Silent Sunday ...and football

How do you tame a teenager?

I wish I knew. Until a few months ago my son was great. I cannot say I’ve never had any issues with him, but all in all it has always been possible to talk to him and make him see reason. In the last few months instead, that wonderful little boy with blue eyes and a lovely smile has turned into a green-eyed monster who loses his temper all the time, treats our house like a free hotel and expects more and more from us, especially from me. The fact that now he has a girlfriend has made things even worse. She is nice and kind but makes him feel strong and cocky as he knows that there is always someone on his side. It seems that he wants to rejects us, mother, father and sister but cannot and that makes him upset.

He cannot stand his dependence on us. I’m worried about his future. He doesn’t have the slightest idea of what he wants to do in life. He probably hopes he will win the lottery and spend his life in luxury without the need of working. Fat chance! He used to be excellent at school but now he’s lost any interest.

I’ve read somewhere that to tame a teenager you need unconditional love. You need to be firm but avoid arguing and shouting. I’ve tried all this but now I sometimes feel it would be better if I’d stop loving him. Because that way I wouldn’t feel hurt anymore. I've also read that difficult, strong-willed teenagers will likely one day be CEOs or other great leaders. If this is true, my son will soon become the President of the United States (without offense to dear Obama)!

Never Forget

When the Nazis came for the communists, I remained silent;

I was not a communist.

When they locked up the social democrats,

I remained silent; I was not a social democrat.

When they came for the trade unionists,

I did not speak out; I was not a trade unionist.

When they came for the Jews,

I remained silent; I wasn't a Jew.

When they came for me,

there was no one left to speak out.

(Martin Niemöller, 1946)

The Big Momma Challenge week 4 or 2?

Gosh, late again. It seems that my life is running late all the time. Dreadful feeling. Always running after the time. But this is another story.

This is supposed to be week 4 of my Big Momma Challenge, but it’s actually only my second “serious” week. And not a very good week, actually. I slipped here and there especially at the beginning due to my weekly curry (but home cooked so healthier anyway!), although I have managed to stay away from biscuits and cakes, from cappuccino and caffelatte and that’s why I feel a bit better in the evenings. Not too bloated anymore. I think that keeping away from the "deadly" milk has been very helpful.

I don’t know about weight though. When I tried to check it I realized that my scales are not working properly as every time I stepped on them they showed different numbers. I’m not good with lbs anyway, so I have to purchase a new set of scales, possibly with kgs. As my mentor, notSupermum, informs us, this is Farmhouse Breakfast Week in which we are encouraged to have a healthy breakfast and not skip it, not even if we are in a hurry. This morning I had brown toast with banana and honey and a cup of earl grey tea with lemon. It was delicious and strangely filling....Maybe I'm on the right track....

If anybody wishes to join THE BIG MOMMA CHALLENGE please check out notSupermum

Silent Sunday ...a day later

....and because I love the Moon....

The Big Momma Challenge Week 1+2+3

I’m sitting here writing this nonsense and munching at my “delicious” lunch of basmati rice with just a drop of olive oil and a sprinkle of Parmesan ....trying to imagine a nice curry dish to eat along this rather fade lunch of mine....It's all my fault. Although I took on the challenge of notSupermum: The Big Momma Challenge 2011 : week 3 to help myself to lose a few extra pounds I put on in the last six months, especially over Christmas, already 3 weeks ago, it's only now that I’ve started taking it seriously. Now that's the challenge is something more than shifting a bit of weight but becoming a healthy eater and help myself to get over my digestion problems. In the last couple of weeks I tried to start eating better, avoiding my tea&biscuits – tea&cakes weakness, but I failed miserably mainly due to the fact that January seems to be the month of birthdays among my friends and family. I know it is not a good excuse, but how can you really refuse a lovely meal with friends, an afternoon tea to celebrate an anniversary or a glass of champagne offered by a colleague for her promotion? I didn’t manage that, not until yesterday, but now I have to, for the sake of my IBS and my physical health. So I thank notSupermum for the opportunity of joining a little group of ladies (men welcome too, I suppose!) who are trying to defeat their bad eating habits and get better....Update next week…Fingers crossed….

(No, this isn't a healthy diet plan...I fear...)

Wish Upon a Star...

The dreamer in me can only think of this as a good omen. Colin Firth is the 2,429th star conveniently located in front of the Pig 'N Whistle pub on Hollywood Boulevard, right next to British actress Emma Thompson's. Well deserved. Colin has come a long way since his lake scene in the BBC's Pride & Prejudice. Following his Oscar nomination and BAFTA win last year for A Single Man, he is now a Golden Globe nominee and almost surely will be nominated for an Academy Award for his role in the film "The King's Speech" (please read my opinion about the film in my previous entry). Fingers crossed. And good luck to Mr Firth.