A Day In My Teenage Daughter's Life

A Typical School Day For My High School Sophomore

6:10 AM - I wake up her up - by turning her light on and being very annoying... I have been known to break out into song...

6:15 AM - Get up... Get up...

6:20 AM - Me yelling - "Are you up?" Her mumbling "Yeah..."

6:30 AM - Me yelling again... "Are you up?" Her: "What? I can't hear you.... What?" Me: "Are you up?" Her "Now I am..."

7:10 AM - Eat a quick breakfast prepared by my loving hands... cereal, fruit, toast, donuts (shh), waffles, or any other quick nutritious meal...

7:30 AM - Out the door. In the car - I double check and triple check that she has everything - purse, huge tennis bag, binder, book, and tote...

7:40 AM - Arrive at school - watch in awe as she juggles all her junk

8:00 AM - 2:15 PM - Normal school - Chemistry - Advanced Algebra - Spanish 2nd year - and her other required courses..

2:15 PM - 4:20 PM - tennis if there isn't a match

2:15 PM - 6:30 PM - tennis if there is a match...

6:40 PM - Home - dinner

7:00 PM - 11:00 - homework... It would be shorter time if she stayed on task but her mind wonders to You Tube - Desperate Housewives on her IPod - netflix. Now she turns in her cell and IPod to me before homework... but she still manages to daydream...

If she is lucky - She may have time to go to her church youth group on non-game days... I try to make sure that she has some fun on the weekends - I don't want her to completely burn out.. Last Friday night she went to Knott "Scary" Farm with friends - the weekend before Homecoming dance... She needs "down" time... and "fun" time...



To get into a four (4) year university - it's much tougher today than it was even four (4) years ago... Over a 4.0 average is expected by many... Minimum of 3 years of advanced math preferred 4.. Minimum of 2 years of a foreign language - preferred 4, Minimum of 2 years of a lab science such as biology and chemistry - preferred 3 and highly preferred classes to be Advanced Placement (AP). Must have a minimum of three (3) AP classes during high school.. AP English is definitely expected.... The competition is fierce for these classes.. For my kid to qualify for the class next year - She must maintain a 95% or higher both semesters in English AND write an essay AND complete an application and interview... then the English department reviews it.. In addition to the class requirements - SAT scores must be outstanding... Must be involved in extra curricular activities - not just a sport... She is also in a few community service clubs.. She will be going down to Mexico soon to volunteer at an orphanage...

Expectations For Teens Are Just Crazy Nowadays!

High School Back To School Night

Last night was back to school night for my eldest daughter... I have to say high school has changed tremendously since I was in school... The subjects and expectations are far greater... I am not sure I could keep up with her schedule... I most definitely have gained a higher appreciation for the work that she does.. The plan was for the parents to walk to each period in the order my daughter goes... Meet the teacher for about 10 minutes and then walk to the next class.... Easier said... believe me...

First period - Spanish 2... This class is in the furthermost corner from where I drop her off in the morning - She is on the tennis team and needs to drop off her gear at the gym... I had 3 years of Spanish in high school and in this 2nd year my kid is taking - let's just say - it's much more advanced.

Second period - Algebra 1 - This class - is once again the farthest she could go and stay on campus... It's past the gym... She must get a work out everyday - I know I did... I don't remember half the stuff she is learning in Algebra - did Algebra get harder???

Third period - English - Now this is a class I would love to take - they will be reading To Kill A Mockingbird - one of my all time favorite books... As well as Shakespeare and Greek tragedies.. So much fun... I did learn last night that if my kid wants to go to a 4 year college - she must take AP or CP English next year.. To qualify for AP English - she must maintain an "A" with a percentage of 95% or higher both semesters - fill out an application AND write an essay - The English department will then review and advise... The competition is fierce....

Fourth period - Chemistry - I hated this class in school and I'm not sure this class has changed much.... Thankfully - my girl is getting it thus far...

Fifth period - World History - Now this class seemed like a lot of fun - I love love history - the teacher was witty and I know my student likes him - a lot - he makes her laugh while she is learning....

What is great about going to Back To School - is that I learned what is expected of my kid - Where she can get help - how the grading system works and a glimpse of what kind of person her teacher seems to be....

It's going to be a tough year for her - with tennis - she is home no earlier than 4:45 on non-game days and 6 - 7 on games days... and then she has in upwards of 3 hours of homework a night... Times have changed since the early 80's when I was in school but I am thankful there are many resources to help when it's needed......

Sports Help Kids Get The Grade

When I was a kid - sports was something that went on everyday - whether it was at school or in the middle of the street in front of my house. I have many fond memories of playing with the neighborhood kids - everyday was an adventure. We all shared crazy imaginations and moms who always had Koolaid and snacks available to fuel our activities. We rode our bikes from our front porches to the pyramids of Egypt - we went on scavenger hunts for important items. We would play hide and seek for hours - until the street lights came on and then it was time to go home for dinner...

Those days are gone.... Our neighborhood is so quiet... There are very few children or teenagers... I have no idea where they all went off to... My girls have always had to make "play dates" or join different clubs or sports to stay active and socialize with their friends.... I wish my girls could have experienced the carefree and wild days of neighborhood youth and adventure....

Monday night we went to my oldest daughter's Tennis Banquet... It's hard to believe that she is already a freshman. It was wonderful to see the bonding that takes place between the players... The entire senior class players were all awarded high GPA awards... This reminded me how important it is to have our kids in a sport (s)... Statistics show that kids who are in sports are more likely to have better grades because they learn time management and they are usually competitive and driven to succeed...

My girl....

Quitters Never Become Winners

I remember when Nikki was in the third grade and Art Masters came to her school. Her class would learn about a famous artist and then learn a technique that the artist would use in their craft... Nikki's teacher would send me a note almost each month during Art Masters and it would read something like this: "I wanted to let you know that Nikki was having a difficult time today during Art Masters. She became very unhappy with her project and tore it up and wanted to try again...as I told Nikki everyone only gets one try... can you please tell Nikki not to be so hard on herself.. I try... but she does not listen to me. Thank you, Mrs. Brown"
Well Nikki is still the kid who expects to be perfect without years of practice.. She is very impatient. I can't count how many times - I hear her up in room growling in frustration. Something she was doing was not meeting her high expectations of herself.. I have learned to ignore it.... additional drama that I so don't need...
She has tried gymnastics, kickboxing, swimming and tennis... She gave up on gymnastics because her younger sister turned out to be a natural and proceeded to a high level very quickly.. so Nikki turned to kickboxing (she assured me this is what she wanted) I told her she had to give it at least a year - Three hundred and sixty five days later - she quit.. why? Because it was hard and she was "out of shape"... So she tried swimming- convinced that because she loves swimming in our pool that the swim team would be a perfect fit.. WRONG - after three months - she cried to get off the team - it was too hard.... then Nikki was convinced that she was the next world's best tennis player... so again - we gave her the chance... After she played for about a year - her little sister joined... Gymnastic practices exceeding twenty hours a week took its toll on Kara (my youngest) and our family... that will be a different story.. any hoo.. tennis has brought them together and they have enjoyed it for three years..... until..... today..
Today, Nikki came up to me and said she wanted to quit tennis.... Why I asked.... "It's too hard and I'm not any good!" (she's in the highest level for her age - she is good and she loves it) Knowing my kid as well as I do.... I said" No..." "WWWWWWWWWWWHHHHHYYYYY?" she whined. I told her that she has to stop giving up on things because she may have had a bad day. It takes practice and commitment to be good at things and then I used the phrase we have all heard at some point in our lives..."Quitters Never Become Winners and Winners Never Quit" and Nikki you will be a winner and you will be good... better than good.. I am not going to let you quit...
As parents we need to know when it is the right time to allow our kids to quit something and when not too. Staying involved in our children's lives gives us the knowledge to know what is best for them....I know Nikki will be happy I did not let her quit... because I know she loves it..**note - Nikki just came into my office and said she really does love tennis and will practice her strokes in the mirror like her coach suggested.... Let's see what tomorrow brings... shall we..?