Lazy teenagers....

When I was a teenager, I was biting at the bit to get a car and go, go, GOOOOO! I got a job as soon as I could, and walked 2 miles to get there. I worked (illegally) until midnight, and my Dad would pick me up. (Illegally because until you were 18 you couldn't work past 10pm) I got up, went to school, took the bus home, changed, and walked the 2 miles BACK to work to do it all over again.

I wanted the freedom.

I wanted the independence.

And mostly, I wanted the MONEY.

Nicholas got his permit a few months ago, March I believe. He can go for his driving test in September. Thing is...the kid has no interest in getting a job. Original discussions were: We aren't buying his first car. We've told him we can't afford to get our gas, AND HIS, and I told him he had to get his own insurance, because I'll be damned if he kills someone and they take my house because he's on MY policy. Cheaper or not, THAT is NOT going to happen.

Since that initial discussion things have changed. I realize with the gas prices etc, there is no way a kid working part time, making minimum wage, is going to be able to afford EVERYTHING. So, I realized we would have to help him somewhere. First thought, was insurance; he'd have his own policy, but we'd pay for it.

I spoke with the insurance company last week, and they informed me that until he is 18, whether he is on his own policy or not, guess what, they CAN and WILL still come after my house if he kills someone. So, why pay an excessive amount of money to have him on his own policy if they can come after ME anyway, right? Okay, so, now he's going on OUR policy *gulp*

We tossed around the idea of having him take over Michael's car payments and Michael can upgrade, because by the time he gets his license, his car will have close, if not over 100,000 miles on it. Thing is, we're not sure his minimum wage salary can pay that payment - so now we are thinking he should just get a clunker for his first car. I had a clunker for my first car - so why shouldn't he, right? I mean, my first car was a 76? Honda civic piece of $hit. I remember going to work and having to lift the hood to "roach clip" some wires to a piece of metal so.my.fan.would.work!!!!! So heck, yeah, he can deal with a clunker too.

So you all know he just came back from paintball/airsoft camp. He loved it!! L.O.V.E.D. it!!!! He wants to join a league, and all this other stuff. Michael turned to him and said, "All that cost money. You need to start paying for stuff yourself. GET A JOB!!!!" He says, "I need a car to get a job". WHAT?!?

What aggrevates more is I could most likely get him a job in the Dollar store down the street, because his grandmother works at one in a different area....It is a little over a mile from the house and definetely doable.

So, I yell, "WALK! I walked to my first job."
He says, "I'm not walking in the rain."
That is the stupidest thing I ever heard of, so I say, "Grandma just moved down the street, if it's raining call her!"
"I'm not doing that."

So, all I can say is he has GOT to be one of the laziest teenagers I have ever met!!! I mean seriously, why isn't he jumping up and down to get a car, and have the freedom?

Doesn't he crave the day that he doesn't have to ask if I can take him to his girlfriends, or his friends house? Only to be pissed when half the time I can't do it; and if I can't do it - he CAN'T go! Doesn't he just want to say, "Hey going to so and so's," and leave?

Is it me?

Am I missing something?

Is he lazy, spoiled, or just demented in thinking that we'll cave and pay for his car, gas, insurance, paintball camp, bowling and everything else he wants to do?

Did I do something wrong, or is it just the modern day teenager????

I'm such a...MOM!

I always thought I was a pretty cool mom. I listen to every type of music, watch most of the 'in' shows, handle all the techy things that go wrong in the house, encourage my kids to try new things, whether their other friends approve or not, and I am their #1 cheerleader.

Yesterday, Nick left for paintball and airsoft camp. It is the first time he is away for several days, that I can recall. He went with a friend of his and his mom took them, booked a hotel 6 miles from the event, and is staying there so she doesn't have to get up at 5am everyday to get them to the place by 7am.

I know he was looking forward to it for days! The mom, April, texted me this morning, and said they were soo excited, they could barely sleep. It really is a cool thing they are going to; they get to escape from a prison and try and get away through the woods, it's an awesome course and to be honest...I kinda wish I was there too, hahaha.

All this sound wonderful, right? Yes, it does, and it IS - so why am I literally freaking out?!

All I could think of last night was him falling and cracking his head open. Or more likely, not dehydrating himself during 100 degree temperatures, and getting heat stroke or heat exhaustion. I keep waiting for the phone to ring with bad news and I H.A.T.E. it!!

So, now I must hang up my ultra cool mom cap and officially wear the I am a worry wart mom cap instead...

It WASN'T me!!!!

The lack of my blogging was NOT my fault. For some reason I've had this ongoing battle with blogger and it's kicking.my.butt!!!!!

So, it would appear that now I have to play catch up (once again) *sigh*

Let's see...where did I leave you off. Oh, Jeanie.

Yeah, I've washed my hands of that situation. It hurts, and I'm still BEYOND confused as to what exactly happened - but life is too short and too stressful to add immature behavior into the mix. So....fuck it!

My brother's movie 'Aversion the movie' got accepted into a film festival YAY!!!! It's in Montreal and I still need to talk to him about the "details" Wish him luck, please! ;)

I got a new car - Yes, Kim, AGAIN!!!! I stayed with the Traverse, just got a 2011 with a lot of the options I wanted last time around. Having a few minor issues and the sales dude WON'T CALL ME BACK! Gotta love it! And to make matters worse I left a Josh Groban CD in the car. This is the 2nd time I've traded in a car and left one of HIS cd's in it!!! Am I sending myself a subliminal message or something??? LOL

Speaking of Josh Groban, in a few weeks I will be holding the 3rd Annual Mallow convention at my house and I'm sooo excited for it. We usually just have a little reunion, barely talk about Groban at all, and then go bowling and eat chinese food with my family, but this year - things will be different. This year we pushed the convention back 2 weeks, and we not only get to see him at the Philly concert TOGETHER (which is going to be AMAZING!!!!) we also get to see the movie he is in TOGETHER because it opens that weekend. I think we are all going to be Joshed once again. At least I hope so, because, if I'm being honest, I'm sort of 'over him' :( So, I REALLY need this to AWAKEn me *gigglesnort*

Got news last night that a girlfriend of mine from school passed away last night. I cried. It was just so heartbreaking. Not sure of the details yet, but I know she had a heart condition her whole life. But look at Cindy, her medical problems aren't what killed her, pneumonia did. Just goes to show you, you don't know how much time you have, so enjoy every second of it, live life like its your last day, and hug your loved ones every day.

Hey, the sales guy just called me back. It's amazing what a call from your husband can do *eye roll* But hey, I'm going in to the shop tomorrow - life is looking up!