifts a week, Mondays and Thursdays 4-7pm. He'll earn $5/hr as he helps sell sodas, hot dogs, treats, etc...What's cool is he can ride his bike both ways and handle his own transportation. He also gets to work with teenage girls, which I'm sure is compelling in its own right, lol! This job will be a great experience for him and it'll be his second season doing it. Hopefully he'll be able to save up about $250, which will then go towards his upcoming end-of-year 8th grade graduation trip with 85 of his classmates to DC and NY. That's the financial contribution he'll be making.

This morning, after putting the dishes away, he said that he would have to move his daily 1/2 hr drum practice time up to 3pm, instead of 3:30, which is the time he normally does it, so that he would have enough time to bicycle down to his first day on the job and be there by 4pm.

He came to that realization all on his own, remembering his agreement with us that he needs to drum at least 1/2 hr a day every school day if he's going to continue to have us pay for his weekly lessons.

He also recognizes he'll be having to start his homework AFTER 7:30pm on those days. I told him I was really proud of him and that the time management skills he is developing will really serve him well come the the fall when he begins high school.

My little boy is growing up. :cry: I am filled with Nostalgia, Pride and the bittersweet awareness of the passing of Time.....It goes so fast, my friends. So fast.

[cynatnite]

1. Are you sure that it's really your kid?

When mine gets all mature I get the urge to take her down for DNA testing. :)

Our middle one turns 18 this summer. I know how you feel. :sigh:

[Shine]

2. LOL! The "mature behaviour" is completey inconsistent!

believe me, he's still plenty immature at times, too.

It's funny, it's like he's on this razor's edge between "Boy" and "Man".

How he acts on any given day is totally random.

We gotta take it all and hope for the best. :D

[lizziegrace]

3. Lelapin spent a good deal of time

with one foot firmly planted in childhood and the other in adulthood. It's fascinating to watch the transformation...

:hug:

[Shine]

5. Yes, it is, lizziegrace.

fascinating and bittersweet. :hug: Ah, Parenthood....

[DarkTirade]

7. That, or a CAT scan to find the alien attached to his brainstem that's controlling him.

:P

[Shine]

8. yeah, really.

heh. :D

[seemunkee]

4. You know it won't last

You'll be bitching about him again in no time.
Smart move on his part getting a job where he gets to hang around teen girls.

[Shine]

6. LOL! I know, you're absolutely right. It's fleeting, at best.

:rofl:

yeah, last season when he worked he wasn't much into girls, but that has definitely changed this time around.

he's even texting them now! :D and they text him back! It's practically a "relationship". heh.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

9. My dear Shine!

Ah, the joys of teenagerhood!

Sounds like he's coming right along...

It's not always this clear-cut...

Enjoy!

And I know you are...

:hug:

[Shine]

12. Theyre fleeting signs, but I'll still take 'em!

:rofl:

:hi:

[Brigid]

10. He's after something.

You can count on it. :evilgrin:

[Shine]

11. heh.

I'm sure you must be right. :D

:hi:

[Mrs.Matcom]

13. It passes so quickly!

I can't believe my son will be 23 this year! Man I'm old! :rofl: I remember the first time he took the blame for his own actions...could have peeled me off the floor! Sigh, where is my little boy?? :cry: :hug: to you both!

[Ptah]

14. When I saw this title, I thought maybe you meant to respond to the supernatural thread.

:hi:



I sleep better when they make steps like that on their own

[Shine]

17. LOL! I actually did respond to that thread, too.

:rofl:

yes, the maturity is "fleeting" but we'll take it.


You'll love this: after school today, before my dtr got dropped off from carpool and it was just the two of us, I gave ShineBoy this whole little speech about how proud I am of him and his developing maturity. I was very heartfelt and at one point during my speaking he let out a big ole juicy wet-sounding fart.

He then grinned idiotically and opened up his legs, while fanning the fart air over in MY general direction.

:eyes: I kid you not.


:rofl: Yes, the maturity moments are fleeting, at best.

[tigereye]

20. aha

:rofl:

that's so funny, during your serious "I'm so proud of you" speech...


Life is very funny sometimes...

[Flying Dream Blues]

15. Good times, indeed. Cherish the days, Oh, and obviously, good job to you, Shine! nt

[WritingIsMyReligion]

16. ...

...



What does he want?





:P

[Shine]

18. You're not the first person to ask that!

:D

[tigereye]

19. this is very cool!

It's so great when they start to show that kind of initiative and awareness ( and often amazing to parents!)

My son will be 12 and he does all his homework at school now, and brought his Spanish grade up all on his own, without any input from me. It was very cool! They also do volunteer work at a shelter kitchen here.

:hi: