Outside my window I hear the clinking sound of metal scraping against metal, my son scraping the BBQ grill clean- for a price. I've learned that when I want something done, teenagers react well to $$$. It makes sense, part of the natural growth of our relationship I am sure. When they were little, simple things worked. For example, I could say to my daughter, "Yes we can watch Little Mermaid for the umpteenth time , once you pick up your toys." Or I could tell her that "dessert is for those who eat all their dinner," to get her to eat a few more vegetables. I think that for my son actually money has always been the most effective incentive consistently. (He's a capricorn)
So now I can look around the house at work that needs done, and I can look at the balance of my checking account and what I can spare, and then with those two pieces of information I make an offer. It's a give and take. So before my daughter and I headed off to Costco the other day to stock up the cabinets for the month, I asked my son to clean out the fridge before I got back. He did a fantastic job actually and it was super helpful. My daughter did some weeding and gardening the other day, and of course they have regular chores and allowance.
I guess my point is that I am starting to adjust to this whole, "my kids are no loner 'kids' they are teenagers fairly well. I just got to keep enough cash in my wallet and be willing to ply board games to help entertain them during their months off from the institutions of middle and high school. Our kitten is glad to have us around most days as well, and the house is starting to stay pretty organized (comparatively speaking in relation to its previous status).
On a totally different note, I decided to take clippers to my own hair yesterday and gave my self a semi mo-hawk. I know that eventually it will mean I have to cut my hair even shorter when I have to go back to work come September, but I am ok with that. I am not saying that I did a brilliant job, but I cut my own hair with clippers! No plugs in the back or the sides to show slip ups, although it isn't perfectly even either...
"Why?" you ask. Simply because I could. And I love rubbing the back of my mostly bald head for relaxation, and I really wanted to reclaim my own hair and be responsible for the shearing myself. I have shaved my own head since junior high- It felt really good actually- and I wasn't having some weird melt down moment or anything, I was just doing something that I have wanted to d for a long time.
ACCOMPLISHED! Maybe i will bleach it and die it blue next... hmm....
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