Well, sort of.

My niece (Alissa, age 14) is going to be coming down from Edmonton to spend the winter/spring with me while my brother and sister-in-law work on getting things sorted out in their life.

So, I've been spending the past few days rushing madly about getting school registration taken care of as well as changing her medicare over from Alberta to BC and getting the BC child welfare people on-board (the Alberta child welfare folk have already given the official 'okey-dokey' to the whole thing.)

Tomorrow, I suppose I ought to think about hitting a proper grocery store. I am not sure but I think that kids need more than day old pizza, cold chicken and Count Chocula Cereal for food so it seems I'll have to get some fruits and veggies and all that stuff.

My place only has one bedroom but fortunately, it is a large loft space so I guess I can split it down the middle with a curtain or something. The building super had this old 4 poster bed down in the basement so we hauled it up-stairs (4 flights of stairs, from basement to top floor!) and cleaned it all up. It is really beautiful, actually. Looks like teak (heavy as heck like teak, too). Have to go get a box spring and mattress for it tomorrow. It is so nice I just may snag that bed and give Alissa mine. :oP

On the good side, Dru seems to be totally down with the idea. She seems to be getting jazzed by the idea of having a little sister to hang out with. (Dru is 22 so closer to Alissa's age than mine.)

And I'll have someone to sit up with 'till three in the morning watching the late-late movie with. :)

Anyway, which me luck. I am not the most maternal person in the world, so this ought to be quite the little adventure.

---

Pure mathematics is, in its way, the poetry of logical ideas.

Albert Einstein

Fantastic! What an adventure!!! You will soon be up on all the latest teenage slang, so please keep us posted on your vocabulary growth, as well as other developments.

That is an adventure. By 14 she likely has these things called preferences. Those will be the sticky points. You will also have to have a talk with her. Establish while she is under your roof it is your rules, which may not be the same as she was used to. Let her know you are willing to listen to reason, but "because everybody is doing it" is not a reason. Don't forget to find out about things like homework and chores. Allowance is another thing. As for food, teenagers are eating machines.

Good luck on your new adventure. Keep us informed and up to date on the lingo.

---

Congratulations and good luck with the adventure, Kenzie.

The teens, early mainly, when shopping were the main sticking point with Juliet (now 37) when we were bringing her up. She knew what she wanted in the way of clothes/shoes/etc and would not budge. For me trailing around numerous shops is the nearest to hell I can think of. Even Sheila good fed up shopping after a few months of this.

You have the advantage on us at the time as you like (I think) the shopping therapy?

---

It's good to be back amongst friends and colleagues

If you like the job, I've got two little ones I could use occassional help with.

You're in for a great adventure Kenzie. It will be thrilling, aggravating, rewarding and infuriating, but never boring.

I found it helped to remember what I was like at that age (probably easier for you than me). Sometimes when they say no, it means "no", and sometimes it means "what do you think?" or even "I just don't know". Sometimes it takes trial and error to find out which. Don't be afraid to make mistakes, as long as you admit them (to yourself and to Alissa), and then hopefully you can both learn from them.

---

I hope all goes well for you Kenzie. I don't have advice to offer as I have never had children. If they are anything like Boa Constrictors, then it should be easy. Feed them once every two weeks, and clean the cage a week after feeding.... :D

Steve

---

Warning, addicted to SETI crunching!
Crunching as a member of GPU Users Group.
GPUUG Website

Actually Steve, they are more like puppies than snakes. In my experience.

Praise them right away, in public, whenever they deserve it. Blaming should be done after some thought, probably one-on-one. But don't wait too long, or they forget what you are talking about. Just like with puppies.

---

This will be a great adventure for you Kenzie! Taking on a 14 year old girl will be quite a challenge (14 year old boys are bad enough) but should also be great fun.

If she is ever bored or lonely I have plenty of nice teenage boys (and their associated girl friends) she could meet.

---

Reality Internet Personality

I think you will be fine.

---

With each crime and every kindness we birth our future.

I'm going to be a mommy!!!

Don't do that, I nearly had a heart attack!!!

Phew. OK, Well that's very kind of you to take her on, but I guess there were certain family pressures there. Now then you, get in touch with Esme. Quite apart from the fact that it's about time you did anyway, it could be a useful interaction of support.

Well I can certainly give advice on dealing with teens...especially if the young lady has gone through what sounds like quite an upheaval in her life. She's lucky to have you Kenzie.

---

Reality Internet Personality

Thanks for the advice and support, everyone. :D

I don't think that I'll have too much trouble with Alissa. She is a fairly straight-laced kid and will likely take more exception to her gothy-grunge aunt than vice-versa.

Anyway, she arrives Saturday afternoon, so we shall see what happens.

---

Pure mathematics is, in its way, the poetry of logical ideas.

Albert Einstein

I still remember the story of Q-baby: this one promises to be just as good. Keep us posted ;-)

I still remember the story of Q-baby: this one promises to be just as good. Keep us posted ;-)

Q-baby?

Steve

---

Warning, addicted to SETI crunching!
Crunching as a member of GPU Users Group.
GPUUG Website

I still remember the story of Q-baby: this one promises to be just as good. Keep us posted ;-)

Q-baby?

Steve

Yep and yours is called Piggy. What Richard is refering to is buried somewhere in the N/C forum.

Kenzie you will be fine. Don't be surprised, that after some battles in those six month or so, she will ask to permanently move in.

As everyone else here said. Keep us posted.

---

Pluto will always be a planet to me.

Seti Ambassador
Not to late to order an Anni Shirt

Kenzie...A Mommy...

---

I Desire Peace and Justice, Jim Scott (Mod-Ret.)

I still remember the story of Q-baby: this one promises to be just as good. Keep us posted ;-)

Q-baby?

Steve

Yeah, I got tired of computers dying a week out of warranty so I decided to build my own.

It sort of became a pet project over in NC where I started a thread begging for help. In truth, those folks actually built it, I just bought the bits and stuck them together. After 2 years, it is still crunching, while every other computer I've ever owned has long since passed into oblivion.

Alissa gets here on Saturday. I don't know if she has a computer or not but, if so, I'll try and talk her into BOINCING it. :)

---

Pure mathematics is, in its way, the poetry of logical ideas.

Albert Einstein

I'm going to be a mommy!!!

Don't do that, I nearly had a heart attack!!!

WOW.... No kidding! Anyway I'm sure it'll be an eye-opener for both of you! It does sound like fun!

---

Being responsible is an attraction to adulthood that that sits upon the threshold of mans evolution.

Farewell damsel.

Off to the airport to pick up Vancouver's newest resident.

It promises to be a surreal few months. :P

---

Pure mathematics is, in its way, the poetry of logical ideas.

Albert Einstein