Well it is the time to dust off your (however distant) Irish background and celebrate...well just celebrate.

I'm sure there is a reason behind St Paddy's however it is lost in the bank of "I might need to know this one day" that lives in my head.

I have had a busy few weeks at Uni, learning how to learn, as well as navigating the various inroads to teaching. I think I am getting a hold on things, and it has allowed me to understand more clearly some of the stuff my kids are going through.

Ash has been a great help, assisting me with referencing, layout of papers, etc (and not including 'etc' in academic reports!). Her year 12 studies have crept up a notch, so I try not to burden her too much with my apparent incompetence.

Jac had a hard time recently, doing out of character stuff at home & school, so we had a talk!! I mean I started to yell at her, then realised what I was doing, and (more) calmly explained my reactions and the only reasons I could see for what was happening, and she seemed to appreciate my position a little more. Don't know yet if it did any good, but we can only try.

Have a great time guys, and remember, even though they don't think so, we were their age once, so we should be able to empathise and get our head into their space. And yelling does help sometimes, only it's best if they can't hear you, so do it into the pillow or an available canyon!

Ciao for now

Tami

Hi guys!

I am Tami, single mum to four teenagers, and as such I seem to be continually running.

So, this is my first attempt at blogging, and as such I am SOOOOO yesterday as my kids would say.

These delightful young people have given me so many different perspectives on the mundane that I feel I am constantly revolving through puberty and adolescence.

Brad, the eldest, is about to turn 18 and while constantly pushing boundaries and trying to upset the homefront,, still manages to amaze all who know him. Like yesterday when he looked after three young boys, sons of a woman undergoing chemotherapy. Neither she nor her partner could make it to the boys bowling breakup ( they also have a daughter with cerebral palsy requiring constant supervision) so he offered to take them and by all accounts did a fantastic job!

Ashleigh the eldest girl has always been a go getter and has just spent the past four days working at the Coffee Club. She is 161/2 and is driving me crazy by driving me. Just kidding, she has taken to driving the same way as everything else. No matter what she tries she seems to effortlessly succeed at. I am so proud of her, as it doesn't go to her head.

Jacqui (14) is my only 'girly-girl'. She takes forever to get ready, even for school! And if anyone is going to forget something and need to come back for it it will be Jacqui! She loves volleyball and bowling and has won heaps of awards for her bowling. In January she is playing for ten-pin centre over the other side of the city in the Rockhampton championships. Our centre had too many girls for their team, and she was drafted to Mt Gravatt. we went there for her first training session on Friday night and the people were great. One of the girls in her team bowled with her in our Junior championships this year, and they all welcomed her warmly.

Jessica is the baby of the family, at almost 13 she KNOWS EVERYTHING. Next Wednesday sees Jess graduate from primary school and make the leap to high school in 2007. WOW! Brad graduated year 12 a few weeks past, now Jess' turn. The school has arranged a fun filled week and I find myself reflecting on the great times we all have hadsince arriving at this school. Jess only had preschool and half of year one at Marsden, so in effect all of her formative schooling has happened here. Now a whole new set of teachers are set to learn what it is like to have all of the family at school at once.

Rounding out our little family is my mother who finds difficulty in dealing, on a daily basis, with modern teens. I myself am trying to assimilate the latest research and integrate it with my own experiences. Some days are good, some days I feel like I am drowning. I have learnt one basic truth in my life so far, that is to listen to advise that is offered freely and to make up my own mind as to its relevance in my own life.

Thank you to the founders of this parenting forum. They have provided us all with the ability to have our say or just listen. Which is in effect all we can in this life hope for.

Ciao for now

Tami