Jen Merrill's Blog, page 16
April 4, 2016
The mixed metaphors of parenting gifted and twice-exceptional teens
Parenting teenagers is like nailing jello to a tree. I’m sure you’ve heard this. I heard it back when my boys were wee young things, when potty training was the issue du jour and I rarely got a moment to myself (wait…that was yesterday…never mind). However, I find it to be inaccurate. Youcan nail …
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March 9, 2016
Living with teenage tech support
If you can handle the adolescent smugness and middle-aged feelings of inadequacy, I highly recommend having teenaged live-in tech support. Andy fixed my website. It’s all downhill from here, folks. I already don’t know which remotes and buttonsand in which order turn on the Roku vs the Apple TV. If my life depended upon correctly …
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March 1, 2016
Dear Life
Dear Rosie, I just love when you come to a dead stop in front of me halfway up (or down) the stairs. I know in your sweet little peabrain mind that love means ensuring I keep my razor sharp reflexes as I desperately attempt to avoid goinghead over heels over your fuzzy little butt and/or …
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February 22, 2016
{GHF Blog Hop} A love letter to giftedness
Dear Giftedness, You’ve been here so long that I can’t remember life without you. We’ve had a tumultuous relationship, haven’t we? I haven’t always appreciated your presence, and god knows I’ve wanted to send you back more than once. But it hasn’t all been challenge and chaos, and it’s time I let you know just …
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February 2, 2016
What I’ve learned from four years of reluctantly homeschooling a twice-exceptional kid
If it’s February, it’s winter in Chicago, and I’m again suffering from a terminal case of AAS. It’s cold and dark (even when it’s sunny) and you wonder if you’ll ever be able to sit on a toilet seat again without ending up asa knotof icy goosebumps. Middle of the night potty excursions quickly teach …
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January 15, 2016
Reflections on a decade of blogging
One week ago I hit a milestone anniversary and, true to course, totally overlooked it because 1) I suck at memorable dates unless I’m married to you or pushed you through the lady bits and 2) please see item number 1. January 8, 2006, So Why A Blog?: Really, it comes down to “why not?” …
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January 10, 2016
My ode to winter
Chicago has finally blown a kiss to the unseasonably warm temperatures of late and we are currently in a bit of a deep freeze. Not nearly like the hellish Polar Vortex of 2014, but still cold enough to piss me off. So sing with me, my friends! Sing to banish winter to anywhere but where …
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December 31, 2015
When your last Word of the Year picks its successor
*Tap tap* This thing on? Where are the damned lights? What the…what happened to my stack of drafts? Why are they all over the floor? And who the hell is in charge of dusting around here? I swear to godI’m going to quit calling itdustand instead call it by its scientific name,Star Stuff. Oh my, …
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December 17, 2015
Last minute gift review: Compose Yourself
We’re at T-minus one week, ONE WEEK PEOPLE, until Christmas Eve. Are you ready? I am. Maybe. Kinda. I should probably wrap gifts and make sure I’m not missing anyone. And I think I need to get a few more little things. And you know, I don’t think Christmas cards are going to happenagain this …
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November 16, 2015
No such thing as balance in gifted parenting
I’m on an eternal quest for balance. How hard can it be, right? I’m an intelligent, reasonably functional woman who is above average in adulting, you’d think I’d have a handle on balancing this whole gifted parenting thing. Surprise! I so want my life to behave like a perfectly balanced teeter totter. Both sides equidistant …
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