Lately, it seems that teens in general have gotten a bum rap about all of the bad things they do. Well, I say, you know what, they do a lot of good things too. So ladies, like me, I am sure many of you are moms to teenagers. Here is your opportunity to tell us about all of the wonderful things your teenagers do! LADIES, BRAG, BRAG,BRAG AWAY, LET'S HEAR ABOUT JUST HOW GREAT THE FUTURE OF AMERICA (AND BEYOND) REALLY IS!!!

What can I say about my stepdaughter Haley? She is THE BEST! She does not come with all of the drama that you always hear teenage girls come with. She has the best relationship with her dad (my hubby) and is so helpful around the house - doing dishes without asking, helping to clean and taking care of her two little brothers (what am I going to do when she goes to college in September without my built-in babysitter!!!). She is very smart, driven (as a procrastinator, I am constantly amazed how hard she works, starts to work on projects way before they're due, even taking initiative to start looking at college scholarships, etc.).

As a stepmom, I am always amazed how much influence I have been over her, which is a little microcosm for how much we influence our kids, I think. Even though I'm not her flesh & blood, she has taken courses, like Latin, because I did, she has decided to go to the same college that I went to (go Nittany Lions!), wants to study similar things... it's so cool!

The best thing ever about Haley is when her mother decided to remarry & move from our town to another state, without hesistating, she told her mom "I'm not leaving my brothers." (sniff, sniff). My husband and I were so touched.

Thanks for letting me brag - I'm such a proud stepmom!

How proud you should be! It is so hard just to be that "other mom" and it sure sounds like you and your step daughter have a special bond!!


I have two teenage daughters. One is away at college studying to become a doctor.The other is a sophmore in hs who plays soccer and runs track. She wants to one day become an elementary education teacher.Each are active in dance, volunteering at our local hospital,(the older one, when she is home on break) as well as many school activities, one of which is called Christmas Magic and was featured on our local tv news cast last year. Working with a local philanthropist, they make the wish lists of those in need come true for the holiday season. They also both have volunteered at our church, helping to make sandwiches to be distributed to the homeless as well as collecting for unicef. I know how very hard, with all of the peer pressures on these teens today, it is to keep them grounded and level headed, but I am proud of my girls, I think that they are headed in the right direction!

I don't have any teenagers myself, but I taught teenagers and I was a counselor at a religious youth camp. Many teenagers are utterly amazing! And those that aren't currently, still have the potential...with the right motivation.

My cousin is incredible though. I have many, many cousins, but Nathan is unique and wonderful. I remember when he was nine and we heard that a relative wasn't feeling good. Nathan got on his bike and rode it all the way to the temple so that he could make sure that relative's name was on the prayer role. And then he rode home. It took him almost 3 hours for the round trip. When he was about 12 I babysat for the family for the week. I went to go pick them all up at school and walk home with them and there was Nathan, the most popular, cute boy at the school, helping all of the little kids get on the bus and breaking up fights and telling all of the other kids to be nice. His mom told me she got calls all of the time thanking her for her wonderful son and for all of the things that he said and did for their children.

He has been like that all the way through his teenage years too. He went to college and was a back-up kicker for the university. He just left on a religious mission for our church. And when he gets home from that, the girls will be lined up around the block. How could they not? He is amazing and I am so proud of him. He's been an example to me since he was little.

I don't have a teen, but my daughter asked me today if she could go door to door and shovel driveways (like the 3 boys that just left our driveway with a fresh ten in their hands), because she wanted to give the money to charity... I am just hoping she stays that way when she is a teen.

Oh ladies...it's great to read positive things about teens! I still have 1.5 years till my oldest (boy) is a teen and 4 years till my oldest girl is a teen....so this isn't really bragging on my teens....but for those of you with wonderful teens....my question is...were they always good? My 9 year old girl is beautiful, intelligent, fun and mouthier than ANY child I have EVER met in my life! I have tried so many different things....I got desparate once and listened to one of my friends....trying tobasco AND slapped her mouth once (we don't spank or anything...but REALLY...I was/am desparate)----the slapping, of course, didn't work *ducking head in shame*....just wondering if any of you have any tips. I apologize that this isn't exactly on topic....but is in a round about way....see if I can figure out a way to help her behave better...I CAN brag on her in a couple years!

My oldest (daughter) is 12...so I'm going to say she's close enough to being a teen that I can brag on her anyway. She is so much like her daddy that it's scary. Like him, Rachel was born an old soul. There are times when I think I've pulled a Rip VanWinkle and she one day just became 25. She's an honor roll student, plays violin, is so much fun and always is respectful to her teachers and other adults. (She has her moments with her dad and I though. ) She's my beautiful little girl...I call her "my complete package". Brains, beauty and great character.

My oldest son Blake is 13 almost 14. He is on the honor roll and a very talented athelete. Football, Wrestling and Basketball. My favorite thing about him is that he is not cocky like some kids that play sports are. If there is a kid on the team that is not doing well, Blake is the kid that says "Want to come over and we can practice our freethrows? He sees good in all people.

I have 3 wonderful teenagers, and 2 adults. (all but one, the middle, adopted, so I don't feel too old.) and I must say, having teenagers was one of the best and worst experiences of my life. My only biological daughter is the one that turned me on to twilight (so that gives me enough reason to brag about her right there.) and she has been amazing. I took in 3 foster kids all within two years of her age when she was 12 and then I adopted them. And she has been amazing about it. Until then she had been an only child with an occasional foster sibling here or there and for her to accept these children with open arms just makes me love her so much more. She is 19 now and dreams of becoming an actress (not a movie star, as she has corrected me on more than one occasion) and she writes amazingly on the side. I feel so blessed that I was able to raise such a beautiful person. on the inside and the out.
All of my teenagers were wonderful, and considering the circumstances of where they came from, I am one lucky woman.
as someone asked before if my teenagers have always been wonderful, I'd have to say yes, they have been.
I'd like to think I had a hand in that. I try to talk with them as much as possible, I let them be embarrassed by me, I mother them but I'm also the "cool mom" and I try to be lenient when I can.
I'm happy to say that I think we have one great generation coming up.

You are an earthbound angel! You have great reason to be proud of your kids and they have even more reason to be proud of you.

iluvedward said:

my question is...were they always good?

In my case, Haley has always been good for her dad, for the most part. He's always been very consistent, very direct, very open with her, and I think she respects him as a parent, and does not regard him as a friend as I hear so many parents try to do w/ their kids.

I met her when my husband & I were dating when she was 7 - almost 11 years ago. I will always remember sitting in the car waiting for my now hubby to return from grabbing something at the convenient store & my now stepdaughter saying in the back "you can't tell me what to do, you're not my mom!" It makes me laugh now. She changed her tune once her dad & I married, and she does listen to me now. She does have a harder time w/ her mother, but I think it's maybe the mother-daughter relationship always gets a little strained when your child is a teen.

Good luck to you - this parenting thing is sure hard! Hardest job I've ever had...

But also the most rewarding!

This isn't my teen, but I found this article written by a 7th grader. I can relate because I have a daughter in 7th grade. I just thought y'all might want to read it.

http://www.wisinfo.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ar ... 8803050326

Oh yeah!!! I've been wanting to brag about my son, but hate doing it to my friends here. So I called my mom and my sister, but I'm still bursting to tell someone else!

DS16 took the ACT a few weeks back. He just got his score...he got a 32! I realize it's not a perfect score, but it is in the 99th percentile. And, combined with his unweighted GPA, he qualifies to apply for a 2 semester FULL TUITION scholarship to BYU!!! YIPPEE!!


I'm no longer stressed that he won't get accepted to BYU...now I'm just thrilled he might actually get a scholarship!!!