Waiting

Today my daughter finds out if she made the cut for the musical she auditioned for a couple of weeks ago at her brother’s high school – which is the sister school to her school.
I can’t help wishing so hard that she does get the part!! Or at least if not the part she auditioned for, then another part. It’s only because I don’t want her to be discouraged. In my eyes she is already a star for putting herself out there and going after the things she wants. 
It’s such a relief to have a child who knows what they want to do when they finish school, at least by knowing we can work towards that goal. 

I can’t say I ever knew what I truly wanted to do and I know that my oldest son doesn’t either and that makes it so much harder.

Ultimately of course the aim is for them to be happy, so fingers crossed she comes out with a big smile today . 

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Proud mum

So I’m feeling pretty proud of my son he found $20 on the ground at work the other night and instead of pocketing it as some of his colleagues suggested, he handed it in to the office. 
This is the same boy that at the age of 3 walked out of a play date with another little boy’s toy matchbox car. 

I remember threatening that the police would be coming to our house and I remember taking him back to that house and making him apologise as he handed back the toy car. I can also remember how worried and scared for him I was. How ridiculous to ever for a second think that he could be anything but perfect!! Sure the teenage years can be challenging, sure it sometimes feels like I am banging my head against a brick wall when I try to get through to him how important school is, but when all is said and done he was a beautiful cheeky perfect little boy at 3, and he has grown into an amazing young man now at almost 17. Yep I’m feeling pretty proud!! 

Feeling a little disappointed

I was feeling a little disappointed yesterday. My 16 year old son has started his first job ever, and although he was a little nervous initially and apprehensive, he was also excited and seemed so positive. Anyone who lives with teenagers will tell you that positivity is not something you associate with adolescence. His first two shifts were good and he seemed to be fitting in ok and really embracing work, but yesterday – day three – was not so good. The manager is apparently grumpy and was giving him a hard time – I tried to explain that this may just be his character and that he should not take his comments to be a criticism but rather as constructive feedback,but in his mind, the manager simply does not like him.I can’t help feeling a little annoyed at the grumpy manager -perhaps it’s just my protective mother instincts kicking in – but I really think he should be encouraging and not discouraging new employees. A few kind words of encouragement would do wonders I feel and make anyone try harder. You would think he would know that. 

Feeling super proud

Feeling super proud of my son tonight!! On Friday we went around and he handed in his resume to various shops and today he received a call back from one of the department stores asking him to come in tomorrow after school with his bank account details and tax file number.
We are trying not to get our hopes up too high but that sounds to me like they want him to join the team!

It’s scary I know, but exciting at the same time. Even if it doesn’t work out and he doesn’t get this job, he will get another one and one thing is for sure he is going to be awesome in whatever job he gets!! 

The Wiz

  

I’m feeling really proud tonight!! My beautiful princess appeared in her first high school musical tonight, and boy was it a fantastic show.

Madelyn was only one of four year seven girls to make it into the production which had a cast of 80, and after seeing the calibre of the performers tonight I can see why!!

After almost 8 months of constant rehearsals The Whiz finally opened to a sell out crowd!! 
All the girls were fantastic!! The singing was spectacular!! The whole production was so professionally put together that it didn’t feel like a high school play at all!! 

My baby was a star!! She appeared in three scenes and the closing scene and just lit up the stage!!

I couldn’t have been prouder!! 

Words parents should never use

So turns out I am too old to use certain words – who would have thought?? But according to my teenage son – who by the way knows absolutely everything – there are just some words that old parents such as myself should never use because and I quote “they are young words and you are old”
These words include : Hectic, Cool, Dude and Dog – what the??
Apparently all these words and many others, do not mean the same thing to teenagers that they mean to us old or older folk!! 

It’s hard because on the outside I may not look like a teenager anymore but somewhere deep inside I still remember what it was like being one and at times I even feel like I did when I was one. Thank goodness I now have teenagers to remind me that my young days are long gone!! 

Careers expo and information session

Just got back from a careers expo and information night at my son’s college. The night was very informative but very very daunting!! My son is half way through year 10 and this expo and information night was in preparation of Year 11 and 12.
There were stalls from all the leading Universities and Tafe’s in Victoria, along with The Police force, VACC, The Army, William Angliss, Real Estate agents and others, too many to remember them all.

We collected so many books /career guides, pamphlets and flyers that there is just no way we can get through them all. 

School based apprenticeships looked quite good too and for a second my son seemed to consider a school based apprenticeship in the automotive industry but ultimately health science is were we are heading I think – exercise physiology , physiotherapy etc. 

To get into one of the better Universities for Health Science you need an Atar score of 60ish with a 30 in English which is achievable I think/hope. 

I spoke with the senior school curriculum coordinator about my son dropping Maths next year he struggles with it so much, and her suggestion was to continue basic maths in year 11 because many courses only need unit 1 & 2 Maths.

I walked away feeling a lot better and I think George did too, at least we have some idea were we are heading now. 
Best part of the evening was the year 11 curriculum coordinator who was George’s English teacher last semester (and who is just the loveliest man ever ) went over and sat with George and was talking to him about university and subjects and life and i really think he got through to him, he is such a cool man the boys all love him . I was so appreciative. The year 10 coordinator also called George into his office earlier today and had a quiet word to him as I had requested. But Mr Burt (the English teacher – year 11 curriculum coordinator did it all on his own accord. As I said he is just lovely.

I think we will both sleep better tonight, it is very hard being a teenager these days, things are just so different now!! There is more competition out there, more pressure and if you don’t have a clear idea of what you want to do – and let’s face it who really does at 16 – then it’s just so stressful and I’ve gotta say draining.

Tough day at the office

Tough day at the office this weekend at basketball!! The one thing the team had going for them, the one thing that gave them an edge above the competition is that they were a close knit team, kind of one for all and all for one. But in the last few weeks something has tipped the scales and the dynamics are all out. At this weeks game there was a massive blue between two of the boys, they almost came to blows!! How can we win any games when the team is bickering like this? Instead of focusing on each other’s weaknesses they should be appreciating each other’s strengths the unique qualities that each person brings to the team. 

So on Tuesday I have arranged for the boys to do a team bonding session at the boxing gym that I attend and love! I’m hoping that some time together to just have fun and work off some of those frustrations and some of that testosterone overload will helpfully help to mend the rift and gets us back on track.

Here’s hoping.

I have no need for Google

  

Suicide

Another sad day today with yet another young life ended by suicide!! Word came from the boys school this morning via text message advising the parents that a former student of the college had suddenly lost his life over the weekend and that counselling was being made available to all the boys that have been affected by this.

There was a mass held for all the year 10 students today in memory of the lost child.

My thoughts go out to his parents and family I can only imagine the pain they are going through. 

Why oh why – what a waste of a young life!! The second one we have heard of in a matter of months.  No matter how bad things may appear they will get better, they always do. Life is such a precious gift. 

Rest In Peace