Halie Currently: The Teen Edition

I have a TEENAGER!  Officially today, I have a thirTEEN year old in the house.  How did that happen?  I don't really know.  Gone in a flash.  I remember Logan and I bringing her home in January 2007.   So dang cold, in our Mustang, that of course had no winter tires because we were barely paying our mortgage and bills on one income.  We installed the car seat, or so we thought.  When we looked back to check on her, we found the bucket tilled completely to the one side, with our newborn happily and safely strapped into it sleeping away.  We didn't know at the time that if you didn't have automatically locking seat belts, that you needed this extra clip installed on the seat belt that wouldn't let it move as the car took turns.  I could say it's just we were so young we didn't know better, which partially true but also, I am older now and I am still hitting bumps along the way as a mom.  It's life.   Even through all the mistakes we've made along the way, I am proud to say that Halie  is turning into a lovely young lady.  Sure, the teen-age-ness is annoying at times, I think more so than the tantrums of a three year old,, but that's all perspective isn't it.   Halie is caring, thoughtful, mature, and persistent.  She looks after her friends, she loves her family and works very hard to achieve goals she has set.  

Let's look at Halie as a of right now.

Currently.....

Wearing, mom jeans!  Hahahahaha.  And Lululemon leggings.  Also she has been borrowing more or my things.

Reading, she is really into the Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins series, which  I am also a huge fan of so it gives us something to talk about.  Thank you Mrs. Kelleher for introducing her to this series.  She is an off/on reader.  Sometimes reading a ton and other times barely at all.  We aren't good at scheduling time for them to read anymore as they've gotten older, we read in front of them all the time but.... Anyway if you have thoughts or tips on growing teenage readers, by all means send them my way.

Extra curricular, horseback riding in the fall and spring, and that continues to be her favorite.  She is also loving her dance classes this year and is looking forward to competition season.  She is currently in jazz, lyrical and ballet.  On Thursdays Halie continues to volunteer at the Sherbrook Community Center in which she attended in grade six as a student.  She enjoys being with the elders and helping with their day program on Thursdays.

Watching, Stranger Things over and over and over again.  Also, Friends and recently was given permission to watch Riverdale.

Listening to Shawn Mendes.  We went to the Shawn Mendes concert this past summer and his music has been on repeat ever since. 

Thinking she wants to pursue,  veterinarian school or a path that involves working and caring for animals.  If you know someone that could speak to her about the various options and pursuits she would love to hear from you.

Obsessed with coffee, like french vanilla, coffee with flavored cream, 1/2 hot chocolate 1/2 coffee combo.  Hmm, as a parent we weren't sure how we felt about this, but with my coffee habits also starting young  I don't feel in any position to judge.  (Is this the hill I wan to die on?  A question I ask myself daily with a tween and a teen)

Happy 13th birthday to my first born.  

"I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always.
As long as I am living,
my baby you'll be."

- Robert Munch

Growth & Pride: Halie From 11 to 12

Growth and Pride. 

 

Tanner is still her first love and he made it on her birthday cake this year.

Their birthdays are just one week apart, so they share a party and a cake each year.

 

Growth.  Pride.  These are the two words that come to mind when I reflect on Halie's past year.   Last year when Halie turned 11, she was still teetering that line between my little girl and that next step.  She checked in often.  She picked up a doll here and there.  She sought out our permission and advice.  She showed her insecurities.  One year later  and I am so proud of the maturing she has done.  Let's take a peek at the year and start out with the most typical coming of age changes, to the biggest impact.

 

1.  Babysitting.  Halie took a babysitters course last winter, shortly after turning 11.  This was a big step for her that I encouraged her to pursue (more like pushed, but you know).  She went without a friend to the course and learned a lot.  Through experience with her sister and support from friends who offered her some experience with their little ones, she picked up some hours and started feeling more comfortable.  Now she babysits pretty often and is earning her own $$$.

 

First job!!!!

 

2.  $$$.  Speaking of $, Halie has developed some pricy habits such as discovering Starbucks.  The apple doesn't fall far from the tree as I discovered flavored coffee (more sugar than coffee) early on as well, but I wasn't about to hand her cash to spend on such things.  Make-up, coffee, extra clothing,  body lotions, etc. she has taken on buying herself.  Babysitting money is coming in handy and I am happy to let her start to make decisions on what is worth spending money on, what is worth saving up for.  Slow and steady she is managing it all really well and even has offered to pay (half and half) for private horseback riding lessons.  I am pretty proud of her.

 

Mother-daughter date.  She treated me with her Starbucks GC.

3.  Friends and communication.  Yup.  In my day, that meant I was tieing up the only phone line we had for hours.  No calls were coming in or going out.   Fast forward to 2017, our kids now communicate via chats, FaceTime, something called Musically (????), etc., you get it.   How do we deal with it?  Well we just take it one step at a time.  We learn alongside her.  We try to stay open to new suggestions and new ways, as long as she can explain the  purpose to us.  Sometimes we say yes, sometimes we say no.  One rule is not negotiable is that we have absolute access to all technololgy.  She still has to ask us when she wants to use it and there is a limit to how much.  She has a phone, but no data, and it's use is also limited and not prermitted during family time.  We feel fortunate that we have gotten to know her friends.  We have them over.  We connect and text with their parents.  We feel comfortable with all of them.  It's a great feeling.  When the girls come over they no longer need crafts or games  to be entertained.  They don't play with toys instead they talk.  They listen to music.  They do hair and make-up.  They are kind and respectful.  There is little girl drama and usually Halie is pretty open about it.  Honestly, we feel really good right now.

Best group of friends.

 

3.  New Experiences!  This is the BIGGEST one of all.  Halie not only took on a new experience this school year, but she sought it out herself.  My insecure, hold back until I know I am going to do it right, girl took initiative and voiced her desires to apply for a special program in our city.  This grade six program runs out of a community center for elders, who may have disabilities and/or special health needs.  The students who apply and are selected by a lottery system, learn from the elders that live in the center.  They listen to their stories, they seek academic help, but also participate in various clubs taught and led by the elders, along with many community experiences that they may not have had access to in regular programming.  It's truly a citizenship and humanities based learning program. This has been the greatest gift to Halie thus far in her life.  We have seen confidence, humility, compassion, empathy, realization, motivation, respect, understanding, all grow from this experience.  She has befriended not only new peers, but the elders, and has created a special bond with one particular elder.  When I went for a visit,  Halie prepped me in the most mature and companionate way.  She explained that some elders are difficult to understand when they speak, but to be patient, to take time to talk to them just like you would your friends, to sit with them, to laugh with them, and to just be.  I was so moved by her leadership and openness, and as I began to meet the elders, I was once again filled with pride.  As the  elders described my daughters characteristics, the love, respect, and friendship that they have built with her, I was moved me to point of tears threatening to come up to the surface.  I couldn't have asked for a better education, because my daughter is not only a kinder human being, but also one that's aware and more open to learn from people who have led a  different life than her.

 

Loving all the elderly in our lives.

Baka and great-baka.

Halie with Muzerka.  She loves him so much.

Her first horse show earned her a first place, 2nd place and a couple of third places.

Finding her own fashion sense.

Finding out that her heart is big enough for two dogs. 

 

So with that, I am beyond proud to be her mother.  I am in awe of the young person she is becoming and I know that her heart of gold will continue to grow and to reach out to others.  I feel confident that she will strive to make her life, our home, and her community, a better place.

Anya is 9: Reflecting on the Past Year

Dear Anya,  

How did you get to be 9 so quickly?  Each and every year this exact thought runs through my mind and I get sad that you are growing up so quickly, yet I am immensely proud of who you are becoming with each passing day, month, year.  Here are some of the tidbits, highlights and accomplishments from this past year. 

 

Adjectives:

Kind.  Energetic.  Lively.  Silly.  Witty.  Gentle.  Loving. Brave.  Dramatic.  Creative.  Goofy. 

Loves: 

Dance.  Sing. Acting. Art.  Oreo.  Lego.

 

BFF: 

Myalle

 

Birthday Party Theme: 

Movie Theater party was a HUGE success with 14 children!

 

Sports/Activities: 

Skating is still your number one.   

You tried soccer last spring and we you were really good at it.  We’ve love to see you pursue this a little more. 

You started dance, ballet & jazz, but you’ve quickly realized that its not for you. 

You successfully got up on the wakeboard when you were 8.5 years old and blew us away. 

 

Reading: 

You’ve ventured into the chapter book world but you still haven’t found any one series that you just love to read.  You try whatever is in front of you.  I think your favorites are still picture books or when we read to you.  

 

 

Watching: 

There are lots of shows you are watching these days such as Free Rein, Fuller Huse , reruns of Jessie, and I really like when you introduced me to Nailed It (cooking show). 

 

Playing: 

Lego, dolls, crafts, board games (Harry Potter Clue). 

Traveling & Firsts: 

You went on two trips this year without mama and tata. 

 You took your first plane ride alone, just you and your sister to Victoria, BC.  You spent five days with your aunt Tiki, uncle Sasa, and cousin Alen .  Mama and tata drove out and then we traveled back through BC, Alberta and home to Saskatchewan.  You got to hold an kangaroo, visit the Enchanted Forest, went on a 20km  bike ride on the old Kettle Valley railway in Myra Canyon Park, visited the Calgary zoo and more. 

You also traveled with your grandparents to Washington, DC for a family wedding!!!  You didn’t enjoy all of the sight-seeing activities but you did enjoy swimming in the hotel pool, going out to dinner and being with family.  Unfortunately you got sick the night of the wedding.  

What else is New? 

A new school for you this year.    At first you were missed  your old school, teachers and most of all friends.  But you've adjusted and made some great  friends that live right in our neigborhood.  

 

Also new this year, was Oreo!  It really was you that pushed us to welcome a new puppy into our home.  You two are a perfect match. 

Something Scary: 

You had your tonsils and adenoids removed.  You were extremely anxious prior to the surgery but you put on a brave face.  You were a trooper throughout the recovery phase though it bothered you, it gave you excruciating pain at times, and you had to miss a couple of weeks of school.  You also had a complication that landed you back in the ER.  Let’s just say that the trip to the ER was VERY dramatic and has lent itself to many stories to be told and retold for years to come.  The ENT even thought you have a bright future in acting.   

 

I wonder what this year has in store for you.  I know it's going to be an adventure, as you always keep up us on our toes.  I love you to the moon and back.  

xoxo, Mama