Book Review: Tough Guys and Drama Queens

Photo credit: Booksneeze.com

I never thought that raising a teenager is like riding a roller coaster. One minute, you're up and the next thing you know, you're emotions are all going down the drain. That's how it feels like dealing with my own daughter.

I am glad I got this free book. I thought I was prepared to enter the battle but I was totally wrong. This book gave me the insights on how to deal with my own teenager and to be able to come out of the battle victorious.

The author, Mark Gregstons, uses picturesque words to describe the ordeals of dealing with a teenager and his tips on how to tackle unwarranted behavior, dangerous activities and malicious curiosity of today's teens.

The book presents viable tips to parents to reinforce positive relationships with their own teens and how to cope with their volatile behavior. Not only that the book is full of advise, tips and wisdom coming from a man who dealt with every face of teen angst and rebellion, and explains everything through his eyes as a founder and councilor of Heartlight, a center for teens with issues.

I highly recommend this book to parents who have teens or even those who have none as a means to better understand today's youth. 

The book was given to me complimentary by Thomas Nelson Publication via Booksneeze.com.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 

My Daughter is Turning 14

Time flies and it flies fast! It seems like yesterday when I was holding my baby's hand and in few days, she will be 14.

I am already in a place where I tell myself to accept things as they come because one day, that tiny baby I held so close to my heart will one day become a woman. She will meet her man and she will leave us. I don't know if I am just being melodramatic but I think, this is what being a mom is - dramatic.

I take a deep sigh now when I hear my daughter talk to her friends. I am starting to miss those fun times we have where we used to play like little girls. She is an adolescent now and her likes are no long the same Barbie and Bratz dolls she used to love few years ago. She has new set of friends, activities here and there and more phone calls than a call center can ever handle. Yes, I have a teen-aged daughter and soon she will be 14.

I think I am just being sentimental and drama-queen but I kind of miss her playful pranks when she was younger, her slobbery kisses on my and her papa's cheeks, her drawings posted on our closets and the free hugs we get each time we come home. We still get those hugs but they come far in between now. Later on, it will just be "Hi mom! Hi dad!" kind of thing.

Well, that's the way life goes. I can only pray that my husband and I did not fall short in guiding her and imparting wisdom and instilling good values. I also pray that she will grow into a responsible adult, a God-fearing child and a daughter her parents will be so proud of.

Happy birthday our little girl. I know you're not a baby anymore but in our eyes, you're always be our little girl. Enjoy and have fun on your special day.

The Perfect Teen Travel Companion

Most eReader owners use their devices simply to read, especially when travelling. If you own a device that is not 3G compatible, you may find yourself in situations that preclude downloading a new novel. Fortunately, most eReaders have several other great functions that can allow a user to make the most of travel time.
Parents with traveling kids are wise to offer an eReader as a distraction. It is the perfect item for your traveling child or young adult, whether going away to grandma's, away at teen camp or traveling during a gap year.


A Multimedia Extravaganza
Depending on your eReader of choice, you can get a fair bit of mileage out of the device’s multimedia capabilities. Both the Nook and Kindle are capable of playing music, and both devices are capable of displaying photos (though the Kindle is monochrome-only).  The Nook features the ability to view images in full color, and also features video playback capability. No matter what eReader you choose, you can get a good bit of mileage out of its ability to play music or view photos. Be careful, though, as both functions are much harder on battery life than reading.


A Studying Tool
Of course, eReaders are also wonderful productivity tools. Most major readers can display .pdf files, which can easily allow you to take most documents on the go. It is also possible to take notes on several of the major readers, though some do require the purchase of a separate note-taking application. Some eReaders even allow users to dictate notes, the perfect way for your child to journal his or her travels. The current generation of Kindle features a microphone, and it is quite easy to record messages on the device after you do not mind modifying a few files.


A Fun Machine
Not only can you read on your eReader, but you can also play games. Most of the games on the Kindle and the discount eReaders are rather simplistic, but they are wonderful time wasters. The games available on the Nook are a bit more advanced, but all of the games available on eReaders tend to promote creative or logical thinking above button-mashing action. Most games cost a few dollars at most, and both the major readers have a few free games available. These games are great for killing time at an airport or a hotel, though they will likely never win any major awards.

Do your child traveler a favor and give them a device that amuses, informs and connects without taking up a lot of room in the luggage compartment.

Pretty Girls Clothing

I was very happy when I learned that my baby was going to be a girl. I have been dreaming to have a baby girl for my first born and how I was going to dress her up like a little princess. So, when I finally gave birth to a bouncing baby girl, I knew exactly the kind of girls clothing she would have in her wardrobe.

Dressing her up was such a bliss when she was younger. She loved flowing dresses and would even wear her favorite "princess costume" even if we would just go to the mall. She would walk around with her mini lady bag and prance on her beautiful pink tutus. She loved pink - only pink. She was our little princess then. Times change and so are her fancies.

My princess has grown up. She no longer wears dresses nor tutus. She wouldn't even wear any apparel in pink. She has morphed into a young adult sans the fancy frills of a young lady's clothing. She is into jeans and comfy shirts with vests which I find slightly boyish. But if she is comfortable with them, I have no choice but to let her wear her "statement grunge" look. Sometimes, I still take her on a shopping spree in some fancy young adults' clothing lines and suggest girly outfits only to be met with a frown. I even stopped buying her blouses and dresses because I am sure she would never wear them. Most of the girly outfits she had before turning into a teenager are now the precious properties of her younger cousins.

I know she will come around. She is just into this teen-angst phase where being an "emo" is in. I remember my own sister going through that phase but later on went back to her lady-like ways. I am not rushing her but if she ever wants to wear pretty girls clothes again, I'll buy her stuff in a heart beat! 

Happy Birthday Sweet 13

Today, it is official! My daughter is now a bona fide teenager! I cannot believe how time flies. I still reel inside and wonder what's next for me and my husband. I guess we'll just go with the flow of parenthood.

To our sweet princess, who will be forever our little girl, have a wonderful birthday. May God continue to bless you with His amazing Grace and Love. May all of life's richness be yours because you deserve it. We may not have anything fancy for you right now but always remember how great our love is.

Happy Birthday sweet princess. Enjoy the coming of age. We love you!

(Photo credit: partydazzle.com)