It’s your teen’s birthday and your scrabbling for the perfect gift.  Every year you see the disappointment in your teens face when he or she opens the gift that you spent months looking for.

After a few years of gift disappointments for both my kids and myself, I decided that it was time to remove my ego and get them what they want.  At first I thought, I’d just give them cash, and wound up feeling as disappointed.  Cash seemed to take the fun completely out of the gift all together.

The first gift I gave them was explaining that it’s no fun to give a gift to an ingrate, and that no matter what you received you are to appear excited because it’s not about the gift at all, it’s about the thought that went into the gift from a person that loves you very much.  Now, even thought we know that this is a great gift to our teens, the gift of wisdom, maybe we are still looking for special gift that really excite them.  So here they are, as simple as they can be.

Ten Top Gifts for Teens:
1) Gift Certificate to their favorite clothing store, not yours-  Teens don’t want to be dressed by their parents, they are becoming more independent.  Give them the Gift Certificate and let them go shopping and pick out their own cloths.  I was at a store shopping and I heard a mother and daughter about 13 years old arguing about what her mother would let her buy. Occasionally I would pop my head out of my dressing room and check out what the teen was wearing to see if it was inappropriate and it was fine, maybe not the style I would wear, but there was a 37-year age gap between us.  Parents stop it; if it’s not inappropriate let them develop their own style.

2) Gift Certificate to a music store- Are you getting the picture yet?  Unless you know their music taste and know exactly what they are looking for, give it up to a gift certificate. It really feels different than cash.

3) An Art Class- Pick a class that you know will excite them. This is a great gift because it may open their eyes to a new talent that they might enjoy for many years.  Get them all of the materials to keep up the hobby.

4) Special Package for their cell phones- Maybe it’s a sight to down load special rings, that they can’t afford themselves.

5) Electronics- Even though I’m into monitoring how much kids are on the computer, or in front of video games and TV, it’s a gift the will love.  Just because you buy it doesn’t mean you can’t monitor the use.

6) A Bike- a mountain or street bike is a great gift because again it opens them up to a new hobby.

7) Movie Passes- Most kids love going to the movies and this is like having free passes to good entertainment.

Bookstore Gift Card- It’s like a credit card to a book store, so they can go buy a book on their time, and not have to be with you.

9) Meditation or Yoga Class- Only if they have shown interest in either of these, or maybe it can be a second gift that you give for both of you to go together.  Use it as an added bonus gift, with something else they love.  I have been noticing a lot of teens getting into both Yoga and Meditation these days.

10) Something for their bedroom- A cool retro chair, beanbags, couch if it will fit, posters, new comforter, or go shopping together and look for cool decorations for the room.  Their bedrooms are their own special places and we need to honor that and let them decorate it the way they want.  Teens need one room in the house to express their individuality in and a space that is only theirs.

So, hopefully I have given you some ideas about great gifts to give your teens.  To end cap the first gift, not in the top ten, which was wisdom about gift giving, the best gift you can give your teen is unconditional love, and that is shown by simply allowing them to be themselves and still accepting them and loving them.

Happy shopping and enjoy your teen for being themselves in all of their uniqueness.

I can’t tell you how many days I would struggle to stay awake, while in school, when I was growing up.  Some of the teachers I had were killing me.  I believe teachers have become better at their jobs, or maybe in Sedona they seem more into it.

80% of the teachers I had seemed to dislike the job and thekids.  When I look back at what teachers made an impact on my life through teaching, I come up with a big fat zero.  I remember a middle school teacher named Mr. Felix for Spanish and I would get so nervous in his class that I would get the hick-ups everyday. If that wasn’t embarrassing enough, he would make me stand in front of the whole class and explain why I had the hick-ups.  What was wrong with him?  Instead of talking to me after class about what he could do to help me, he just made things worse.

I just wanted to check out when I was a teenager. Check out of school and check out of life.  My teenage years weren’t that fun.  Today as an adult I get to pick where I put myself.  If I’m in a situation where I feel like falling a sleep or someone is treating me poorly, I just remove myself.   Today, if I were a teen, I would talk to my teachers about how I like to learn, and try to change how they teach if they were a teacher who didn’t seem to care.  easier said then done, I know.

Hang in there, you will be old enough soon, to be where you want to be, and if you’re a teacher, take a look at how you are reaching these teens, is it effective and are you enjoying it or are you just getting through the day.

Well, it’s that time again! I’m in preparation for another workshop with girls that hopefully care.

It’s always my concern, when I go into an environment that has set up the workshop, instead of me hosting it. The difference is that when girls come because they want to or because they are told to go.

Preparing for a workshop takes a lot of time and energy, and it is so disheartening to present in front of a group of girls that are disrespectful and simply don’t care. My goal is always to make my workshop interactive and have my workshops so fun, that they just automatically pay attention. Some times easier said then done. They seem to have their own agenda, which seems to be stronger than my force to help them love themselves.

No matter what their agenda is, I will go and present with love, caring and understanding and have hope that they will take something away from my words that will help them find love for themselves.

The Prom is right around the corner and the anxiety is building. Buying a new dress, the perfect shoes, having your hair done, and your make-up. Don’t forget your nails! What about having enough money.

Are you forgetting something, “OH, a date”.  It’s seems so stressful. Thank goodness it’s a bit different now than when I was a teenager. You actually don’t even need a date to go. I love that, even though most girls would probably admit they would prefer having one. 

This is when having self-esteem and confidence comes in handy.

Here are some tips to lowering stress during Prom season.

• Shop early for a dress and shoes.
• Get together with your friends and get ready and help each other with make-up, hair and nails, it cuts costs.
• Let go of the idea of having to go to the Prom with the perfect guy, it’s okay to go with a guy friend.
• If you don’t get invited, gather up your friends and make it a party.
• Go to the Prom and enjoy yourself.

Wow! I’m in the Airport for the second day, trying to get home. After many delays and missed connected flights, and lost baggage, it looks like I’m going to make it. In the spirit of knowing that everything is exactly the way it should be, I still question why.  Maybe there isn’t an answer, maybe it’s just life. Life’s little bumps or big mountains we have to get over.  In retrospect, as I sit quietly at a table waiting for my flight, allowing my breathing to go back to normal, I realize that this little mishap does not have to ruin my trip, or my day, unless I allow it to. Maybe that is the lesson! That life throws us curve balls all the time and we can handle them anyway we choose.  I am enjoying myself, sitting at this little table, eating a 2 day old sandwich, blogging to you. I guess I could be really upset, on the phone complaining to one of my friends about how horrible it has been and ruin their night, but I’m not sure what that would do. So, I choose to be okay about the situation. Just remember in all situations we have a choice, about how we react. If we react positively or negatively. I vote for positive, because it makes me feel better and everyone else. Happy Holidays

These birdhouses were created by me, my boyfriend and his 2 thirteen year old sons.

I bought the wooded bird houses, paint and glitter and we were on out way to attracting some beautiful birds in my yard. Not to mention a Cooper hawk. It was fun while we were doing it and it’s great to see the birds enjoying them.

Why are girls so mean to each other? I was home sick the other day and was watching the news and saw a clip about a video put on You-Tube of a girl beating up another girl, with other girl’s cheering her on. This video was deemed the most popular and best video on You-Tube for a day, meaning it was watched, I believe more than any other video. I don’t get it. Why is this so great?

First of all, what is going on with the girl who is attacking the other girl? But, more interesting to me is why do people enjoy watching this abuse. Watching this defenseless girl get beat senseless. I couldn’t watch it, it made me sick. If you are one of these two people, one, that enjoys watching this, or the one beating girl’s up for fun, I urge you to look at how you are contributing to the harmony in the world. There is a lot of upset in the world today, do you want to be a part of that.

Someone that is participating in such violence should look inside and ask themselves if they would want to be on the receiving end of this attack. Think about how you would feel. How scared you would be, how angry, and how much pain it causes the other person.

If your heart is closed and you can’t feel other’s pain, it’s because you care so little for yourself. Your sense of self is suffering. I want to encourage girl’s to develop a sisterhood, like boys have a brotherhood, and just know that when you are abusing another you are ultimately abusing yourself.

Hello out there, this is my first experience in Blogging. I have also set up a My Space account, all so new to me. While working on some interesting blogs, I just wanted you to know I’m here. Come back soon, I will have a few tips on issues just for teenage girls.