To all the parents out there

Kathy my daddy used to call me the same thing How funny.

I hated the fees and all the different checks. My kids high school started a system that you paid for everything at registration about 1 week before school started. I think the PTA arranged it and upperclassmen worked it with their guidance. I liked it. You got your class schedule, picked up your books, and locker assignment, paid all your fees together with one check, had your class ID made, put your books in your locker and went home much poorer.

This is how it is at our middle schools so I hope the high school is the same. Fees, school pics, paperwork and all will be done a week before school starts. All except for that one check thing...we still have to write a bunch of different ones. This is Aug 20 and we start the 28th.

This is how it is at our middle schools so I hope the high school is the same. Fees, school pics, paperwork and all will be done a week before school starts. All except for that one check thing...we still have to write a bunch of different ones. This is Aug 20 and we start the 28th.

Much easier isn't it? The teachers liked it because they were ready to go on the first day of school without handing out books and fooling with lockers. My kids liked having the schedule early and being able to locate their rooms proximaty to their lockers. They even included PTA membership in the check total, EVERYONE joined the PTA. Peer pressure, I even signed the dog up as a member once when my kids dad refused to join.

who have sent there "Babies" off to high school this year. I can't believe that the day is here. It was with a heavy heart that I watched my son get in a car this morning to go to high school. It just made me realize that I probably only have about 4 more years with him at home. I am sure it will fly by. So, to rest of you that have done the same thing, or will this month, I will keep you in my thoughts. May they all be safe!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ohhhhhh Kathy I just found this thread and join you with a heavy heart. My daughter goes to South Walton for her first year of High School starting August 20th. Middle School at Seaside went by too fast. I loved the 6th-8th grade for her. I watched her turn into a beautiful teen and soon I will watch her grow into a young woman. It's soooooo scary.

I've enjoyed reading all the responses...SoWallers have such wonderful advice. I've been here before, but this is the baby....16/18 years between her and my other two. Different worries then the late 80's.

YES, May they all be safe!!!!

Kat

I love it that we have support and give/take advise from the pool of Sowal parenting wisdom. The teen years are starting to scare me a bit. I think I'm going to start a dating advise thread soon. I wasn't allowed to date until I was 16 but I know times are so different now. I didn't even go through puberty until early HS.:shock: sorry tmi?

tmi.....DATING?.....Did I hear the word dating? NOOOOOOOOOOOOO OL you can't say the "D" word??????

tmi.....DATING?.....Did I hear the word dating? NOOOOOOOOOOOOO OL you can't say the "D" word??????

Kat, I've seen pics...be ready..you have a knock out on your hands. ;-) :shock:

tmi.....DATING?.....Did I hear the word dating? NOOOOOOOOOOOOO OL you can't say the "D" word??????

I hear ya. Dating was the worst
Today I think, judging from Dateline, the really scary thing is the internet.

I'd go to bed nightly saying...
Thank you God that I didn't have to hurt a pediphile today

Kat, I've seen pics...be ready..you have a knock out on your hands. ;-) :shock:

Pot, meet kettle You both need to lock them up until they are 18.

I hear ya. Dating was the worst
Today I think, judging from Dateline, the really scary thing is the internet.

I'd go to bed nightly saying...
Thank you God that I didn't have to hurt a pediphile today

I know what you mean. I for one would be rotting in jail and the pediphile would be 6 feet under!!!!!

Now, about that dating thing. I have girls calling my house at all hours of the day and night. I have intercepted a few of the calls and told them 9:00 is the last call of the night, and if the phone rings past this time that her number would be blocked from my house never to be heard from again. Some of them have headed the warning, some not. I remember I couldn't even call a guy until I was in high school. These girls have been calling since 2nd grade....I know that this is fixing to change though. For the most part, when they called, Jesse would tell me to tell them he couldn't talk..in reality, he just didn't want too. Oh, boy not anymore. The phone rings and he comes running.....I know it will just get worse. He and I do have long conversations about the dating and all that goes along with it. Thank goodness for this here support system called SoWal, I think I am going to need it. Alot in the next few years!!!!!!!!!!!

Pot, meet kettle You both need to lock them up until they are 18.

25

I know what you mean. I for one would be rotting in jail and the pediphile would be 6 feet under!!!!!

Now, about that dating thing. I have girls calling my house at all hours of the day and night. I have intercepted a few of the calls and told them 9:00 is the last call of the night, and if the phone rings past this time that her number would be blocked from my house never to be heard from again. Some of them have headed the warning, some not. I remember I couldn't even call a guy until I was in high school. These girls have been calling since 2nd grade....I know that this is fixing to change though. For the most part, when they called, Jesse would tell me to tell them he couldn't talk..in reality, he just didn't want too. Oh, boy not anymore. The phone rings and he comes running.....I know it will just get worse. He and I do have long conversations about the dating and all that goes along with it. Thank goodness for this here support system called SoWal, I think I am going to need it. Alot in the next few years!!!!!!!!!!!

You go gull!! Sam has never been allowed to call boys. It's just a thing with me. I can hold onto some tradition. Call it old fashioned I don't mind.
Seems the IM'ing is how Sam is communicating with the 1st real BF.:shock: That's even how he "asked her to go out with him". How easy is that? No face to face rejection or dead silence on the phone.

This is all very new and I'm not sure how I feel about it. He goes to our church and the relationship sparked at camp. He hasn't asked her to actually go anywhere yet so I really need to decide how this should work. Group meetings only???? Feel free to advise.;-) She's 13 and going into 8th grade. He's in going into 9th grade and I think she said he's going to turn 15 this month. That really doesn't make me feel any better. Soon I might be

Squirt meets his date(s) at Destin Commons and normally they go to the Rave. I have not been comfortable with this, but I really have to wonder about parents that let their 13/14 year old GIRLS loose at the Commons. Yes, the old double standard is alive and well in the ShallowsHome.

I'm getting better at accepting it, if I get to meet her first, and if she puts me on her MySpace friends list. ;-)

I dread when he starts driving...

Do enjoy the HS time - every little moment, even all of the busy schedule crazy stuff because as others have said, those 4 years seem to fly by almost in a blink! Seems my last was a freshman hardly any time ago and now he's off to college this fall (and we'll table for another thread the discourse about the sacks of $$ I'm assembling for that ;-))

You go gull!! Sam has never been allowed to call boys. It's just a thing with me. I can hold onto some tradition. Call it old fashioned I don't mind.
Seems the IM'ing is how Sam is communicating with the 1st real BF.:shock: That's even how he "asked her to go out with him". How easy is that? No face to face rejection or dead silence on the phone.

This is all very new and I'm not sure how I feel about it. He goes to our church and the relationship sparked at camp. He hasn't asked her to actually go anywhere yet so I really need to decide how this should work. Group meetings only???? Feel free to advise.;-) She's 13 and going into 8th grade. He's in going into 9th grade and I think she said he's going to turn 15 this month. That really doesn't make me feel any better. Soon I might be

OL, this is how the Catholics in Indianapolis do it. (At least the ones in my family. ;-) ). Group date only until sophomore year!!! No ifs ands or buts. It's not exactly torture. There are still movies, McDonalds & Starbucks, etc., school dances--in other words, lots of opportunities to "date" each other but NO opportunities to be alone with each other. You never want to leave two kids to their own devices. The pack mentality is the best mentality until they're older.

OL, this is how the Catholics in Indianapolis do it. (At least the ones in my family. ;-) ). Group date only until sophomore year!!! No ifs ands or buts. It's not exactly torture. There are still movies, McDonalds & Starbucks, etc., school dances--in other words, lots of opportunities to "date" each other but NO opportunities to be alone with each other. You never want to leave two kids to their own devices. The pack mentality is the best mentality until they're older.

These were my thoughts too. So it would be no real dating until around 16..good enough for me..but this im'ing and texting is starting to drive me a little bonkers. I feel like I need to go back to the parenting books!!

But unfortunately when they ARE sophomores, they manage to find "alone" time, somehow, some way. Trust me, it IS VERY scary & worrisome! We continue to have "talks" in our house on a regular basis.

Enjoy your 13 yo while you still can.

Just ththththinking about it all! :scratch: :nono1:

Child Preditor :angry: :boxing:

#1 Rule at our house(with love) ~~NGWA......No Girl Walks Alone :nono1:

THIS IS A GRAYT THREAD KATHY

OL, this is how the Catholics in Indianapolis do it. (At least the ones in my family. ;-) ). Group date only until sophomore year!!! No ifs ands or buts. It's not exactly torture. There are still movies, McDonalds & Starbucks, etc., school dances--in other words, lots of opportunities to "date" each other but NO opportunities to be alone with each other. You never want to leave two kids to their own devices. The pack mentality is the best mentality until they're older.

This is what we are doing with Lil' FFF. She does not get any alone time with the boys.

Just ththththinking about it all! :scratch: :nono1:

Child Preditor :angry: :boxing:

#1 Rule at our house(with love) ~~NGWA......No Girl Walks Alone :nono1:

THIS IS A GRAYT THREAD KATHY

I love your NGWA rule, left you a note in your prayers thread about it. I do think we need to make this a new slogan and put it on jewelry, stickers, clothes, whatever we can put it on. Same thing for young boys, they have predators too.

We got Lil' FFF the video "Stranger Danger", have y'all seen it? It's by John Walsh from America's Most Wanted in it he says that children should never be left alone with most anyone, from school (coaches or teachers) to church. I have it if someone needs copies. It's a little silly at times but really gets the point across.

Do enjoy the HS time - every little moment, even all of the busy schedule crazy stuff because as others have said, those 4 years seem to fly by almost in a blink! Seems my last was a freshman hardly any time ago and now he's off to college this fall (and we'll table for another thread the discourse about the sacks of $$ I'm assembling for that ;-))

...sacks of money, so true! You might try duffle bags, depending on where he's going! ;-) OBB...if you were as "lucky" as we were, you got lots of practice with private school tuition before college. It went up some, but we didn't miss a big chunk like most do! In fact, sarafunn finally attended a public (school) university for the first time for grad school...we danced a little jig at that tuition!!! I feel so fortunate to edumacate my chillren!!!

...sacks of money, so true! You might try duffle bags, depending on where he's going! ;-) OBB...if you were as "lucky" as we were, you got lots of practice with private school tuition before college. It went up some, but we didn't miss a big chunk like most do! In fact, sarafunn finally attended a public (school) university for the first time for grad school...we danced a little jig at that tuition!!! I feel so fortunate to edumacate my chillren!!!

I'm hoping this money is returned in the form of a stellar nursing home for me one day.

I'm hoping this money is returned in the form of a stellar nursing home for me one day.

...best investment, EVER!!!!

I'm hoping this money is returned in the form of a stellar nursing home for me one day.

When she was a little girl, Philippa promised me she'd buy me a cottage at Seaside but maybe now in my advanced age a stellar nursing home wouldn't be such a bad idea. :funn:

...best investment, EVER!!!!

We three were thinking the same thing at the same time.

We three were thinking the same thing at the same time.

I just read this entire thread. I think I have been kind of avoiding thinking too much about Will starting high school, other than the fact that he was so over the middle school thing halfway through 7th grade, so 8th grade was just a race to get to high school.

I think we will enjoy this last week of "pre-high school"! And thanks to everyone who posted helpful hints, insights, stories, etc.