Monday, April 20, 2009

The Thoughtful Teen

My teenager surprised me.

Not once but TWICE today.

I took her out with me after dinner tonight just to get out of the house for awhile together. We went to a mall, I got a decaf mocha (I'm 40 and I can't drink caffeine at night, I already have problems sleeping) and what did she get? A Monster drink (you know, the energy drink!)

That wasn't the surprise.

She had money burning a hole in her wallet (it was her birthday last week). We went to a couple of stores. I saw a necklace and said how pretty it was. She tried on a top and went to the register to pay for it while I was looking around. I went over to the counter when I saw her and she told me to go away. I was like, WHAT? Why? Then it occurred to me that she was trying to buy me that necklace on the sly.

I felt terrible. She has NEVER spent her money on ME! I told her to put the necklace back, I didn't need it. She should keep her money for herself. The necklace was $25. That is a lot for a 14 year old to spend on her mom as far as I was concerned. Plus if I wanted the necklace, I could just buy it myself.

I was so surprised by her doing this . I think my jaw is still on the floor at this moment. She has bought her 3 year old sister little things to surprise her but has NEVER done that for me. I was shocked and proud to be her mom at the same time for thinking of doing something unexpected for someone else.

As if that wasn't enough for me to pull out a thermometer, take her temperature and make her stay in bed for a week (or start drug testing her)...

...after we got home, she was listening to her iPod in her room. I went in to see what she was doing and she said: Listen to this song, it reminds me of you. So I sat to listen to it and tears started streaming down my face.

The song was: Butterfly Fly Away by Miley Cyrus from the Hannah Montana movie. Do you know it?

If you don't know it, here are the lyrics:

You tucked me in, turned out the light
Kept me safe and sound at night
Little girls depend on things like that

Brushed my teeth and combed my hair
Had to drive me everywhere
You were always there when I looked back

You had to do it all alone
Make a living, make a home
Must've been as hard as it could be

And when I couldn't sleep at night
Scared things wouldn't turn out right
You would hold my hand and sing to me

Caterpillar in the tree
How you wonder who you'll be
Can't go far but you can always dream

Wish you may and wish you might
Don't you worry, hold on tight
I promise you there will come a day
Butterfly fly away

Butterfly fly away(butterfly fly away)
Got your wings, now you can't stay
Take those dreams and make them all come true

Butterfly fly away(butterfly fly away)
You've been waiting for this day
All along and know just what to do

The past 9 months in particular have been difficult between my teenager and me (click here for a little insight on that) and she has pushed me away at times so this was really truly a lot coming from her especially all in one day.

I did, as I usually do, try to make her birthday special last week. I even took her to see the new Zach Efron movie (17 Again) yesterday. Maybe she appreciates me more than I think she does. I don't know. I'm trying to figure her out.

I needed to document this day because tomorrow she will most likely wake up and start rolling her eyes at me just for being in the same room as her!

It was a good day to be a mom to a teenage girl and feel like maybe I am doing something right after all.

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Wednesday, April 15, 2009

My Review of the Disney on Ice Show!

WOW! That's a great description in one word. I have a teenager and a preschooler so it can be very difficult to find things to do all together at times that makes them both happy.

Anyone with a teenage girl will tell you that there is a lot of eye-rolling, arms crossing and foot stomping (simultaneously) going on when you say: Guess what??? We are all going to the Children's Museum!

Now my 3 year old would LOVE that but the teenager, not so much.

We had the good fortune of attending the Disney on Ice show last week as a family. I am very pleased to say that both girls loved it. I think all you have to do is say: Blah, blah, blah, Disney, blah, blah, blah. They only need to hear the word:DISNEY no matter how old they are! Heck I'm 40 and I get excited when I hear it myself!

This show was called Disney on Ice Disneyland Adventure. It starts out with The Incredibles going on a road trip to Disneyland as the 'average' American Family, the Parrs. They take you through the best rides such as: The Haunted Mansion; Pirates of the Caribbean; The Tea Cups. They even have a little bit of the Electric Light parade! It was so cool!

This show really made me feel like I need to get in the car and head to Disneyland when I got home. It's been a few years since we've been there and I have loved it my whole life. Our 3 year old has not been there yet so now I am itching even more to take her after seeing that show.

It was so nice to see both my teenager and preschooler so happy and smiling watching this show.

My little one ate half a bag of cotton candy and wore the Dash mask & light-up wrist bands while she was watching the show and was very concerned about Mickey & Minnie (don't want to give anything away for anyone who hasn't gone yet)....Syndrome trys to cause some trouble which is where The Incredibles come in to help.

We had a great time as a family that night. My 3 year old fell asleep 10 minutes before the show ended and woke up in the car. The first thing she asked us in the car was: Did The Incredibles save Mickey & Minne? It was so cute.

So if you are looking for a family-fun night out and can't afford to take a trip to Disneyland, this show just might be the next best thing.

Here is a way for you to get discounted tickets (4 for $44) in select cities across the country by using the coupon code MOM.

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