Post by Jonel on Jun 1, 2004 15:10:19 GMT -5
On Parenting: Summertime is medley of Temptations tunes
By Annette Clifford
June 1 2004
One of the kids starts listening to the Temptations' greatest hits, and suddenly those old Motown song titles sound very in tune for a summer with teenagers.
There's "Ball of Confusion, That's What the World Is Today." What better way to describe what life feels like with kids who are old enough to stay home alone for a few hours but too young to drive themselves to their jobs, appointments and activities?
It's kind of like the rush-rush of the school year, only now there's no seven-hour break in the drill while the kids are safely in class. And, they want to stay up later at night to boot.
During the day you find yourself doing convoluted work shuffles to drive them to their jobs, where they'll have to learn the two-step of pleasing the boss and hit the harmonies of keeping the customer satisfied.
Without your help. On their own to succeed or fail.
No wonder it can feel like you're on "Shakey Ground."
Then there's the girl factor beginning to weigh in here and there. Time to start spinning the old classic called "Treat Her Like A Lady."
Other times you drop kids off for camps at broiling fields and steaming gymnasiums. They spend hours in the competitive fray, coming home only to refill their tank on food, liquid and sleep before heading back out for more. That's when the maternal soundtrack, complete with violins, starts playing , "(I Know) I'm Losing You."
You're still needed, of course, in your role as cash machine. It can be hard to get it through their heads that "You've Got to Earn It."
One particular Temptations song is getting a lot of repeat air time this summer, cycling through the brain every time you hear about kids getting into trouble, getting in accidents, getting their hands on things they shouldn't.
Could it happen to yours?
It plays each time a kid calls you at work with a seemingly innocent request, too.
You want to know how to turn off the oven?
You're bored already?
You want to ride your bike to the movies?
What tree is it you want to go climb?
Someone down the street is setting off firecrackers?
Is disaster lurking? Did you tell them all the safety rules and forbidden things and will they even remember if you did?
Take deep breaths and hum that old favorite: "It's Just My Imagination, (Running Away With Me.)"
Or turn to the classic "Ain't Too Proud To Beg."
It's the perfect way to begin those silent petitions sent up high to please keep the kids safe while they're out of your sight.
Then there's "Psychedelic Shack," a real showstopper. Sounds like the kind of house you sometimes come home to at the end of the day: a phantasmagoria of plates and cups and soda cans and Popsicle wrappers and banana peels strewn around. An abundance of empty food containers. TVs and radios blaring. Doors wide open to air-condition the great outdoors. Good time to let loose a nagging refrain about "The Way You Do the Things You Do."
Better yet, call home an hour before estimated time of arrival with this reminder: "Get Ready, Cause Here I Come!"
Annette Clifford is a freelance columnist for the Daily Press.
Courtesy of the Hampton Roads, VA Daily Press
Copyright © 2004, Daily Press
www.dailypress.com/features/family/dp-18716sy0jun01,1,2151184.story?coll=dp-features-familylife
By Annette Clifford
June 1 2004
One of the kids starts listening to the Temptations' greatest hits, and suddenly those old Motown song titles sound very in tune for a summer with teenagers.
There's "Ball of Confusion, That's What the World Is Today." What better way to describe what life feels like with kids who are old enough to stay home alone for a few hours but too young to drive themselves to their jobs, appointments and activities?
It's kind of like the rush-rush of the school year, only now there's no seven-hour break in the drill while the kids are safely in class. And, they want to stay up later at night to boot.
During the day you find yourself doing convoluted work shuffles to drive them to their jobs, where they'll have to learn the two-step of pleasing the boss and hit the harmonies of keeping the customer satisfied.
Without your help. On their own to succeed or fail.
No wonder it can feel like you're on "Shakey Ground."
Then there's the girl factor beginning to weigh in here and there. Time to start spinning the old classic called "Treat Her Like A Lady."
Other times you drop kids off for camps at broiling fields and steaming gymnasiums. They spend hours in the competitive fray, coming home only to refill their tank on food, liquid and sleep before heading back out for more. That's when the maternal soundtrack, complete with violins, starts playing , "(I Know) I'm Losing You."
You're still needed, of course, in your role as cash machine. It can be hard to get it through their heads that "You've Got to Earn It."
One particular Temptations song is getting a lot of repeat air time this summer, cycling through the brain every time you hear about kids getting into trouble, getting in accidents, getting their hands on things they shouldn't.
Could it happen to yours?
It plays each time a kid calls you at work with a seemingly innocent request, too.
You want to know how to turn off the oven?
You're bored already?
You want to ride your bike to the movies?
What tree is it you want to go climb?
Someone down the street is setting off firecrackers?
Is disaster lurking? Did you tell them all the safety rules and forbidden things and will they even remember if you did?
Take deep breaths and hum that old favorite: "It's Just My Imagination, (Running Away With Me.)"
Or turn to the classic "Ain't Too Proud To Beg."
It's the perfect way to begin those silent petitions sent up high to please keep the kids safe while they're out of your sight.
Then there's "Psychedelic Shack," a real showstopper. Sounds like the kind of house you sometimes come home to at the end of the day: a phantasmagoria of plates and cups and soda cans and Popsicle wrappers and banana peels strewn around. An abundance of empty food containers. TVs and radios blaring. Doors wide open to air-condition the great outdoors. Good time to let loose a nagging refrain about "The Way You Do the Things You Do."
Better yet, call home an hour before estimated time of arrival with this reminder: "Get Ready, Cause Here I Come!"
Annette Clifford is a freelance columnist for the Daily Press.
Courtesy of the Hampton Roads, VA Daily Press
Copyright © 2004, Daily Press
www.dailypress.com/features/family/dp-18716sy0jun01,1,2151184.story?coll=dp-features-familylife