Samantha turned 19 last week. She is still this ball of anxiety, confusion, and temperament that is working on direction and focus. She is so frustrated with the way she feels you can hear it in her voice. As a parent - especially one four states away - it's just as frustrating for me. My advice, direction, and opinions are not particularly accepted because she isn't sure what she wants to hear or act upon. Our mutual level of frustration is shared too!
However, the sharp edges that she had at 16, 17, and 18 are wearing down, perhaps as a result of the realization that not everything she thinks the world owes her has paid off. Nor does world work the way she wants because it fits her purpose. Being an under employed, high school graduate self proclaimed pot head who begrudgingly goes to college ain't what it's cracked up to be. Welcome to the world of grown-ups, kiddo. Sam is finally admitting to her own faults and shortcomings and taking some ownership of the problem. In other words, she is making progress.
When you see your child struggle against all of their talents; intellect, athleticism, and leadership in favor of shortcuts, apathy, and blame it is all you can do to not grab them by the shoulders and scream at them, "YOU. HAVE. POTENTIAL! GO USE IT!".
Ugh.
However... Sam had a great visit despite all of the ambiguity of her future. Superimposed over a visit from the Kirk clan, we were able to celebrate her birthday on her birthday. This is a rarity that has only occurred once before in the last ten years. Most of her other birthdays were celebrated at Camp Seafarer or in New York. We cooked out with chicken, burgers, bratwurst, hot dogs on the grill and watermelon, corn on the cob, sodas and beer. It was a nice party capped off with a Dairy Queen ice cream cake and watching old family videos from past holidays. I love the old family movies. It is so strange seeing the girls, Kira, Sam, and Grace at the ages that the boys are now.
We got in a short "stay-cation" with a Durham Bulls baseball game - where the opposing pitcher barfed on the mound in the first inning. A visit to the Museum of Life + Science - where we braved gawdawful humidity to watch bears eat watermelon and then run around the tree houses before retreating inside to play with the interactive exhibits. We went to see Suicide Squad - a good (not great) movie - but fun anyway.
And the Olympics!
Congratulations to Sam because she really got into watching the Olympics and got the rest of the family to watch too. She spent the first night watching the opening ceremony from Grandma's house with Mark and Linda while the rest of us (shamefully) didn't. She was great at capturing the human spirit of the game and the personal stories behind the lesser known athletes. One of her best qualities is promoting diversity and social injustice.
It was nice for Betty who had the rare occasion to have all of her children and grandchildren around at one time. Sam is off to new York, Kira is headed to South America for a year of school, and the Kirks won't be back at all this year.
There are big changes ahead for the Brown family. Sam's departure was the beginning. The spaces in the house will change. Sam's room will soon become Grant's room and his room now will become the office for my school and Lisa's photo studio. Oh? You didn't hear about Lisa's new hobby?
Check back here in a week or so.
However, the sharp edges that she had at 16, 17, and 18 are wearing down, perhaps as a result of the realization that not everything she thinks the world owes her has paid off. Nor does world work the way she wants because it fits her purpose. Being an under employed, high school graduate self proclaimed pot head who begrudgingly goes to college ain't what it's cracked up to be. Welcome to the world of grown-ups, kiddo. Sam is finally admitting to her own faults and shortcomings and taking some ownership of the problem. In other words, she is making progress.
When you see your child struggle against all of their talents; intellect, athleticism, and leadership in favor of shortcuts, apathy, and blame it is all you can do to not grab them by the shoulders and scream at them, "YOU. HAVE. POTENTIAL! GO USE IT!".
Ugh.
However... Sam had a great visit despite all of the ambiguity of her future. Superimposed over a visit from the Kirk clan, we were able to celebrate her birthday on her birthday. This is a rarity that has only occurred once before in the last ten years. Most of her other birthdays were celebrated at Camp Seafarer or in New York. We cooked out with chicken, burgers, bratwurst, hot dogs on the grill and watermelon, corn on the cob, sodas and beer. It was a nice party capped off with a Dairy Queen ice cream cake and watching old family videos from past holidays. I love the old family movies. It is so strange seeing the girls, Kira, Sam, and Grace at the ages that the boys are now.
We got in a short "stay-cation" with a Durham Bulls baseball game - where the opposing pitcher barfed on the mound in the first inning. A visit to the Museum of Life + Science - where we braved gawdawful humidity to watch bears eat watermelon and then run around the tree houses before retreating inside to play with the interactive exhibits. We went to see Suicide Squad - a good (not great) movie - but fun anyway.And the Olympics!
Congratulations to Sam because she really got into watching the Olympics and got the rest of the family to watch too. She spent the first night watching the opening ceremony from Grandma's house with Mark and Linda while the rest of us (shamefully) didn't. She was great at capturing the human spirit of the game and the personal stories behind the lesser known athletes. One of her best qualities is promoting diversity and social injustice.
It was nice for Betty who had the rare occasion to have all of her children and grandchildren around at one time. Sam is off to new York, Kira is headed to South America for a year of school, and the Kirks won't be back at all this year.There are big changes ahead for the Brown family. Sam's departure was the beginning. The spaces in the house will change. Sam's room will soon become Grant's room and his room now will become the office for my school and Lisa's photo studio. Oh? You didn't hear about Lisa's new hobby?
Check back here in a week or so.
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