Oh no - I agree - I have become a parent!

When did kids stop being kids? And when in the world did parents stop being parents? Parenting is not about being your kid’s best friend. It’s about teaching them what is appropriate and what is not.

In fact, I remember one particularly embarrassing time that my mom insisted on “doing the right thing” and you know what? Looking back, she was right. It was my school Halloween party and all of my friends decided our theme was Disney characters. I decided to go with Jasmine from “Aladdin,” and my costume was pink, my favorite color.

Now if you have ever seen the movie you know that Jasmine has a bare midriff , but see, I was in 9th grade and all of about 15 years old at the time and there was no way on God’s green earth that my mother was letting me out of the house with my midriff showing. She took me to the local dance store, bought a skin colored leotard and made me wear it under the costume. I am pretty sure I wasn’t thrilled with her that night, and I was ridiculously hot in the school cafeteria, but you know what? I was 15 years old –- a child. She was right: it would have been inappropriate to wear the costume as is.

All of that drama -– and trust me, at the time it was major drama — over a bare midriff. It makes me wonder, what in the world Miley Cyrus’s mother was thinking letting her daughter get on stage at the Teen Choice Awards in booty shorts and high-heeled boots and dance around a pole? I guess I shouldn’t be too surprised; this is, after all, the girl who last year posed on the cover of Vanity Fair in nothing more than a sheet. But my point in sharing the above story is this: a parent’s job is to teach.

When you are 14 to 17, you are too young to know what the right thing is to do in certain situations. That is why your parents are there to guide you. You may not like what they have to say – and parents, you may not like saying it, but it needs to be done. Miley is still a CHILD. A 16 year old girl should not be writhing around on a stage in booty shorts on a pole in front of other teens at an award show.

What kind of an example does it set for other kids? And by her parents condoning it, what kind of example are they setting for other parents?

Posted by: Showbiz Tonight's Brittany Kaplan

Chicago

We spent the past weekend in Chicago learning how to run an SBRO (State Based Rugby Org.) - the seminar was great!! The city was ok - like any large city in the south only the residents seem REALLY unhappy :-).

Random End of School Pictures (I added more 6/23)

Some Sad News - Barton Edward Hinson (6/30/92 - 5/31/09)

According to the Kershaw County Coroner's office, 16-year-old Barton Hinson was killed when the SUV he was driving struck a tree on Tower Road.
That's near the Kershaw County/Richland County line.
According to the Highway Patrol, Hinson, along with a 17-year-old passenger, were wearing seatbelts.
The passenger was transported to Camden Hospital for her injuries.

Another one...but this one is more special to Chris and I. Bart's parents own the horse farm that I kept my horses at and his mom was my trainer for years. Bart was born the month I graduated from high school and when I returned home after college I baby sat him and his two year old sister until they were too old for a babysitter. Chris and I literally cut our teeth on parenting with this kid and have lots of pictures with Santa and slip-n-slides, etc. We lived on the farm for 6 months while our current house was being built and spent many afternoons watching him practice kicking field goals (he played for LE).
As he got older Bart spent many football seasons with his family, my youngest brother and Chris at Panther games. Needless to say my family and his have interacted regularly for as long as I can remember...they are, of course, devastated. There has never been a teenager that I have met that had more promise and potential than Bart.

Boats, Field Day and Garage Sales

As I have said our wonderful neighbors are moving back to Ohio in July. They are storing their boat at our house so a couple of weeks ago we went out with them - the kids were thrilled! Now I am a chlorine kid of girl so I played with the baby while CJ and Maggie went swimming. Thanks Devin & Michele - we had a great time!!







Here are some pictures from the kids at field day - we have three more weeks of school!!!



Last but not least - the rugby team had a garage sale to raise money for next season - this is a picture of some of the players being helpful as only they can be....

So far behind

I thought about trying to catch up from like the end of March but I have given up - so I have added some pictures of what we have been up to. I am addicted to Facebook, what can I say.

The kids are great and looking forward to the end of school. Actually so am I, at least until about 2 weeks into June, then I count down the days till they go back. My parents have them all day during the summer so they probably start counting down about two days after they get out.

Rugby is over until November. I would be remiss if I did not say that we lost one of our players on March 26. Alex Fowler was killed in a car accident on his way to school. Chris and I were devastated - Alex was a stand out among the team and this is the second time my wonderful husband has had to get this team through a death of a friend, if you have been following this blog, you know Tyler Narr died in August.

Our GREAT neighbors Devin and Michele are moving back to Ohio in July. We are so sad - they sold their house in 3 weeks and will be in temporary housing until the summer so we get to see them for a little while longer.

AND last but not least I had another kidney stone at the end of March - that makes three since January. I love excelling at everything!



Alex


Maggie learning to play jacks


Easter


Bridge Run (never quite made it there - but it was a great time!


Devin and Chris watching the movers from our front porch :-(

So behind.....more to come....3 more games!!!