I've Got A Lot To Learn In Little Time

I made a Norwex delivery to one of my favorite customers this afternoon.  She is a past hostess from last year and I just LOVE talking to her.  She and her family are some of the most easy-going, friendly, people I have ever met.  They live in South Osborne and their old home has all the beautiful characteristics that an old home should have.  When you walk in to their house, you feel comfortable immediately.  It’s a level of wholesome that is hard to describe.  Like, I barely know them, but I just want to curl up on their sofa by the fireplace and catch up.  Their house is so calm and relaxed and you can really feel the love in their family and the respect that they have for one another.    And here’s the crazy thing – their house is full of teenagers. 

I totally have parenting skills envy for these people.  Let me know if you’ve heard of this before, because I can’t possibly me making this feeling up.

When I first met her, my first thought was that she was very busy.  She told me to “call her” in 5 months and she’d book a party.  If you know anything about Direct Sales, you know that that is usually the nice way of blowing off a consultant.  But if you know anything about the way I run my business, you know I’ll call.  And when I called, she ANSWERED – which is another big deal in the world of Direct Sales.  And sure enough, like she promised, this busy woman booked a party.

So one June evening, I made my way to her place about 45 minutes before the party was scheduled to start.  No one was coming to the door when I rang the bell and I was starting to get my panic on, when the teenage boy cutting the lawn across the street turned off the mower and yelled ‘just go in, she’s probably upstairs’.  When she joined me at the entrance a few minutes later, I told her the kid across the street said to come in and she said that he was her son, he shovels their walk too.

While I was setting up, I met her husband, who was not overly excited about cleaning products, but certainly wanted to be polite to the guest in his home.  I also had a nice chat with her daughter, who was preparing for a speech she had to give at her Girl Guides meeting that night.  I don’t really remember the purpose of the speech but I think she was being tested, or it meant some sort of level graduation or something.  She confessed how nervous she was about public speaking and even in my presence she was comforted and motivated by not only her parents, but her brother too.  (And here I thought her brother was cutting the neighbors lawn – surprise!  There was twin boys.  Three kids, I’m sure less than 2 years apart.)

The kids vanished for the presentation, but slowly made their way back when I was done speaking.  The boys and I had a discussion about the environment and the daughter was hands-on into the cloths and the mop, making sure the Superior Dry Pad would do the trick on the stairs.  After all, the floors were her responsibility.  I was on the threshold of overstaying my welcome that night.  The kids just kept talking to me, and I couldn’t get enough.  It went from Norwex relevant to funny family stories from the lake.  When I left, they all said goodbye with ‘nice to meet you’ and ‘hope to see you again.’  I got home late, my head was spinning and my heart was full.

About one week later when I went back to deliver the party order, again, no one came to the front door when I rang the bell.  This time, I knew better and went around back where I found everyone out on the deck, laughing and enjoying themselves over a family game of Scrabble.

HOW ARE THESE PARENTS DOING IT?  (Also – can I play Scrabble too?)

I don’t even think I’m being conceited when I say that BD and I have M-A-S-T-E-R-E-D this phase of life that we’re in right now.  I mean, this ‘toddler to early years school’ is where I could stay for a looooong time.  I know that I’m a pro, because I am able to admit and acknowledge every time I screw up.  And after 5 years of experience with 4 different kids, those screw ups happen a little less every year.  But I am so scared of my life 10 years from now.  The girls already show signs of bitchiness and attitude that I am positive I am not equipped to handle.  I don’t think I was a horrible teenager I mean, I was moody – but I had good friends and sports to keep me out of trouble.  I think my parents were pretty lucky with me...

***We interrupt this messages with a special announcement - a big THANK YOU to Google, for being just techy enough that my Mom can't figure out how to leave a comment.***

...but I know they also worked hard at keeping me in check.  Considering I am (only now) realizing that the world *might not* revolve around me, and that I am probably the most dramatic, non-acting, person on the planet, BD and I are in. for. it.

Teenage me.  A candid shot of Bossy McBosserson. 

Today, when I went to deliver another order, I met one of two of their exchange students (there are now 5 teenagers in that home.)  And while I was chatting with him, (he’s from France and is really quite charming)...one of the twins spoke to Big C about how much he enjoyed grade 2 and how the math will start to get interesting and he encouraged her to read a lot.  Really??!  You are a teenage boy!  Why are you good with kids?  Why can you inspire an adult?  What does your Mom feed you?  WILL YOU BABYSIT MY KIDS?!

Our girls were ‘perfect’ for us until they started to go to school, where they learned to not eat their crusts and that talking about poop and farts all the time doesn't get old.  You’re laughing if you don’t have school aged kids, and you’re nodding if you do.  Kids suck a little more with every school day.  They’ll learn to read and write and come home rolling their eyes and saying horrible things like ‘Mom, you’re so cray cray.’  So what’s the trick?  How do you keep them close, so that when they’re in high school they’ll spend their summer nights playing Scrabble with you on the deck; yet still give them enough space that they can hang out with their friends like normal kids? 

I’m sure there are many great teenagers out there.  There has to be, right?  Even if Instagram will have us believe that all teenagers are egocentric, selfie taking, smart phone addicts who lack communication skills, I choose to remain hopeful that it is possible to raise respectful, polite, interesting teenagers who aspire to do ‘big things’ with their lives.  Good God I hope we can do that for our girls.  Even if that ‘big thing’ means always being kind to everyone.   I just need to figure out how to do it!!  Maybe I should go force myself on this family a little more.  How many ‘drop ins’ until I get creepy?

S

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