Saturday, November 27, 2010

13’s Not What It Used To Be

Fall down seven times, get up eight – Japanese Proverb

I’m laying low. Staying off the hip. Heating pad, hot baths. As much as I dislike the water running adventures, they have kept me sane and on the move towards recovery and sustained fitness. If I wake tomorrow with no pain, I will resume my daily ritual in the water. Tomorrow is Sunday, so the pussy posse ladies will be absent, forgoing the wet for the church pews or the Denver Post and coffee. Or wild sex. Who knows what those gals do when they’re not water aerobicizing.

If all goes as planned, “real” or “land” running should resume for me on January 1st. What a positive and energetic way to start off the new year.

Yesterday Sam had his 13 year old physical.  I quickly learned that turning 13 launches you into a new era at the pediatrician’s office. First, the questionnaire. In year's past, Sam has answered questions like, “What happens when you get in trouble?”, “What do you spend your money on?”, “Do you have any questions about your body?”

The 13 and up questionnaire is a bit different. Sam and I sat waiting for the doctor, laughing our heads off. “Do you know how to put on a condom?”,“Do you use meth, crack or marijuana?” And, my personal favorite, “Have you fathered a child?”

OK. I’m no prude if you haven’t noticed. We’re pretty open around here about things, but really? Shouldn’t here be a 13-14 year old questionnaire that’s a bit tamer? Maybe ask some questions about cigarettes, pimples, heavy petting and getting to second base?

Then, at 15, maybe you could jump to the other stuff.

Fathered a child? Don’t get me wrong. I know there are *gulp* 13 year old fathers out there somewhere, but I'm pretty confident it’s not the norm.

As far as the condom thing goes, Sam knows what one is, but it’s not like we sit around playing put the condom on the banana. They haven’t even covered that yet in sex ed.

I get it, I get it. Basically this questionnaire screams at parents: “Wake up! We’re living in a different world now!” A world where discussions of sex and drugs need to happen sooner than later. I try to remember that my kids probably know more than I think they do. Heading off the issues before they become full blown problems is probably not a bad idea.

Oh and I left the room for the physical part of the exam. Sam came out smiling.

Regardless of the heavy stuff, he’ll always be my little boy.

Off to see Michael Franti and Spearhead with the family. You can’t NOT feel good when you hear this song.

SUAR

PS: Check out the “shop” tab at the top of the page for stickers.suaroval4x6

34 comments:

  1. My son is almost 10. I think I'll bury my head in the sand for a few years! Yikes.

    Thinking good hip thoughts for you!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I am jamming to this song! Sending warm and positive thoughts, and downloading this for the ipod at the gym today :) Thanks for sharing!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. OMG, I can't handle that. My son is 10, and I found a note the other day he'd dropped, it was from a girl asking him to be her boyfriend.

    Woah, slow down, hussy! He still watches SpongeBob!

    Alas, I was too late, and he has a "girlfriend" now.

    *sigh*

    ReplyDelete
  4. That's a crazy questionnaire! My little boy is two and a half and still thinks he's being sneaky when he takes a book to bed with him. I'm so not ready for questions about condoms and meth. Ugh!

    Anyway, wanted to let you know that the sticker arrived a few days ago. Can't wait to put it to good use!! THANK YOU!

    ReplyDelete
  5. great song. thanks to that 13 year old questionnaire and other people's running blogs i have decided i never wants kids!!

    sending healing thoughts your way! take care of that hip!! =)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Saw MF a few weeks ago and he was ah-mazing. Got my sticker in the mail today - thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  7. No kids over here to compare but I'm 24 now and I definitely knew kids as early as 6th and 7th grade that were getting some serious sexy time. I was way to awkward and naive for many more years haha. Even in 5th grade there were known "potheads" even though I had no idea what that really meant other kids called them that. I went to a pretty average suburban school system too. Better to be prepared than not!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I think it's fantastic that you are so open about all that kind of stuff. My parents weren't with me and I am definitely awkward and feel uncomfortable with a lot of things because of it. On another note, sending healing thoughts your way...

    ReplyDelete
  9. My daughter is 17 and she herself gets shocked with some of the issues here. She's still adjusting too. Coming from a somewhat conservative country in Asia, there are a lot of things we both need to get used to here. Nonetheless, we are having the time of our lives =)

    ReplyDelete
  10. I don't recall getting asked any of those questions by a doctor at any time in my life. I'm not sure I knew what I condom was when I was 13, but times have certainly changed...

    ReplyDelete
  11. Wow those are some crazy questions for a 13 year old. JANUARY FIRST!!! Wahoo...that is going to be an amazing day. I will be back in action January tenth:) Great job taking such good care of yourself.

    ReplyDelete
  12. crazy questionnaire. sadly i do think it's appropriate these days to give out. obviously there are many kids who aren't doing that stuff but let's just say that i remember my middle school years and as a big sister i get to hear things that my parents don't.

    and i got the sticker today! my roomie must think i'm crazy because i was jumping up and down for joy hahah :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hilarious! My boy just turned 7 and I'm dreading those upcoming teenage days... :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. It can be a nasty world out there. The Boss and I have always been forward with our boys from a very young age. Proper names for anatomy was the first step, Then sex, drugs and the fact that we don't want to be grandparents yet are discussion topics around our house. Better to have them informed than ignorant....and if they are yours, you will get over feeling awkward pretty quick once you realize what they do or don't know......just my 10 cents

    ReplyDelete
  15. got my sticker today! thank you thank you thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Oh my gosh! I can't believe they ask such questions? I would have blushed! But then I don't have kids so maybe you get used to seeing, hearing, and reading such stuff. No... I can't imagine you would. I get all fidgety when watching a movie with sex scenes and my husbands 28 year old son happens to be in the house.

    ReplyDelete
  17. My OB rotation in anesthesia school brought me to the sad realization that 13 is not too young for these conversations. I wish it weren't. :( Hope you feel better soon!

    ReplyDelete
  18. It's all ahead of you - them wanting to have girlfriends sleep over and being relieved to find the condom in the wallet because you know at least they're being sensible about it. !3 is a little young though.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Um, I think you made a typo in your post. I thought your first day running on land will be Dec 11th with yours truly at the Newton store in Boulder. Cute song. Do you take requests? Some Metallica perhaps.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Hope giving your hip a little rest will help and you will be back in the pool . . . .well I really wish you were running on pavement - not the pool . . . . .but I just hope you are healing.

    I agree that the questionere is a little over the top - but for some parents that is the only way to get their attention.

    Loved the music - looks like another iTunes purchase.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Wow. I had no clue they were asking children those kinds of questions but I guess thats the normal for most of society these days.. Im so glad we live an "alternative" lifestyle.

    ReplyDelete
  22. After spending all day with my husbands 4 nephews I am sooooo very grateful for my little girls. It is pretty sad that they have to ask these questions these days. :( I hope the water is good to you tomorrow!

    ReplyDelete
  23. oh yikes. i don't even want to think about that. it is crazy "how fast kids are growing up these days". an open relationship is key!

    as for michael franti - i just hope he doesn't change his style now that he's more mainstream. love him and the spearheads.

    ReplyDelete
  24. My girls (12 and 13) still got the regular "do you wear a bike helmet?" and "Do you eat your vegetables?" at the doctor. Then I played devils advocate and with the doctor in the room asked a list of questions I brought...
    "I don't have my period yet and most of my friends do, is that ok?"
    "I'm not really into boys yet but my friends have boyfriends, is that OK?"
    "I'm scared to use a tampon. will it get lost?"
    "I still sleep with a blankey and my Grandma is concerned. Is that OK?"
    It went sort of like that. The girls stood there embarrassed, but I felt like they heard another trusting adult repeat a lot of what we've told them.

    My 12 year old did have her first boyfriend this year. But that just meant a lot of texting, saving each other a seat for lunch at school, and a nicer birthday present from him. For 7th grade standards it lasted a long time, alomst 6 months!

    ReplyDelete
  25. "Who knows what those gals do when they’re not water aerobicizing." ....(Laughed out Loud) Hopefully staying away from the 13 yr boys and putting ideas in their heads, eh?! ;)

    I go back/forth on the appropriateness of age for asking questions like that. On the one hand, yes, educate them before something happens. On the other hand, at 13 are they even thinking about acting on those things yet? Besides the natural curiosity? Obviously I don't have kids, so my opinion is moot, but just putting in my two cents. :)

    On another note - How was Michael Franti?!! LOVE him.

    ReplyDelete
  26. I know, I get it, I didn't enjoy my kids growing up from age 13 on...so many huge changes. But inside, they're still the same little boys we walked to kindergarten. Really. And this lasts a long time :) .
    Great video, it made me want to sprout dreads and to to an island. So fun!

    ReplyDelete
  27. I've got a 14 yr old and a 13 yr old now.. Sigh.... Lots of tears for unknown reasons, lots of silly debates.. But it's only for a season.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Received my SUAR sticker in the mail today! WooHoo! Ready to kick some butt and motivate in Israel!
    Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  29. My step-son is 4 going on 5 in January and these questions/topics scare me b/c I am frank and open about it all as well.

    My wife is not, and his Dad is involved with him big time so I will let them tackled these concepts and keep my mouth shut but you are correct. These things just happen very fast and make you wonder about the timing. When is right, wrong?

    ReplyDelete
  30. I have seven little brothers. Basically they turn twelve and I pull out my hair. The youngest turns twelve this year and I can't believe I'm not totally bald yet.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Wow, this makes me scared to have kiddo's! Just think what the questions will be in 13+ years by the time I have to go! AAAAA!
    Hope the water run went well ;)

    ReplyDelete
  32. My boys are 3 and 5 now and I am terrified of them becoming teenagers!!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Sending good hip healing vibes your way!!!!! <3

    ReplyDelete
  34. I'll bet Sunday with the pussy posse is filled with reading 13 year old's doctor exam results.

    ReplyDelete