With teens in the house, you may be journeying with them to the mall. Sacks of gifts, so eagerly and lovingly bought, weren't quite what said child had in mind. Wrong color. Wrong style. Just wrong. That's OK. It's better to let them pick something they want rather than finding a gift six months later, still in the box with tags attached. That's discouraging. So, Happy Hunting.
Are you writing New Year's resolutions? Lose 10 pounds. Exercise. Organize your closet and your life along with it. Spend less money. Save more. Sound familiar?
What about resolutions in regards to your teen? Things like: Be more patient. Communicate better. Less ultimatums and more compromises. More meals at home and healthier choices. Not sweating the small stuff and picking battles. Positive affirmations and guided choices. More time spent together. Clear scholastic expectations and support for those goals. Supporting community and school involvement. Listening better. Helping your child find his/her passion. Directed activity options that are constructive and healthy. Identifying life goals and opportunities. Saying "I love you" even if your teeth are clinched and your fingers crossed behind your back.
Here's two great recipes for left-over turkey. That 's another thing that feels good. Getting that sucker out of the fridge so there's room for my pot of Black-eyed Peas!
Turkey Tetrazzini
About 4 cups diced turkey
1 4 oz can chopped olives
2 tsp. Lee and Perrin
1 4 oz can sliced mushrooms drained
2 tsp. paprika
1 8 oz container sour cream
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1 lb grated cheddar-divided in 1/2
1 onion, 1 small green pepper and 1/2 c celery, all chopped
1 12 oz spaghetti (try the whole wheat)
Saute the vegetables in 2 tbsp butter. Set Aside.Cook the spaghetti according to directions. Drain and set aside.
Combine the soups with the sauteed vegetables, the olives and mushrooms, the turkey and the seasonings and heat until bubbly. Add 1/2 of the cheese. Now add the noodles into the mixture. Put in a greased 3 quart baking dish. and sprinkle the remaining cheese on top. Bake covered with foil at 350 for 30 minutes or until bubbly. Serves about 8.
Laurie's Turkey Hash
Peel, pare and boil 3 or 4 large potatoes. Drain
In large saute pan - 1 large yellow onion-chopped and softened in 1 stick butter. Then add 2 cloves garlic, dash Tabasco and 1 Tbs Lee and Perrin. Also add good dash of poultry seasoning and salt and pepper.
Now add 2 or three cups of leftover turkey, shredded or chopped, and the cubed, cooked potatoes. Let brown a minute in the butter-onion mixture, lightly turning over. Finally, add 1 can Swanson's Chicken Broth and simmer until reduced. Serve hot.
Have a restful and relaxing last week of 2007. I for one am not getting out of my PJ's for at least two days! Enjoy the down time. Chrissie
Have a restful and relaxing last week of 2007. I for one am not getting out of my PJ's for at least two days! Enjoy the down time. Chrissie
3 comments:
Loved this post! Great recipes! And you captured my mood and thoughts exactly about that Christmas Turkey!
But what I loved most about the post, was the New Years Resolutions regarding my Teen! You hit the nail on the head for me!
Living with a Teen, as anyone who lives with one can verify,,is more often than not, a very stressful, and painful experience emotionally. I have been so caught up in my feelings of hurt, lonliness, and rejection that I feel my Teen inflicts on me, that I have forgotten to remember he is simply confused, frightened and overwhelmed by all the turmoil of hormones and emotional stresses all Teens experience quiet naturally.
I am guilty of maybe too many rules, too great expectations, and also admit to being a "neat freak"..lol. Lets face it,,we are only human,,both we Adults, and our Teens,,and we are all going through constant, ever changing "riots of Passage".
So,,my New Years Resolution is this: I am going to try to be more relaxed and a bit more tolerant of my Teens "emotions". I am going to work toward a better understanding of the pressures he faces from his peers. I will resist the urge to give my Teen the "could have had a V8", forehead slap, when my Teen uses his favorite phrase,"what ever", or that annoying eye roll,and when all else fails,,I will retreat to my "off limits" space with a good book and big box of chocolates!!
CaveDweller
Hello friend. It was so good to here from you. How blessed your grandchild is to have your patience and perseverance.
I certainly am not trained in such things but after teaching at high school and just observing lots of growing up environments, it seems like children raised in chaos and upheaval just haven't imprinted the social skills and trust in others to easily accept a secure home life. The patterns learned are hard to break. Abandonment, insecurity, fear..the list goes on and on.
Even kids who are "merely" from divorced homes seem to have issues that really need to be addressed and worked through. Splitting a family is devastating. No one should fool themselves that it is otherwise.
My dear cousin died at 37 with two small children left behind. They are grown and their Father long remarried but the trauma of losing their Mother has definitely influenced life choices and relationships. Once again, a childhood misfire that couldn't be changed but definitely changed everything.
Keep the faith and know whatever happens, a life is given an opportunity to change for the better. It's up to your grandson to receive the gift. Chrissie
PS OOOH I hate that eye roll too!
How about a good leftover Ham recipe???
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