Finding joy in the everyday

"A life well spent" by Charles West Cope When children reach their teenage years, some stop talking to their parents about the important things happening in their lives. They no longer want to share their problems and feelings with their parents, instead they turn to their peers for support (or simply stop talking to anyone). This is a very vulnerable period in their lives as they move from childhood into adulthood and it’s the very time they need the support of their parents rather than their peers who are also going through the same problems (and can and often offer the wrong type of support).    When my son was 15 years old, I told him that no matter what he did, his parents would never desert him. Whilst his friends might leave him, or hurt him, bully him, make fun of him or even dump their problems on him, only his parents would fight to the very end to protect him, stand by him and never leave his side. At the time he didn’t really understand what that mean....

Photography by Joluise The other day I replaced all our cutlery. I decided to buy a really nice set for my husband and I. We now have 8 forks, 8 knives, 8 dessert spoons, 8 soup spoons, 8 butter knives, 8 dessert forks and 8 teaspoons.  And I expect to keep all of these with none wandering off to who knows where.  Why did I replace our cutlery? Do you have teenagers? You may know the answer if you do. We (and I recently discovered other families also have this problem) have lost bits and pieces of our cutlery.  Teenagers have a habit of using a spoon and for some strange reason it never makes it back to the kitchen. It is never seen again. I am assuming it goes to the same home that lost socks go to.   But now that my children have left home, the problems should stop - therefore the new cutlery.  I don't mind spending a little more knowing that each piece will be returned to their home at night without any problems.  None will be h...

What do you think? Are our modern teenagers too lazy? I think some are, but certainly not all. However, they didn't get to this point without their parents allowing it to happen.  They aren't mowing the lawn, washing the windows or doing the dishes because their parents haven't made them do these tasks as they were growing up.  It involves too much effort for parents, so they don't bother. My two boys were helping with the housework from when they were little (it was hard work at time keeping them on track). Each were given a task to do and they learn how to do it, vacuum, dust, clean the toilet, put the groceries way, dry the dishes. Isn't that part of being in a family! Now that they have left home they can both manage their own homes - cook and clean (skills every male should have, its not just the domain of girls).   I can't imagine what the houses of these untrained teenagers will be like!!!  When everyone is pulling their weight at home...