the things we do for our kids...

We had a lovely weekend that ended in me driving all the way to Great America to pick up someone's phone... Yes. I drove 3 hours round trip because someone I know went to Fright Fest with her friends and left her phone at the ice cream shop! Oh, the things we do for our kids. She needs the phone. I PAID for the phone, so yep. Road trip time! 

Saturday night, someone called us from my daughter's phone and my first reaction was that there had been an accident. Once I got over that shock, we learned she had left it. Then I got to stew all night about making the trek to pick it up. It's an easy drive, but not a lot of fun along the way. So I began the googling and texting. 

Only one person I know truly lives along the route and she didn't answer. I decided to hit the Gurnee Mills Mall after the phone retrieval for a store or two with lunch. Then hit a pumpkin patch or farm stand on the way back. That seemed like the best use of our time and our trip. Sunday I picked up my kid from her sleepover and we were off.

Two hours after I left my house, we had secured the phone. Then we hit the mall. I figured Burlington was the best route and I could have spent hours in there smelling candles, looking at the cute things, and just wasting time. Since I don't need anything and we had just shopped days before, I settled on some grown up looking super soft p.j.s. I figured if I had to spend a lazy Sunday driving around, I deserved something good.

We were lucky there was a food court right outside Burlington, so we ate and rolled out to start the trek home. There are tons of smaller farm stands and pumpkin patches on 1-73 that we never hit, so I stopped at one. We bought a pumpkin cream cheese turnover that was to die for! I love the little mom and pop shops. We try to spend there, too, instead of the larger places that get most of the revenue. 

We made it home safely and had a discussion about responsibilities, safety, and being aware of your surroundings. How many times have you changed plans for your kid? Or adjusted the menu to have kid friendly food? Or canceled because something wasn't kid friendly? We aren't THERE any more, but using a whole Sunday to track down a phone was definitely a life lesson for her and earned me "Best mom ever" award for the week. And I still wouldn't have it any other way.

letting your kid be themselves is the best way to go

We just spent a fantastic week together having the best kind of family fun. When you're in public, in large crowds or in close contact with others, you notice things. My kid is polite and well spoken. She is learning social etiquette and general life rules. She is also a teenager...

She has the best of intentions, but sometimes she says the wrong thing or does something embarrassing in public. Don't we all, though? That's a parent's job. We lead by example. We demonstrate. We guide and make corrections. Otherwise, how will they know? 

This whole week, my kid was aware of being on her phone in lines or in public. If we were checking out, she was ready and didn't make people wait. She paid attention and took it all in. She observed and asked questions. 

And, she rushed ahead or got bored and let us ALL know 😂. She did cartwheels through the parking lot. She country line danced while she waited for her pancakes in line. She was simply herself. Unapologetically her. And I love it. 

She is polite and gracious. She lets her freak flag fly and runs to her own drummer. She isn't interested in how the other girls are doing it. She just wants to be herself. THAT is all that matters to me. And we are so proud of her for it! 

kids are kids regardless of age (and regardless of what they say)

My daughter and her friend are these big cool teenagers now, but I see through it. As soon as we invited one of the little besties over, I asked what they wanted for lunch. Go figure. Macaroni and cheese with chicken nuggets. And, of course, Takis (gag). 

My kid wanted to make her friend lunch and I am down for that! However, she needed to show off her new vanity. Then they played with the dog. Then they did ALL the skin care (thanks YouTube for that unnecessary trend!). While they girled, I made the quickest, easiest lunch and even chopped up an apple so the lunch wouldn't be processed food with a side of red dye 40. We got a few Christmas platters with 4 dividers last holiday season, so I put their food into the divider plates. 

As soon as the girls sat down, there were ooohhhs and aaahhhs over the Christmas trays. It's the little things that count you guys! I make easy lunch and put it in cute platters instead of on a plate. They went bonkers over the cuteness. I got loads of thank you's and we were going to eat anyways! 

Don't let the term "teenager" fool you when you walk into this house. Yes, there are more products in her room than in Sephora. Yes, her floor is covered in clothes and who knows what. Yes, she talks to her Alexa each night like a goofball. BUT, chicken nuggets and their presentation will always go far with her just like they did when she was 3, 5, and also 7. 

gotta love the Highlights!

I still remember rolling into the dentist's office looking for the latest Highlights magazine to read while we waited. This magazine HAS been around that long! Short articles, quizzes, puzzles, jokes, photography, search n finds. I mean, what's not to love!? Now they have a variety of choices geared to even more age brackets for age appropriate fun. It's a classic!

We moved three years ago to our new house and somehow our junk mail followed us, plus even more. Right around Thanksgiving we got the three page sample magazine that was sent to the wrong child of mine, but we opened and looked at it. My youngest was excited and wanted to make sure she got mail once a month. She loves puzzles, pictures, and search n finds, so we agreed to get a year subscription. It was definitely worth it to fill out the tiny mailer and let her send it back. She loves magazine time!

This morning she finished early and we waited for the bus with her newest magazine. We laughed at the cheesey jokes and found almost all the hidden items in the search n find page. It occurred to me that (like everything else) this cuteness and childlike fun will only last for so long (cue tears). So, yes. I sat on the front steps in my pj's, aka sweats, and pretended not to see the hidden ruler on the page so she could find and highlight it. 

I will sit there as long as she lets me. I will enjoy all the giggles and fun of this simple, easy thing we decided to do together each month. I will balance a hot coffee on my lap and wave to passersby in my pj's while we look for silly hidden images. Because, who knows how long this will last! I can preserve the nostalgia and also promote good reading habits by getting her a yearly magazine subscription. 

If anyone finds the pause button, please let me know. This growing up thing is TOO much! :(