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July 28, 2007

43 (Almost) and Counting

I'm turning 43 next week, and I'm feeling like this whole being fortyish deal is really hitting me. Being 40 was a novelty, and 41 and 42 felt kind of like I was just trying something new out, like flirting with a man but not dating or marrying him or anything serious. But now that the novelty has worn off and my flirtation with my forties is fading, I feel like turning 43 is a good time to commit. Or accept. I've always been an advocate of embracing your forties and beyond, so I'm not quiet sure why I even need to do this. Still, I find myself standing on the edge of my fourth year in this decade and I'm, well, just the teensiest bit anxious.

It all hit me last night when my husband and I were discussing retirements plans. Retirement plans. Hold on, isn't that something for old people, like my father's age? Oh, wait, he's 81. He has been retired for more than 15 years now. Nope, retirement plans are one of the things I need to think about. And I realized I need to do more than just love my forties and look as fabulous as I can. It hit me that there comes a time in life when you (or at least I) must graciously admit that old age is imminent, and that it's coming up pretty quickly. It's time to think about, plan for it, and not just look fabulous, but also feel fabulous in every way--physically, emotional, maybe even spiritually. I like to sort of take stock of my life and its general direction on each birthday, but this year, it seems a little different. Like there's more at stake. Is it because my oldest child is turning 18 this year and heading off to college next fall? Because my sister's health problems have made me think about my own health and how much I could improve it? I don't know. Maybe it's those things and other things.

So...43 in a week. My life, part 2. What will it be life? Will I be able to pull this off?

Stay tuned to find out...

Posted by L.C. at 07:21 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Filed under: General 40ish

July 22, 2007

What Kind of Future Do Teens Want?

I was reading a review on Salon.com the other day, about Daniel Brook's new book, "The Trap".
According to Salon,

Daniel Brook's new book argues that 20-somethings are forced to choose between living by their ideals or making a living.

Well the book seems to be more about activism, but I started pondering the idea of teens and their future plans. I am the mother of a 17-year-old, and I have many friends who also have kids who are either in late high school or in college or trade school. For a few years, my daughter has been considering a career in education. Since she is now a senior in high school, many people ask about her future plans, and when she tells them she might like to be a teacher, she often is met with this: "Oh, there's just NO MONEY in being a teacher!" Usually she doesn't respond, but sometimes me and my big mouth will chime in "I imagine a career in education is rewarding in other ways" or sometimes even "well we just want her to be happy. How happy are you in your job?" if I don't like the person very much.

The truth is, I can't even count how many people I know, around my age or older, who are absolutely miserable in their jobs. And many of these folks, by society's standards, are quite financially successful. Not that you can't be both happy and successful, but I think many people in my generation--remember yuppies and D.I.N.K.s?--went for the big money jobs, and some let their dreams slip away because they were just too damn scared they couldn't pay the rent. At my old job at a very large corporation, the big joke was that everyone was well-paid but was also either in therapy or divorced or both. But it really wasn't a joke, it was the truth. And in quiet conversations, some of my co-workers would reveal that their jobs were killing them, but they couldn't quit because they had a mortgage/kids in college/needed the health insurance/etc.

I've been talking to lots of teens lately, because there are usually a few at my house every day, and life-after-high-school is on all their minds. And what I'm hearing from them is that they want to be happy--not like their parents, not necessarily driving Hummers, but happy. What a lovely sentiment.

Posted by L.C. at 09:19 AM | | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Filed under: News/Media/Studies | Parenting

July 13, 2007

A Threat to School Security?

I support my local public school system, and I have two kids currently attending my local high school and middle school. Let me just put that out there before I say this: sometimes I wonder what kind of idiots are running some of the public schools in this country, especially when I read something like this:
‘I Love Alex’ earns girl 4-month suspension.

My question is, what ever happened to common sense? Should policy overrule that EVERYTIME? I say this out of sheer frustration, and I bring my own baggage to the table. I still can't help but wonder.

Posted by L.C. at 03:32 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Filed under: Meaningless Gab | News/Media/Studies | Parenting

July 08, 2007

What Do You Wanna Be?

My son wants to design video games when he's older or perhaps be an engineer. My daugher wants to be a social worker or maybe a high school foreign language teacher. And my niece seems to be heading for a field in some sort of medicine. But what happens when you want to be something that's a bit more...offbeat? You're in luck, because now you can turn to one place--Wikihow.com-- to pursue your dreams, no matter how unusual they may be.

Check out these fun articles:

No matter you decide to pursue, remember Abe Lincoln's words: Whatever you are...be a good one.

Posted by L.C. at 07:13 AM | | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Filed under: Meaningless Gab | Reviews

July 03, 2007

Should Insulting Someone Be...A Crime?

The other day, my daughter was having a wee bit of an argument with a boy she knows, via text messaging. Well, it wasn't exactly an argument. He had texted her that day to let her know what he thought of her decision not to date him, as he had hoped she might. He proceeded to tell her she was wrong to have lead him on, and that she was...a dummy.

My daughter is 17, the boy is 19, and she burst out laughing when she read the message. "A dummy? He thinks I'm a dummy? I don't think anyone has called me that since I was eight years old." This scathing insult was the end of the conversation, and we all got back to our regularly scheduled lives. But what if calling someone a dummy or any other such name was more than just a little mean? What if it was a crime? In some countries it is. Check out this article from a CBS blog to see how these types of laws aren't just strange, they can be downright scary.

Posted by L.C. at 02:36 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Filed under: General 40ish | News/Media/Studies