A Teenager Has Landed

{Kennedy's Easter Birthday - April 12, 2009}

13 myths about a 13 year old

  Myth:  All teenagers are ornery and mouthy.

Fact:  Mine is not.  Our fingers will remain crossed for the next 6 years.

Myth:  A 13 year old can't survive without a cell phone.

Fact:  Kennedy is still alive despite her lack of cellular convenience.  Texting is not a basic food group (although she'd like to convince us otherwise).  Don't even get me started on the subject...(!!)

Myth:  A teenager can go a day without music.

Fact:  Mine cannot.  Between her iPod, car stereo, kitchen stereo, computer stereo, bedroom stereo, entertainment center stereo, and singing - there is ALWAYS music playing when Kennedy is around.

Myth:  A 13 year old young woman LOVES shopping.

Fact: Sadly for me, Kennedy HATES shopping.  She likes cute clothes she just doesn't like trying anything on.  No fun mom and daughter trips to the mall yet. It's usually me dragging her out and bribing her with a stop by Claire's jewelry store.  She'll grow out if it, right?  RIGHT?!

Myth:  A 13 year old is always asking for money.

Fact:  Kennedy loves her monetary independence.  It pleases her to be able to pay for her own movie tickets, pair of earrings, or strawberry milk at the local Chevron.  She babysits regularly and has been good to save her money for something big.  She is paying her way to a Kelly Clarkson concert with a friend in June.  She spends her own money on birthday and Christmas gifts that she gives too. 

Myth:  Teenagers take themselves too seriously.

Fact:  Kennedy and her group of friends haven't bought into the whole "we need to act like 16 year olds" theory yet.  They are goofy and silly and like to have FUN.  They dress up, have dance offs, laugh till they're delirious, and speak in very loud and energized tones.  

Myth:  A 13 year old usually escapes to their bedroom and doesn't resurface.

Fact:  Kennedy likes to read in her room, but spends the rest of her time among the family.  However, I wish she WOULD retreat to her own living quarters when getting ready for the day.  Instead, she resides in our bathroom and feels she has free reign over my stuff.

Myth:  A teenager won't talk to her parents.

Fact:  Kennedy is very open with us.  I know who she has a crush on (even though her friends don't).  She talks about concerns she has with her friends or kids she knows at school.  She expresses frustrations and stresses.  While she isn't as chatty as she was even a year ago, the lines of communication are still open and we're listening intently.  Again, we'll keep our fingers crossed for the next 6 years.

Myth:  You have to keep on top of a teenager's school work.

Fact:  Not always.  We have never had to remind Kennedy about homework.  EVER!  Since she was in Kindergarten she has always been a completely independent self starter.  She gets in and gets it done without any prompts from us.  It has paid off this year - she is in the National Junior Honor Society.  She's got her eyes on a scholarship to BYU.  

Myth:  Teenagers are young and can survive on little sleep.

Fact:  So NOT true for my daughter.  She could easily sleep until 11:30 a.m. or later on the weekends (if we let her).  While Kennedy has always been a self starter in the homework department, she has never EVER sent herself to bed on time.  We have to push and push and push to get her to sleep.  She loves to manipulate the bedtime routine by plunking herself down by us and starting a conversation (and she knows I'm always up for a good girl chat) rather than heading upstairs and hitting the pillow.  Jeff will get upset with both of us because we'll be chatting away an hour past her bedtime.  She knows my gift of gab and will use it against me to stay up later.  Little stinker!

Myth:  Teenagers are too cool for affection.

Fact:  Kennedy will come and put her arms around me randomly throughout the day.  I love it!  She loves to snuggle with her dad.  She feasts on Shaw's ultra soft jowls.  However, she prefers that her other brothers not touch her at all.  Not even with their pinkie toe.

Myth:  All 13 year old teenage girls are high drama.

Fact: Nope.  We've continued to have little to no drama around here.  She just doesn't buy into it nor does she enjoy watching it around her.  She can see through it and avoids getting caught in the middle of it.  She does like to milk an injury for all it's worth, but other than that, we're in the clear.  The majority of her good friends have always been boys.  Boys = No Dramatics.

Myth:  It's easy to buy a birthday gift for a teenager.

Fact:  HA!  Kennedy had no suggestions for birthday gifts this year.  I had to dig deep for ideas.  But, as luck would have it, we got her the PERFECT gift for her launch into teenagedom.

   

Tickets to see WICKED!

Gum is one of life's essentials for Kennedy.  Taiden bought her a minty variety.

We love our Sunshine Girl!  

Happy Birthday, Kennedy!