I love him.
I love him. I love him. I loooooooove him.
He's been gone most of the summer, but he's home now. I forget how much more settled I feel when he's around. I don't know why that is. Maybe it's because I've never known adulthood without him (I had him when I was 19).
We talked for a long time the other day. He's so grounded. The concept of a solid, grounded teenager is just so foreign to me as I was such a flaky, insecure, irresponsible teenager.
He told me that he sometimes feels like I make rules for him based on the mistakes that I made as a teenager without taking into consideration that he isn't on the same path that I was on at 16. He's right.
But that's a hard thing to let go of sometimes.
It's a hard thing to want so many good things for a person's life, but to know that you have to step back a little in order for them to pave their own way.
It's a hard thing knowing that he'll be out on his own in two years. What if he doesn't pay his electrical bill? What if he doesn't study for his finals? What if he drinks too much one night? What if he gets his heart broken? What if he eats too much fast-food?
I just want so badly for him to avoid my mistakes. I just want it to be easier for him. I just want it to be less painful.
Although I got my electricity turned off a couple of times in college...and I still turned out ok.
Thanks for the talk Ross, you are seriously one of the coolest people I know.
And totally off topic:
1. The border I used on the photo above is available as a brush over at Polka Dot Potato and is also available to print directly onto your photos at Scrapbookpictures.com.
2. Ross is not really a cowboy.
3. Even though I am no longer designing stamps for FontWerks (Creative Imaginations launched their own acrylic stamps, so all of my future stamp designs will be released through CI) the stamps that I designed for them (FontWerks) are still available. And you can find those ever elusive Flitter stamps here.
4. I am teaching 10 Reasons at the Scrapbook Connectionhere in Grants Pass (my hometown) this Saturday at 9:30am (541 474 4404).
5. Have a great day.
Oh my gosh I love that photo! Ross seems like the perfect combo of great kid and rocker dude! kwim, Just perfect for both the mother and the daughter! lol Great kid to make the Mom happy and rocker cool dude to make the daughter's heart go pitter pat! ha ha Ok I know you are rolling your eyes now! :)
I agree it is REALLY hard not to make rules for your kids based on your life experiences, even if they are totally different than you were at that age!
Will you give us a heads up if you add any new brushes to PDP, since I bought the collection! lol
Oh and BTW I always think of you when we drive thru Union Creek now!
Posted by: Brooke - in Oregon | July 23, 2008 at 09:04 AM
Fab picture, it's nice to see he sat still for one, and it turned out pretty dang cool.
Posted by: Misti | July 23, 2008 at 09:09 AM
Karen - I can relate to you so much. I had my daughter when I was eighteen and so I don't really remember "life" without her. I try so hard to steer her away from my mistakes that sometimes I forget she has to pave her own path. I commend you though, Ross seems so grounded, such a good kid. These days that is rare!! Thanks for being so honest, it is so refreshing :)
Posted by: sara b | July 23, 2008 at 09:11 AM
you are raisin' one super cool kid karen russell...and i know as moms we worry and probably always will...but this one you should be super super proud of!!
Posted by: Tanya Webster | July 23, 2008 at 09:14 AM
my mom and I are also 19 years apart, and it is different...it's like parts of a whole- and now that I am a mom, it still is- the half that I came from and the half that I grew.....so hard to explain to anyone...but so totally real. Here's the deal- my mom and I live 3 miles from each other now- she sees my kids many times each week, and we talk many, many times daily. I didn't really leave home- we just live in different houses now. So- you may be surpised at how far he doesn't go (physically) when he grows up.
Posted by: JoAnn | July 23, 2008 at 09:18 AM
HI Karen
That is an incredible picture. It looks like an album cover. Maybe Ross should do a cd of his guitar music!!!
Diane H
Posted by: diane h | July 23, 2008 at 09:46 AM
What a great picture! Sounds like you are raising one super cool, way grounded kid. I only hope I can say the same in about 8 years! And I know exactly what you mean...I too had my daughters young (I was 19 when I had my first) and already feel as though I'm overcompensating and overprotective sometimes. Who knows what I'll be like when they're teenagers but I imagine just a more hyped up version of now!
Posted by: Karen | July 23, 2008 at 09:49 AM
That is so sweet that you have such a great relationship with him. I know it is hard not to punish him for your mistakes but have faith, you are doing a great job!
Posted by: Kim | July 23, 2008 at 10:03 AM
I hope my two boys grow up to be that grounded -- Ross sounds like an awesome kid. Karen, I'm sure you second guess yourself all the time as most moms do, but you are an inspiration as a parent.
Posted by: Jen | July 23, 2008 at 10:21 AM
What a fabulous photo! And thank you for such a wonderful post. I am/was/will be struggling with the same things for my ds (even though he is only 8! last night i started freaking out about him getting into a good college...yes, I know, what am i thinking?). Sounds like you are doing an awesome job with him. Just like the kids, we just need to do the best that we can and let it go. Of course, it is easier said than done. =) Walking along the same path with you, just a few steps behind...melita.
Posted by: ca longhorn | July 23, 2008 at 10:23 AM
You must be so proud of your son. I hope that when I have kids, they will be solid and grounded like your son...
On a different note, when I read you were from Grants Pass, for some reason I read it "Grass Pants" and I thought that was quite an odd name for a town :)
Posted by: Jessica | July 23, 2008 at 10:53 AM
Karen
You always always always find a lovely way to say the things I am thinking.
Thanks
Posted by: Amy | July 23, 2008 at 11:19 AM
You did a good job with Ross! I also had my son when I was young and can't imagine what we will do when he decides to leave home.
Posted by: Kelli | July 23, 2008 at 11:25 AM
love this post. someday i think i'll be thinking the same things about my son...and hopefully having the same great relationship you have with yours. :)
Posted by: jenny | July 23, 2008 at 11:52 AM
amazing.
Posted by: Stephanie Ainsburg | July 23, 2008 at 12:13 PM
Love the pic..even if he's not a cowboy. ENJOY him while you can...he'll be gone in a blink of the eye (voice of experience..mine are 25 and 21 and no longer live at home).
Posted by: Lisa B. | July 23, 2008 at 01:43 PM
I am a high school teacher and wish I had more kids like Ross in my class! From what you tell us, he does seem like a really great, well-grounded and mature young man! Way to go, Karen!
Posted by: Amy | July 23, 2008 at 02:03 PM
love this post...xo
Posted by: jenn | July 23, 2008 at 02:38 PM
Ross seems like a fine young man. You did good karen you did good.
The photo you took of him is amazing. It looks like an album/cd cover.
Thanks for sharing it with us.
Posted by: Paola Norman | July 23, 2008 at 04:02 PM
if he's so grouned, it's thanks to his fab momma!
Posted by: aja | July 23, 2008 at 06:58 PM
That is a beautiful picture.....
I am counting the days til Saturday when I am taking your class in GP, see you then.
Laura P
Posted by: Laura Plunk | July 23, 2008 at 07:34 PM
You must be doing something right, Karen. I would take all the credit if I were you. ha.ha. You may look back and think about all the mistakes you made as a parent, but what makes him so secure is the LOVE (and respect) y'all have shown him during his life. Your family is truly blessed in so many ways!
Posted by: kat-in-texas | July 23, 2008 at 08:13 PM
Love that you share such personal things about your life. Sounds like you are doing a wonderful job as a mom if Ross has turned out this way.
Posted by: Lisa | July 24, 2008 at 07:38 AM
Great picture of Ross! FYI - I went to the site that you linked to for the Flitter stamps and just want to let everyone know that the shipping charge is VERY high. Here is the response I received when I asked about the shipping: "Hi Kim, there is no minimum charge for shipping however the shipping charges for us to ship to the US will be about $40-50 for UPS and about $15-20 for Canada Post. Canada Post may take up to 3-6 weeks and UPS will take approximately 1 week to arrive.
This information is sent to US customers to let them know that shipping will be expensive as most do not realize this before placing an order."
Posted by: Kim | July 24, 2008 at 11:44 AM
what a handsome young man, but more importantly he is smart, thoughtful, wonderful young man. you have raised him well. don't you just love it when our kids become smarter than us sometimes?
Posted by: traci | July 24, 2008 at 12:22 PM