Date-iquette

My son is at his first Sadie Hawkins dance tonight. As he was getting ready, I asked him what the “rules” are. Lucky for him, he gave all of the right answers for what I expect for this type of date– ladies first, opening doors, compliment the girl, thank her, etc.

For some people the dating rulebook would be about physical contact- what and where not to touch. In my house those are the dating morals. The dating rules are different. The dating rules are about dating etiquette. I want my son to know how to properly treat a girl. I want him to be the boy that a girl goes out with and is impressed. Not by what restaurant he takes her to or what activity he has planned but by his behavior.

Are you wondering what the rules are? Here you go:

Mom’s Dating Rules (as they have been expressed to my son)

1- If a girl asks you to a girl’s choice dance –say yes. Unless you are dating someone else or have a conflict and can’t go to the dance. I don’t care if she is the bearded lady, has a mole on her cheek the size of the Titanic, and is Quasimodo’s sister. It takes a lot of courage for a teenage girl to ask a boy out. You never know, it may be the best date you ever go on. (This rule wasn’t an issue for him tonight. They have been friends for a long time.)

2- Don’t ask a girl on a date if you can’t drive yourself. The only exception is a double or group date and another guy is driving. (I brought this up when we were talking about the Homecoming dance a couple of months ago. I told him he couldn’t ask someone to the dance. Austin doesn’t have his license yet and I am not about to drive him and his date around. Beside’s if he is trying to impress a girl, having his mom chauffer you around is lame.)

3- Plan the date in advance. Don’t get there and get into the “What do you want to do?” conversation. BUT give her an option. For example: Los Hermanos or Chili’s, romantic comedy or horror flick.

4- When you are picking the girl up for your date:

•  Do not honk and wait for her to come out. Walk up and knock on the door like a real man.
• If her parents are there, introduce yourself. Let them know what your plans are and ask what time they would like their daughter home.

5- On your first date give her a simple bouquet of flowers. Nothing fancy or expensive. Friendly flowers.

6- Compliment the girl. She probably took some time to make sure she looks good. Acknowledge it.

7- Be a gentleman.

8- Get her home on time (a little early would be better)! If you run into traffic or something out of your control that will make her late, make sure she calls her parents to let them know she will be late and why.

9- Walk her to her door to make sure she gets inside safely.

10- Remember you are responsible for this girl while she is with you.

That’s it folks. They may seem a bit old-fashioned but I don’t care. Taking time to give a girl an enjoyable evening and treating her with respect should never be considered old-fashioned.

What do you think?

A little of this...a dash of that...

I've been feeling a little under the weather the past few days. I'm not sure what kind of weird bug I have but  I've been feeling toxic.  Head achy, sleepy, stomach not processing like it should, hot flashes, etc. Just down right icky.  I haven't worked for the past two days either. This says a lot about how I have been feeling considering I work from home and very little energy is needed to sit at my computer in my sweats to work.  Because of the icky toxic whatever it is I almost called my friend to tell her I wouldn't be going to our Tuesday night Zumba class.  I love Zumba and haven't been for the past few weeks.  The first week I was out of town and last week there was something going on with my son.  Anyway...I decided that maybe an hour of dancing around and sweating might actually make me feel better. 

Surprise! I feel better. Not miraculously better but better.  My nose is still running, still a little head achy, but not feeling quite so toxic and icky.  Hopefully, when I wake up in the morning I won't feel like I need to sleep for another 4 or 10 hours.

Next...A couple of weeks ago my sister and I went on a road-trip together.  It was great because she and I hadn't done something like this before.  She went to Portland for some pharmacy training and I went up to Washington to visit a friend.  This may sound a little strange but on my to-do list while in Washington was to visit Port Orchard and Debbie Macomber's - A Good Yarn Shop.  I love yarn.  I love to crochet and I love reading Debbie Macomber books so it felt right to visit her yarn shop.  The shop is in an adorable  building and while the inside was not quite what I had imagined, I truly enjoyed the selection of yarn.  I even bought a skein and a book for making slouchy beanies.  Macomber is a knitter so there were very few crochet books but I really enjoyed my visit to the shop. 

Speaking of crochet...instead of blogging or doing anything on the computer other than work, my fingers have been busy creating beanies, scarves, slippers, and even a sweater.  It is what I do when I am not doing what I have to do.  I will post some pictures just as soon as I can steal the camera away from my son.

To be or not to be...on Facebook that is

Lately I have been considering the pro's and con's of being on Facebook.  On one hand it is great to keep up with family.  I actually hear the news before my Grandma gets a chance to pass it along.  On the other hand, do I really need to read that someone is "Tired". 

At one point, I was addicted.  I would check FB constantly and spend an hour checking status updates.  Now I check in maybe once a week and I usually only post while I am sitting in the parking lot waiting for my son to come out of school.  

One thing that really irritates me about Facebook is the drama associated with removing someone from your friend list.  It reminds me of high school.  So what if I don't want to be your friend anymore on FB.  You either ticked me off, your post's bothered the crap out of me, or I just don't give a damn.  If you obsess over why you aren't my friend on Facebook you probably have much bigger things to worry about like why you need to be liked by every Tom, Dick, and Harry on FB.

I suppose I will continue to stay on Facebook due to the friend and family connection but I'll keep it limited.  I have more productive things to do...like reading blog postings.

Parent Teacher Conferences and Mrs. Algebra

Parent Teacher Conferences were held last night at my son's school.  Before crowding ourselves into the gymnasium we were given his progress report.  All A's and and A minus except for Algebra 2 and Digital Photography.  Those were C's.  Imagine my dumbfounded expression when I see an A in Biology and a C in Digital Photography. 

We headed straight for the photography teacher.  Apparently there was an assignment she hadn't entered in yet and a test on Photo Shop that the kids all have to retake - Austin had one of the highest scores. She assured us that he should have an A after those are entered and completed.

Next on the radar was Mrs. Algebra teacher.  I am not sure I am going to like her. My blood pressure became slightly elevated as she went into an explanation of her grading system.  Before grading an assignment, she randomly selects 4 or 5 problems that she will check because "I don't have time to check them all."  Each assignment is worth 20 points, so if the kids miss one of her randomly selected problems their grade drops 4 or 5 points.  If they miss two it drops by half.  If they miss three - well, hell, they shouldn't have even bothered to spend an hour plus on the 20 to 30 problems they were assigned. 

My son's grade isn't due to poor assignment grades, it is due to his horrible test score on the one test they have had so far. But I am still irked at her grading system.  My reasons: 1-It isn't fair to the students to be graded on such a small portion of their assignments. 2- By not assessing all of the problems there is a chance she is overlooking an equation or concept the kids are struggling with. 3-When the students are given back their work, they don't see all of the problems they answered incorrectly.  In which case, they are unable to go back and try to discover what they did wrong.

I understand time constraints but I don't think is a fair and correct solution.

Her recommendation is for my son to attend the Math Labs.  They are held everyday, either before or after school.  Hers are two mornings a week  from 6:45 to 7:45.  I am all about my son getting a little extra help but right now isn't a great time for him to be going to Math Lab.  Until October 1st, he has driver's education after school until 5.  If he adds a math lab in the morning, it makes for one heck of a long day, not including nightly homework.  He also has a part in the Shakespeare play Twelfth Night which means after driver's ed completes he will have play practice after school. 

For right now, my son's dad has offered to tutor him in the concepts he is struggling with.  This will be very interesting.  Hopefully, it will work without destroying their relationship.  If not, then, Math Lab here he comes.

Sweet Sixteen

Yesterday was my son's sixteenth birthday.  For me the day was a little crazy as I tried to work and get ready for a party.  I had a cake to decorate, cupcakes, and chili to make.  Somehow I managed to get it all done before picking Austin up from driver's ed.  

Austin up a tree at school. 



The family came over for dinner and cake which was fun and chaotic.  Between making sure everyone got dinner and dishing out cake, I didn't get an opportunity to take pictures.  My dad did though but I don't have them to post.  The last few years, the gift giving has been somewhat boring.  My son doesn't ask or require much - money, iTunes gift cards, and books made him a happy birthday boy.  My parents gave him a car.  A genuine Hot Wheels Corvette.  It looks beautiful in it's little plastic package.

I let Austin have his friends come over about an hour after the family.  That way he could have family time then friend time.  I had to laugh as I sat upstairs in my bedroom listening to their music coming from the basement.  The music was the same as what my friends and I were listening to at that age.  I suppose it is all "retro" now or whatever.

I enjoyed the party but was happy when the door closed behind the last person.  Today is just another day only now I say my sixteen year old son.  And I try to forget that I am almost twenty years older.