Don't Miss These Tips!

And now, in honor of this week's "Surviving Adolescence" theme, here are a few invaluable tips for surviving adolescence, most courtesy of my 12 year old son, currently in the throes of it, home for March break this week:

1) Do not cave in to parental pressure to cut your hair, no matter the bribe. (Note: Mom reluctantly agrees, and will even add that actually, this rule applies to any aspect of personal appearance, except for stuff like piercings, etc., if you're under a certain age, as long as you keep reasonably clean.)

2) Aim to blend, but to be different, too, e.g. be friendly to all & join school clubs, but also wear cool hats, take up fencing, and subscribe to Surfing Magazine (which def makes you 'different' if you live in Canada).

3) If your school has a pool, don't forget to bring your bathing suit on swim day, because they'll make you wear somebody else's gym shorts, which is gross enough, but you'll also have to wear your underwear under them, which means you'll be walking around in wet underwear all day!

4) Keep your room clean, and do your homework. The parental tantrums that result are simply not worth it. (Okay, this one's from me, not the 12 year old.)

5) Don't worry about not being in with the most popular group--these kids are usually mean. Blend with the second or third tier. You'll be just as happy. (Also from me, but the boy agrees.)

6) Finally, have friends who are boys and girls. Don't worry about the other stuff--lots of time for that. (The boy has tons 'o friends who are girls. Yay. But yeah, I was the one who suggested this one.)

7) Don't sweat the small stuff. (Universal rule of life.) Small stuff includes things like being told your fly is undone by the person you have a crush on.

There. Done. Follow these rules and I (almost) guarantee a happy adolescence.

On a complete other note, if you're an author who read my January post on the 'Reading Capital of the World' and would like to send books to miracle worker Terri Nalls in Tifton, Georgia, you can send them to:

Terri Nalls
Charles Spencer Elementary
Tifton, GA
31794

Please enclose a note for Terri specifying what age group your books are aimed at. If they're for elementary school-aged readers, they will stay at the school; books for older kids will go into the reading room, used often in the summertime.

(Back story for those who didn't read the post: Tifton had an appalling illiteracy rate until Terri, an elementary school teacher, introduced a whole bunch 'o innovative programs and got the whole town so excited about reading, they set a world record for the number of people reading aloud at the same time!)

Happy almost Spring, everybody! And good luck surviving that adolescence thing.

Love Bev (still digging out from a very snowy winter here in the great white north...)

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