Raising teens again!

If you would have told me 20 years ago that after having our empty nest for 20 years we would be having two teen granddaughters living with us I may have said “Let’s move to Costa Rica or anywhere!”

But, let me tell you, it’s a tremendous blessing, or at least it is 98 % of the time! Most of the time I am smiling at this turn of events. It’s a rare treat to be able to provide a safe and peaceful haven for hormonal teen girls. Their single dad, our son, parenting his other two little girls every other week, is 12 minutes away and spends time with them, without having to deal with the drama!

Thankfully these girls, ages 19 and 17 are sweet, considerate, grateful, loving and fun. True, their rooms look like a hurricane hit most of the time, but I don’t want to major on the minors, so I go in periodically to gather up dishes or towels, but that’s just my tiny bit of OCD showing, so it’s all good. I can’t help it if I love to do laundry and feeling warm sudsy dishes in the sink feels great! ( I did dishes with my sis when I had 8 younger siblings, and I insisted that she dry.) Call me crazy for still liking that chore, despite having a dishwasher.

I will be posting at least once a week on topics like driving back and forth between 4 high schools for academics and volleyball practices and games, their jobs, lending my car to the older one to help with various errands, helping with their 2 younger siblings ages 8 and 6 every other week, drama’s involving all 4 girls, heartwarming bonding with us and my hubby, money, their grandpa, humor involving things like no more hair dye on towels, funny sayings and family traditions and many more!

What topics would you like to see?

I’m 71 but I feel like I’m 38! I have been a mom all my life, been married for almost 40 years this last time, share 8 grown kids, 28 grandkids and 11 greats, enjoy parenting, managing our home, volunteering, playing pickleball, running my Doterra essential oil biz, leading a bible study, traveling and more.

Come along on our journey, learn a few things, and share YOUR tips for navigating the rocky teen years! Years ago I read an analogy that said our boat will be rocky at times with teens, but it will level out eventually. That’s why I chose this image. Enjoy!