Making Merry with Middle Schoolers

There are so many reasons people cringe when you talk about having teenage kids. My sister’s twin 14- year old boys are giving her a run for her money these days! If you follow “That’s Inappropriate” online (thatsinappropriate.com), you know she is clearly not alone!

We are only about 3 weeks into having a teenager, so I can’t say it’s been that crazy yet. But as kids get older, you start getting nervous. You get a glimpse into their me-centric, drama filled little worlds and roller coaster of emotions.

So far, my daughter has been blessed with really awesome friends and her grade at school has been a “nice” grade from the beginning. Crossing my fingers it continues! But, I know things will never be perfect. All the parenting books out there say you can’t protect them forever and they have to learn to fail. Check and check. But letting go of their innocence is still hard and there is a part of me who wants to preserve that sweet spirit.

I have always tried to expose my children to many things be that by playing instruments, attending shows, trying new sports or making new friends. But I have also tried to show them that the community in which they live is diverse and there are many people in need. I try hard to instill in them a love of giving back and paying it forward. My first blog post was all about why I want them to be “Merry Makers” (https://chippershop.com/2019/02/07/merrymakers/ ) At this crucial time, as we embark on the teenage years, I find this to be as important as ever. Having a lifelong love of helping others is one of my main goals of parenthood.

One great thing about having pre-teens and teenagers is that the opportunities increase for volunteering at organizations in town. Sometimes it can be tricky to find a place where younger kids can participate. But once you have a 12 or 13 year old, your options open up.

A few weeks ago I took my mom, daughter, a few of her friends and their moms to cook dinner at our local Ronald McDonald House. The Ronald McDonald House provides a home-away-from-home for families of children receiving medical care at local hospitals. Dinner could be whatever we wanted it to be, but we had to be prepared to serve 70 guests. Menu planning, shopping and cooking for 70 is not a small feat! We settled on spaghetti and meatballs, salad, cherry limeade and cupcakes for dessert. It was a hit and you can never go wrong with salad dressing from “The Olive Garden”.

It was a great evening of fellowship and learning for the girls. We had a tour of the house to learn how everything worked and how the families received assistance, visited with some guests, navigated a commercial kitchen, and realized that spaghetti noodles for 70 was extremely sticky! (Penne noodles next time!)

I am taking another group back soon to bake cookies and then we will return in January for another full dinner. This was a great way to give back and be hands on!

As the holiday season approaches, it is always a good time to ring in the spirit of the season with a little MERRY MAKING. Encourage your teen to get out of their bubble and into their community this year. There are so many great organizations that are perfect for this age group and in need of help!