Which is really just another way of saying that there’s a random list headed your way, right about… now.
1. Sam returned from her sail training on Saturday. Having spent 8 days on a tall ship, she was dirty, smelly, exhausted, happy, strong and certified as a Lead Hand. (I think that is one of the coolest things ever. ) 
This means that she and Joe have conversations all weekend with words in them that makes them sound like pirates. Words like "abaft" (means behind you) and "Jib Topsail" (which is actually prounounced "jib topsell" just like the main sail is the mainsell.) 
2. She came home with pretty fancy biceps, because every time a trainee uses the wrong words for parts of the boat (as in "Your vest is behind you" instead of "your vest is abaft you") it was 10 pushups. Oddly, despite an overdeveloped sense of justice when it comes to her parents, when this was coming from the Captain, Sam thought it was fair.
3. I am not crazy enough to think this technique (nor dumping her out of a bunk for being late to watch) will be effective at home.
4. Of the whole crew, the only person on the brigantine who was over 18 was the Captain.
5. I can’t believe what teens can do if they’re given the trust, respect, responsibility and opportunity.
6. It really makes it a mystery that the same kid who can climb the rigging, furl a mainsail, tack into the wind with the boat heeled at 90 degrees, name all 68 lines on the boat and tell you their location and purpose —- still hasn’t managed to nail putting dishes in (NOT ON) the dishwasher. Bizarre.
7. We leave again today because Amanda and Sam are going to spent time with their grandmother at the cottage she’s rented.
8. This means I have to drive the two of them up there. I hate driving. I worry about it. I’ve never had an accident and I’m a good driver, but I don’t like knowing that I could totally kill everyone with one mistake, or worse – that I could kill everyone because I fail to see someone else’s mistake coming. This is about a three hour drive and I just hate every moment of it. It makes me sweaty just thinking about it.
9. Megan’s up there now, so I’ll arrive there at supper, drop off two of my girls, sleep the night and then load the third girl into the car and repeat the journey in reverse tomorrow, since she has to be back for work.
10. That sucks.
11. I’m almost done a sock though. Too bad you can’t knit while driving. Might be part of why I hate it.
12. I can’t believe none of my daughters have a drivers licence. It’s the subway. They have no motivation.
I love driving? Concentrate on the beauty around you that you don’t get a chance to see often. I think you’d have a worse time being a passenger when one of your daughters was driving….
That was supposed to say, “I love driving!”
Makes me think of that song with the line “don’t know tackle from futtock plates, he’ll sail us into the pearly gates…” I have no idea what that means!
I agree about the driving…I got into an accident in a parking lot, with a car that WASN’T MOVING! Uggh!
Oh yeah, there’s nothing like riding in a car with your newly-permitted teen! Pass the Xanax please….
The driver’s license thing….my kids grew up in Japan and saw no need for the driver’s license thing either. Luckily for me they figured out how to drive after they graduated uni and only because of the abysmal lack of public transportation in the US! I lucked out on the driving them here and there. Oh for a good PT system…
We saw tall ships last weekend in Duluth, MN. It was the coolest thing ever! It was the only cool thing. (Duluth is famous for lake effect cooling. Not really happening.) I do remember my mom putting a block of ice in a cakepan and setting it in front of the fan. Then we’d sleep on the floor. I’m knitting lace for my daughters’ wedding; my feet are resting two litre pop bottle of water I just pulled out of the freezer-feels great!
Think of the driving anxiety as an appropriate defense to the rest of us who MAY be knitting and driving.
Why drive when someone else can drive you? LOL Sorry Stephanie, I do that to my parents and b/f too.
How does one procure a spot on a tall ship for a teen? I know one that could use that kind of training.
We had the privilege of sailing on the tall ship Lady Washington last week. It was amazing watching those kids clamber up the rigging. Sam has my respect!
I’m over 30 and I still don’t have a license. If you are resourceful and know the public transit, then you can get nearly anywhere if you are willing to spend the time.
Of course, having friends with cars sometimes counts as being resourceful.
I totally am with you on the driving thing. I just feel like it is taken too lightly anyway….Please do not attempt to knit while driving!!! (Doesn’t sound like you would anyway!!)
Very exciting about the boat stuff!
Hope you find some fun on your driving journey…
☺
Hah! You think you have a lot to worry about when you drive?! Try thinking about all of the things to worry about when one of your kids (responsible or not) is at the wheel!
Re: #6 I remember my husband, standing at my daughter’s bedroom door, looking back and forth in amazement from the tangled mess inside to the “tidy camper award” in his hand.
So Sam can sail a megaton tall ship but can’t drive a one ton car through the streets of Toronto. I am still wicked impressed. Think of the self confidence this kid has, she will be able to do ANYTHING in life. Don’t worry about the driving, they now make cars that can parallel park themselves, soon the cars will be driving themselves as well.Then you can knit to your heart’s content.
Ah, the luxury of public transit. What I would do with the money I didn’t have to pay for car insurance on teenagers…
“Sam, I have just found your empty sandwich plate on the kitchen counter. Drop and give me 10, sailor!”
What the heck, it’s worth a shot.
I totally make my 7yo do push ups or chin ups for his bad behavior. Time outs didn’t work and I’m not about to spank him that many times a day. Somehow for this kid it worked. I wonder if that will last through his teens.
At the camp I was on staff with during college, they dumped a 5 gallon bucket of ice water on the lifeguards who were late for the 5 am workout. I was glad I was serving ice-cream when my room mate got soaked.
My daughter drives me on those hand sweaty lengths and it is so nice. She is a great driver!
My 17 year old is going to take her driving test this afternoon. You have no idea how much I wish she didn’t want to drive. And she can’t find the inside of the dishwasher either. Beer o’clock is going to come early today.
And yes, what teens can do when they put their minds to it is amazing. I could never do what Sam did. Fantastic!
Oh, I adore driving…especially long drives! It’s relaxing to me as long as it’s good weather. Bad weather and I’m a mess.
My mom always used it for good long talks…. so maybe this is just another chance to talk to the girls?
And, I totally think pushups would get them to do more chores. 🙂
My sister claims that one of the best things of having daughters old enough to drive was that she could now drink margaritas when they went out to dinner. The girls were the designated driver. Personally I’m with you on the knitting time.
Yeah, I hate that about driving too. I have a car that turns on its own lights, switches on and off its own windscreen wipers, and pauses the CD so that I can hear traffic reports – but does just about nothing to help me avoid accidents. (I would like an ‘inconsiderate idiot’ alarm at least, like I have reversing sensors…) I’ve never driven for more than an hour at a time without somebody else in the car, and I’m not looking forwards to the first time!
Number 5: SO TRUE!!!! I see this all the time in my job. Kids who are amazing when given the opportunity. I like to hold on to those moments when I’m “coaxing” them through tough literature. (Can you say, The Scarlet Letter?)
I’m so glad to hear about Sam’s adventure. What a wonderful experience! And what an incredible girl, to crew on a tall ship, climb in the rigging, and do all the jobs that keep things ship shape. Well done, Sam! Is this the first step toward an awesome summer job?
I’m right there with you on driving. I do it when I have to (and having elderly parents 4.5 hours away means I have to with some regularity) but I don’t enjoy it, and at home I mostly walk or take the bus.
That is so cool. We were just in Duluth and watched the tall sailing ships come into the harbour. It was a big deal. Thousands turned out for the event. We saw that there were “camps” available to folks who wanted to sail the high seas. How ironic that here you go a-postin’ about it.
If you are brave enough to steek you can drive in NYC rush hour traffic as far as I ‘m concerned. For long rides, I use audiobooks to help me feel like I’m not totally wasting valuable knitting time while behind the wheel.
We too saw the tall ships in Duluth, MN last weekend. Did she happen to be on one of them??
Yep, I also love driving. My husband? Not so much. It works out nicely. Good luck!
How very cool to crew a tall ship! Way to go, Sam! I’m totally with you on the driving thing. Such a waste of time (not being able to knit). We recently moved 1,800 miles cross country—and I had to drive the whole way, following my husband in the Budget truck. Glad to hear we’re not the only ones with teens who don’t drive!
Thanks for the line about what teens can do if you trust them. I’m in grad school right now to become a high school teacher, and I can’t tell you how important it is to hear/read that kind of thing and know that the sentiment exists outside the realm of education school. Plus, I need reminding too sometimes.
I feel the same way about driving…I learned as a teen growing up in Chicagoland and was a safe, if rather swift, driver for 10 years. Then I moved to the UK and in the past ~ 10 years I have driven maybe 10 times. I no longer feel freedom and power sitting behind that wheel. The cycling I do around London (to the shops, to the park, etc.) makes it worse as I’m on the receiving end of poor driving decisions (or lack thereof)!
Congrats to Sam on the tall ships work!
Even with all of your beautiful knitted creations, I think your daughters are your most beautiful works in progress. Well done, Steph and Joe!
I listen to knitting podcasts while driving. It keeps me totally relaxed.
I know some people have really disparaging things to say about teens but I’m looking forward to my kids being almost grown ups. I think it will be great when they can take care of their own physical needs, have a meaningful and well thought out conversation and yet still need me around to be their mom.
I think you will see big changes in Sam. Accomplishing something so hard, and realizing how good that feels, is monumental in the growth process. It may not be the dishes, but you’ll see it in other ways, I’m sure. No sock pictures?
Driving is a job for non-knitters.
Congratulations to Sam. I agree that when you give kids “trust, respect, responsibility and opportunity,” most of them will step up. We crew parents always marveled at the fact that we trusted our kids with $30,000 worth of shells (boats) long before they could drive. And it is pretty easy to break those boats if you aren’t paying attention. Spoken by someone who helped knocked a skeg (tiny keel) off a boat early in her rowing career.
Fwiw, modern cars are pretty darn safe (especially the one you & Joe chose). It would take a pretty terrific wreck for you to kill everyone in the car. It’s far more likely that everyone would have some kind of injury, but be just fine after a while.
Hope that helps . . . :o)
P.S.) After pretty much ignoring Sock Summit news since I last heard that it was going to be in Toronto next year, I just found out it’s coming back to Portland. Can I just say “Thank Wool!”? I might get to take classes this time! :o)
I will admit to keeping the knitting handy in the passenger seat so that I can grab a sock and knit a needle’s worth while sitting at a red light. Or in ridiculously gridlocked traffic. But I don’t look at my hands…
A little off topic, but is your daughter a reader? There’s a series that starts with a book called Bloody Jack that I think she (and you if you like young adult) would LOVE. I’m a fairly intelligent grown up but this is Really Good young adult.
It makes me so happy to see that photo of Sam. So happy.
Sam is an incredibly lucky girl to have been able to do something like that. It makes me wish I was that young again and doing such cool things like that! You have incredible girls!! Between tall ships and touring with band and biking incredible distances…..they rock!
I think your girls need the opportunity to drive themselves around when Mom isn’t free to do it!!
Steph, your daughters totally rock, and so do you. Not only are you the Goddess of knitting, you are raising brilliant strong wonderful women. I want to be just like you when I grow up!! 🙂 Ok, I’m only a year younger than you, but my girls are much younger than yours (my baby’s 4) and I’m just in awe. So they don’t drive – they still rock. Well done.
I drive all the time, and like to drive, but I have to say that on my visit to Toronto this summer, it would have scared me witless to drive in the downtown traffic. Bikers, streetcars, druck, pedistrians, all weaving in and out of the same lane — Oh My! I was very, very happy to leave my transportation up to the streetcars and subways.
Glad to know I’m not the only reluctant and anxious driver/passenger on the road. Driving around Toronto (and by that I mean driving the 401) is just about the scariest thing going. You have my deepest sympathies. We discovered the 407 earlier this year. Pricey but worth every penny (for the few times each year we have to be in TO) although it probably won’t help you get where you’re going this time. Good luck!!
Just look at that smile on her face! She totally earned that. And after that drive and back? You’ll have earned one too in your accomplishment.
Ok I’m ashamed to admit it but I’ve kinda lost track of your charming girls. I know the eldest went to Australia for a year and one of them is in cooking school? Can you pretty please do an update on how old each girl is and what she is doing?
Thanks!
Sam – wow.
Being out in open water is quite possibly the best feeling ever. But driving is awesome and I’m not sure why it’s stressful. I used to think it was stressful then I got rear-ended and I stopped stressing out about it. (I think the being 20 helps a lot. =P)
I only like driving about a five mile radius from my house, otherwise, I’m like you. Absolutely hate it. I too, am a very good driver, but I’ve been in two accidents caused by other people doing something stupid. My daughters are good drivers, unafraid and tireless when it comes to trekking all over California. Not I. I get a nosebleed when I leave my neighborhood. Thankfully, my fear of driving doesn’t affect my ability to knit.
Biggest humanitarian disaster ever.
http://www.undispatch.com/node/10128
Put up the flag, woman.
I LOVE driving even at 67 and I’m still good at it. My favorite trip was 11 hours alone from Baltimore to Atlanta and back. No kids (all grown up) no hubby, just me and the open road.
p.s. don’t try to understand teens, it will just give you a migraine.
I hated driving so much I vowed never to do it again. Haven’t driven since Oct. 27, 2002.
I knew I could drive anywhere in the world after I realized I’d just driven through downtown Belfast (Ireland) during a Friday afternoon rush hour–and on the “wrong” side of the road!
So now I think nothing of a six hour drive on the interstate.
Yeah, Sam! Cherish that trip forever.
I love driving, but am so NOT licensing my teenage boy. Extortionist insurance rates in New Jersey contribute, plus the ADHD.
HOWEVER, he just passed a week of advanced open water scuba courses. The instructor said he was great, followed directions, etc.
It’s a bit more uneven when it comes to mundane chores. I plan to have him read your blogpost and then maybe I’ll try that “drop and give me 10” thing!!!
You can’t drive and knit at the same time????
Gee, I can.
I feel EXACTLY the same way about driving – it is embarrasing and means that I always choose jobs within cycling distance from home! The bonus is a lovely cycle ride to and from work each day – (and the luxury of a car if it is pouring with rain, when suddenly driving doesn’t seem quite so bad!)
I’m with you on driving. I hate hate hate it, and only do it when I can’t arrange to be driven. I only learned when I was 24 and my sister got married and left home, leaving me high and dry. I still get nervous, each and every time.
On another topic–you have the most adventurous daughters I’ve ever seen! Yay Sam!
Seriously, Sam so totally rocks!!!! Way go to with the Tall Ship adventure. 8 days you say??? hmmmm…. too bad they don’t have a program for those of us who aren’t teens (I’m just a wee older, mid 20’s, pick me!!!) Where did she go for this anyways? I would be interested in looking up more information.
Sam sounds totally cool. Biceps and all. Funny thing about dishwashers. Bet there wasn’t one on the ship. Maybe they washed by hand and she could do that! Maybe you need the right terminology – put the dishes…below….no, something more piratety than than….blog will think of something.
I like driving (satellite radio), but not anywhere near Toronto…
three teenage daughters who cannot drive.
mind boggling!
but just think of all the money, time, arguments you saved.
seems like a good trade off.
I can’t drive either. The bus lines gave me no motivation either.
AFter they turn 18 they drive themselves or their sisters or they don’t go… simple …
Children and teenagers and sometimes adults are motivated to do things, for the most part, that involve something “for them”. If you tell your child who does not like going to church to hurry up and put his/her socks and shoes on for church, you are the motivated one, not him/her. This involves making it worth his or her “while” to entertain filling your need. And vice versa. If he/she wants a cookie and you don’t feel like making them? Same drill. They have to make it worth your while. Never to be perceived as “not fair”–because it can’t be.
This solves most of the mysteries of life as I know it.
Okay, Rant On! Your daughters need to KNOW how to drive! It is about being NON-dependent on someone to get them there and back, like a jerk-weed boy-friend or spouse. It’s about taking sick loved ones to the doctor or hospital. How do I know this? I saw a great-aunt and also an aunt do without because they had to wait and be beholden to some male. Thank God, my parents wanted me and my sisters to be independent. And if they ever get sucked into an ugly relationship they can grab the keys and run! Rant Off!
Side note: Daughter learned to drive and it improved her softball game. Who knew!
That is totally cool Sam! Would love to see photos of you climbing around in the rigging.
I wish more people worried about killing someone while driving, sure would be nicer on the road.
No pictures of the sock?
The second picture looks like it is a hollywood movie backdrop- I can hardly believe it’s real! Just gorgeous. I wonder if they take out of shape 30 year olds with the spirit of teenagers? I could use some bicep motivation!
And, great job Sam! Another accomplishment to what is looking like a very long list!
I agree about hating driving. I am so bad at merging I stopped dead on the HIGHWAY twice today and just waited until someone let me in. It’s embarassing but I can’t get the hang of driving forward and then looking backward and combining those two things. I agree with another poster- driving is for nonknitters. My husband wants me to take the car in for maintenence and get a rental car- so not what I can handle.
Steph,
My 16 years old excuse for not getting her lincense , to expensive ($350.00 to take the class)which you need unless you are 18. and then she doesn’t want to “drive mom around” she drather have me drive.I think she is worried about getting lost.
I fortuantely do not drive yet so I can still knit while my husband drives the car. However, I know that eventually I need to get my driver’s license. Sam is turning out to be a fine woman indeed *well better than fine, but fine is the only word I can think of at the moment. I need caffine*
Yay Sam! Was it on the Pathfinder or Playfair? I did training on the Playfair about 18 years ago now, and the oldest person on our ship was the captain who was only 21! One of the best summers of my life. I remember coming home so brown, and so confident. What a lot of memories you have just brought back for me.
ditto number 8
Do bring a sock or some such small work. If you’re brought to a halt by road work, that’ll give you time to work on it, even if it’s only a few stitches here and there as you move along.
Trust me, you’ll hate things even more when they ARE driving. It’s nothing but worry, worry, worry! Enjoy your drive time with the company of your girl/s. They are a captive audience and it’s not often you get to spend several hours alone with them with the opportunity to chat or just “be.”
What a wonderful experience for her!! 🙂 We make our kids do push ups for punishment. That’s hubby’s military training coming out. It works. 🙂
I agree with the “Rant on” comment. Unless there is some reason not to drive (physical inability, etc.), everyone should learn to drive. Doesn’t mean they have to or even like it much, but it does lead to independence. It is scary letting your kids learn to drive, but it is better that they do it while you can see them do it. California has limited licenses and kids have to do 50 hours behind the wheel before the test. We made them keep a log. Luckily, both are good drivers (if perhaps, a little speedy).
I agree with the “Rant on” comment. Unless there is some reason not to drive (physical inability, etc.), everyone should learn to drive. Doesn’t mean they have to or even like it much, but it does lead to independence. It is scary letting your kids learn to drive, but it is better that they do it while you can see them do it. California has limited licenses and kids have to do 50 hours behind the wheel before the test. We made them keep a log. Luckily, both are good drivers (if perhaps, a little speedy). But I don’t know the age for permits in Canada.
I am 45 and still don’t have a driver’s licence and I am totally independent. Not having a car has never stopped me going places and doing things. Same with my Mum. She spent 81 and a half years on this planet without a car. She used to walk miles with my sister and I in the pram to get places. You do what you have to do.
My uncle crewed a tall ship here in Oz when in his 60s. So if you want to do it, you can find a way.
So glad that Sam had a good time on her ship adventure. There is nothing like the freedom of the sea.
Thanks for introducing me to an amazing magazine by including the link to Knitcircus in your Twitter feed!
It looks to me, madam, that you have raised three remarkable young women. Well done!!
I can’t believe none of your daughters have their licenses! I was distraught because I had to wait a week after my 16th birthday to get mine, instead of getting it that very day. And I still love to drive. I even miss city driving, now that I don’t live in a real one…
RE: Driving. It’s like everything else in this life: the more you do it, the better you get. just like knitting in that way. Take the Malcolm Gladwell Rule of 10K approach: if you repeat any activity 10,000 times or more, at some point you will become proficient at it. The activity will become automatic. Muscle memory kicks in. As in knitting. Driving is no different.
Congratulations to Sam for a job well done! Good on her – and what an experience to take with her through her life. And now on to the next big fun with Grammy! Sounds like the summer is winding down pretty well for everyone – except for that driving and knitting thing! I just hate the way that doesn’t work so well. Trying to steer with your knees while you knit isn’t really a good idea either! ~~~s-i-g-h~~~ Oh well.
PS. You get to Carnegie Hall the same way: Practice, practice, practice.
At least they don’t have the motivation to use your gas money–or worse, yarn money.
I thought it was the law that all girls were supposed to get their license the moment they turned 16!? This younger generation — no motivation! It’s time they did the driving and looked after their old mother, while she sits beside them knitting socks for them.
I sailed with Toronto Brigantine on the STV Pathfinder almost 20 years ago (it hurt me to do that math…) and I can still vividly recall huge amounts of detail from that trip. I hope your daughter had as much fun as I did and that it means as much to her when she’s my age – my apparently rather more advanced than I had imagined age… !!
My kids got their licenses solely as a form of ID. They insisted on learning in cars with automatic transmission, and “couldn’t” drive their dad’s standard car.
I coach fencing, and I can definitely see the truth of Point 2. Most kids, you could give them 10 pushups every five minutes, and they’ll grumble, but at the end of the day they’ll revere you as the coolest grownup they’ve ever known. Discipline is so simple when you can condense it to a physical activity. I’ve been in other situations – teaching, babysitting, dating – where it would have been so nice to give a big helping of pushups. But alas! Some things are not considered acceptable in a public school or on a date.
My mother forced me to get a drivers licence. (I had no interest in driving.) Although I’m still not fond of driving, I don’t regret having my licence. You might want to consider doing the same with your kids.
Ever since gas prices went way up a few years ago, a new game has showed up…it’s something like calling shotgun, except my daughter and I call who’s driving.
Go Sam! That is SO cool. Don’t forget International Talk Like A Pirate Day next month, matey!
P.S. — I grew up in New Orleans, a highly walkable city with good public transit … and a “drive to survive” mentality. It has made me utterly fearless and there is no mode of travel I love more than a long, unstructured road trip, except for trains, because I can knit.
What I hate is AIRPORTS and airplanes.
Think of all the worrying you didn’t have to go through when they were learning to drive and how much you don’t have to worry when they are out in the evening or bad weather with your car. I appreciate the convenience of my kids driving themselves places but I hate the worrying about road conditions and other drivers.
I was forced to get my driver’s license when I turned 18. We didn’t have a great public transportation system where we lived. We had Mom, who drove us everywhere, and we were fine with that.
For some weird reason, she wasn’t okay with it, so the driving lessons commenced. I still don’t care too terribly much about or for driving, but I can do it. I just don’t like long haul driving. It eats into my sleeping/reading/knitting time.
“I agree about the driving…I got into an accident in a parking lot, with a car that WASN’T MOVING! Uggh!”
and mine was on the front street – neighbour’s PARKED van – two doors away from my house … embarrassed? Oh yeah! Note to self: Coffee cup in cup holder, not in tote bag on passenger seat – tote bag which did not stay upright …
That is SO COOL.
Hello from SCBWI Los Angeles! We heard on our email list that you had a happening blog and the poster was right! In 3 days I have read all your posts & can safely say I have never laughed so much in my life. Thanks for a good read. BTW, today is Le Notte di San Lorenzo. Make a wish on a stelle cadenti (falling star). I think you’ll see more of them in Toronto than we will down here.
I have a friend who grew up in NYC and didn’t get her driver’s license until she was 40. Which is fine, except she recently visited me and I discovered that she is truly terrible at navigating. Because, you know, when you’re walking/taking the subway, you don’t need to think about one-way streets or reading the map quickly because the intersection you need is coming up…NOW.
I love #5; my son is only 10 mos., but I hope I can have this philosophy when he is a teen.
I hate running-errands-around-town driving but I love long-distance highway driving especially exploring rural two-lane highways I’ve never driven before.
I’ve been in 4 non-injury accidents in my life. Twice I was a passenger. In all cases the other vehicle was at fault. Twice I was hit from behind while I was stopped at a traffic light.
I can’t control other drivers but I can insist that safety rules be followed in my car. Passengers must buckle up to ride with me. When my 101 year old father refused to fasten up, I told him he could buckle or I’d call him a cab. He buckled.
Think of the time in the car as an opportunity for conversation with your girls. They are a captive audience. Try to enjoy the landscape around you. Hopefully, it isn’t all city driving. Good luck! I know you can do it.
Congratulations to the sailor, something I wish I had not always been too frightened to try. As far as your daughters having their license, thank your lucky stars, you don’t have to worry about them driving alone late at night.
I need help! I’ve made 2 sweaters for my granddaughters and am now unable to find zippers for the fronts. Anyone have an idea of where to find zippers (not available locally)? Thank you!
” I can’t believe none of my daughters have a drivers licence. ”
But do you really want to loan them your car?
So you have really specialist sort of conversations around your house. I would love to know what a random stranger would think walking into the midst of jibtopsell and purl 2 cable 4 purl 2 knit6!
Great post! You are an amazing writer.
The photo of Sam with the waves and sunset (sunrise?) in back of her are amazing. Which is more blue, her eyes, her shirt or the water?
Beautiful.
It is no wonder she’s amazing. She has an amazing mom!
Best,
Lee
Lee Bernstein, formerly Lynahah here.
Correction: Formerly “Lynayah” — sorry ’bout dat.
I agree about the responsibility thing, because I know it’s true. If you expect it of the children, and do not do it for them, they will manage on their own. As for the driving, there are studies to prove that I have a sound bias for my dislike- God did not make us to travel at sixty miles an hour to start. But then we add controlling a half ton vehicle on a narrow lane that crosses others, while other humans are doing the same! Studies prove our brains are not designed to multitask that way. I stick to short routes and less used roads when I drive, or I take the bus.
I WISH we had subways. (sigh) Am teaching my teenager to drive at the moment and have many more grey hairs and indentations from my fingers gripping the dash. Be glad…be very glad for the subway!!!!!
dude I just did my 9 hour pilgramage home to white rock b.c and back from central oregon.
9 hours. children ages 9 and 6. ugh man.
all I got to show for it was a speeding ticket.
what is with the young people not driving eh? my cousin thinks the government should give him a tax break cuz he’s never polluted. but it’s not like he’s never been in a car ever.
my paternal uncle (I mean my dad’s brother) says there is a defective gene in our pool passed through the female line (that’s why it’s skipped me) loads of the women in that side of the family were and are really late to learn to drive.
I have another cousin who’s never been on a bus in her life.
But here’s what I’m thinking….in my own personal case I got my lisence asap to get away from my mother. ya, she was driving me nuts so that’s a motivation that your girls don’t have and I think that’s a good thing.
xox
I was gonna say…if they can drive tall ship, they should be able to drive a car! Right?
🙂
I don’t mind driving except on freeways and then I hate it. Fortunately my husband loves to drive. We’re getting ready to take a 10 hour drive to Indiana to see our grandson. 10 whole hours to knit!! Life doesn’t get any better than that!
Congrats to Sam on certifying Lead Hand! That’s an accomplishment. What ship and where is her home port?
My Jessi spent her second week on the tall ship SSV Tole Mour in late June. They sail the Channel Islands of California – beautiful!
I just did two six-hour drives with my daughter for a mini-vacation to the Finger Lakes. Didn’t mind the driving, but I sure did miss being able to knit for that time!
#6 reminds me of how my boys could not EMPTY the dishwasher. “I don’t know where stuff goes” they would whine. “Well, you know where to find to dirty it, so why can’t you put it back when it is clean?” They hated it when I got logical on them!
I totally agree about driving. I don’t drive personally, because I’m totally afraid of the deadly potential cars have. Too many people take driving lightly and don’t consider the fact that every time they get in a car, they could die or kill someone else.
I recently went camping with friends and the girl driving was a complete maniac. It was pouring rain and she was going 140 and eating a cheese bun while using one hand to steer. When I dared to point out that it was dangerous, she was very rude. I was so full of anxiety for those two and a half hours.
I would also like driving so much better if I could knit and drive at the same time.
Ah, you brought me back to the beach of my New York girlhood. My family would rent a little cottage at Rockaway Beach Somehow, I’d meet every kid my age and we’d all hang out together day and evening. Our main activities were reading (constantly) and getting ‘thrown’ by the huge waves. Great fun!
Your kids to the neatest things! I guess that must make you a neat parent. I hope I’m able to give Peter opportunities to do neat things too as he gets older.
I don’t like driving either. I like knitting while someone else drives. So when my daughter asked me if I could knit her a sweater between somewhere in Ontario and Fairbanks, I said I could if she wanted to drive. She loves to drive; I love to knit while she drives. She’s in her 20’s and a good driver. She says her reaction time is quicker than mine. I finished the sweater with 90 miles left to go.