Boy Friendships versus Girl Friendships

One of the more fascinating and moving things for me as a parent is to watch my child befriend another. "The better part of one's life consists of his friendships," stated Abraham Lincoln. And is it ever one of the better parts.

Observing the way females friend and the manner in which males conduct a friendship was something I didn't truly begin to do until I became a mother. I believe I really started to sit up and take notice when Kenny was about 13 and I overheard him lacing a conversation with his then best friend with some choice expletives.

"You are a (expletive deleted)!" he said into the telephone. "I really hate you." I was shocked and stormed into the living room where he was on the phone, scolding him not to speak that way to Joe, or to anyone else for that matter. He just laughed at me and insisted that Joe didn't mind; he knew Kenny was joking. I refused to believe him until I called Joe's mom later to apologize, and she relayed that Joe referred to Kenny in the same sweet terms. "That's just boys," she counseled. Yikes! And yes, boys can often get away with that.

I was in recent email contact with a woman who has been one of my dearest friends since the sixth grade. Apparently I didn't respond in a timely manner to one of her messages, so she emailed back: "Are you mad at me?" Now that's a trademark of girl friendships pretty much no matter what your age or how long the friendship. We're more sensitive. We're prone to imagining that our girlfriend is "mad" at us if they even look at us cross-eyed. And we try not to use wounding words, at least when we're older and wiser. I still don't think even a 14-year-old girl could get away with calling her girlfriend some of the demeaning things boys seemingly casually lob onto one another.

A quick Googling of "children's friendships" revealed that despite the common belief that girls are better at relationships, "most boys consider their friends a vital part of their lives." Apparently a recent study of 10- to 15- year old boys and girls found that girls' friendships are actually more fragile, and, my experience to the contrary, girls allegedly say and do hurtful things to each other more frequently than boys. Girls are additionally hurt to a greater extent at the end of a friendship.

As a child morphs into a teen (or "teen wolf" as a friend of mine hilariously dubbed her daughter), friendships become even more important, with the confusion and turbulence of this period leading both sexes to form even closer bonds, not only with same sex individuals but also with members of the opposite sex. I watched this in action with my older three and now that Jack is a seventh grader, he and his male buddies have suddenly overnight formed a small posse of boys and girls. Whereas last year he would troll Elm Street with just the guys, now when I pick him up on a Friday he is lounging with a mixed group at the Outback or by Dunkin' Donuts, et al. Of course, with him being my baby, it is with a sense bitter sweet when I spy on his new set of friends; he's growing up and I'm not entirely ready. But I digress...

I look back fondly at the relationships that I formed growing up in small town Weston, where the majority of us who graduated high school with one another had been together since kindergarten and first grade; several since the sandbox in nursery school. The male friendships forged in teenage-hood were often stronger than those with my girlfriends, or at least they were a distinctive type of stalwart. I observe my daughter Jess' platonic bonds with boys and share what my experiences were. I will often pass on the knowledge that her female friendships not only with her New Canaan buddies, but also with those up at her boarding school, will more than likely still be alive and well and precious when she is old and silly like me.

My kids have chosen friends with opposite personalities than their own, they've chosen clones. And most importantly, they have by and large chosen well.

I have recently been "found" on Facebook by a dozen or so men and women (whom I still think of as boys and girls) from my youth. It has hurtled me back in time, reviving memories of how vital their friendships were as I grew; how we all helped one another grow. It makes me picture Blake, Kenny, Jess and Jack as 50-year-olds, waxing nostalgic with Sean, Jenna, Joe, Bria, Caroline, Drew or Cole or Kit. Friends then, and friends in their present time.

You can be seven with a new buddy, or 70 with a crony of decades, and -- to paraphrase Bette Midler -- "friends are the wings beneath our wings." Friends are one of the sweetest things to be thankful for. This Thanksgiving, remember and be grateful for those friends; remind your children to be indebted. Happy Thanksgiving!

Persuading Our Kids That We're In Charge

How many times have you repeated the following sentence to your child or children,"Because I'm the mommy, that's why!" And on how many occasions have they muttered under their darling little breaths, "You're not the boss of me."

I have one of those platitudes-of-the-day calendars. Last Tuesday it read: "One of the hardest things about rearing children is convincing them that you have seniority." Oh my goodness; a truism if there ever was one. My kids go back and forth on recognizing that their father and I are, in fact, in charge. We are in charge of setting rules and following through on consequences when - notice I didn't day "if" - the edict is broken or bent. We have the power to overrule a decision of theirs that we feel is perhaps iffy, dangerous or not well thought out. This is in theory anyway.

Children seemed to be hard wired to challenge our authority even from a young age. During the "terrible twos" - an aptly named period if there ever was one - they begin chanting "no!" at every turn. They constantly screw their otherwise adorable faces up into a fierce visage and decry "why?!" And our response is the patented one from above:"Because I'm the mommy, that's why." Both my daughter Jess, now 15, and one of my older sons, Kenny, 23, disputed me on that one from toddlerhood through their teens (Jess I'm afraid has a few more years of the annoying line of questioning "why?"). Each whined and still whine that "because" isn't answer enough, I need to be more specific, which more times than not leaves me a bit stumped, if not also stupefied.

My litany of reasons include,"Because you're not old enough, responsible enough, because you can get hurt, because it costs too much, because I'm older than you, dammit!" Yeah, the last one is pretty lame. I don't endorse the occasional swear word, but it works sometimes. I'm older, I have been where you are now, I made mistakes and I am wiser for it. So just shut up and do as I say. Again, I don't really say "shut up" out loud, of course, except when one of my kids has really pushed my buttons too hard or campaigned for their way to excruciating proportions. This honest declaration in print is a little awkward, but something tells me that I am not alone with these particular verbal parenting indiscretions.

I don't think the phrase "You're not the boss of me" was really employed much when Kenny and Blake were younger, but Jack and Jess certainly never tired of during their stints in elementary school and perhaps through the fifth grade. In their heart of hearts they do know that I am the one with seniority, yet when has a teenager not challenged their parent's authority? It is part of their job description. But - and this is an important "but" - they can and eventually do realize that rebellion often comes with a price; left to their own devices, their own rules, situations don't routinely turn out quite the way they envisioned. Heeding mom or dad's advice might have been the better part of valor.

I can feel quite elderly and stereotypically parental when I utter the words,"When I was your age, these are the mistakes I made..." yet every so often my kid will actually pay attention. It appears that they will take in the obvious fact that yes, mom is indeed older and wiser than me, and battle-scarred. And if she didn't love me she wouldn't forbid certain behaviors or decisions I would like to act on. Sometimes even the simple one word comeback of "because" is enough.

So hang in there everyone. Do not abdicate to your offspring; do not negotiate - whenever possible - with your tiny or teenage terrorist. You are in charge, even if the whirling dervishes temporarily make you feel out-of-control.

The Scary Economy and the Trick for Our Kids

This past month or two has hardly been a treat for our town and our country, to say the least. Reeling, frightened and cautious, most of us have had to cut back or cut out certain expenditures. As the grown-ups - many of who have lived through a recession or two in our lifetimes - we understand what is required to trim spending no matter how unhappy or uneasy (or both) it makes us. Our kids on the other hand, denied of "wants" for perhaps the first time in their lives, are shaking their heads: "Huh? What are you talking about?!"

Depending upon your level of wealth(and the majority of families here in New Canaan are in the upper end of the spectrum), your children have rarely had to do without the latest video game, piece of sporting equipment, footwear or fashion item, advanced piece of technology, etc. Sally needs a cell phone with numerous bells and whistles? No problem. Johnny has to have the newest version of X-Box? Why of course! Does Sara ask for $50 to purchase some must-have item along Elm Street? Consider it done. It's almost automatic. Maybe a lot of us did without during our childhood and so we want our children to have all or most of which we were unable. Probably a hefty percentage of kids age one to 21-ish feel entitled to whatever costly whim blows through their vision. And now, the gravy train has more than likely come abruptly to a screeching halt. The trick for us as parents is teaching them that less is not necessarily the end of and to their world, and that gravity can work in the reverse: What goes down can - and does eventually - go up again. They will live anew to wear $150-plus Nikes or the hottest Juicy Couture. Sometime. Just not necessarily now.

Our high school sophomore, Jess, had to settle for Target and H&M fashions to wear up at boarding school this year. We didn't even set foot inside Hollister or Abercrombie or even some of the more upscale (and coveted by her) stores in New Canaan. Her school often offers weekend trips to a local "movie-mall" and she has grown accustomed to phoning us up and asking that an extra $20 be immediately transferred into her debit account. After initial grumbling, Jon will pad over to the computer, granting her wish. She attempted this particular brand of phone call last weekend and was met with an unfamiliar "no." Jon calmly, but firmly, suggested that she needed to learn to budget the weekly $20 we already put into her account better: For instance, cut back on random junk food and yet another Jonas Brothers t-shirt for sale at the mall. Surely the 12-zillion you already posses are enough. I explained that the denied additional $20 didn't mean we were suddenly in danger of being in the poor house, but that expenses big and small needed to be pruned.

"We're not the only ones in town, honey," I reassured her. "Families all over the country need to tighten their belts a bit." And to her credit, she was sympathetic and decidedly un-whiny.

I think the key to calming our own fears, and the frustrations or anxieties of our children, is not to make drastic spending reductions (unless that is financially impossible). If our kids see us panic, well, they will certainly mimic that worry. But if we calmly curtail certain expenses while still allowing some treats it's perhaps more of a win-win situation between parent and child.

While the disposable income of many Americans is not as readily disposable, our children can still be made to feel that the shaky economy is not as mean a trick as it appears. They can learn to do their part in pruning expenses in small ways such as agreeing to rent - rather than buy - that hot, new video game, or helping with the electric bill by turning off lights, computers, televisions and game systems when not in use. My own two younger children - whose cell phones are not in perfect working order - are resigned to do their part and wait until Christmas for their upgrades and/or replacements. I was both shocked and impressed by them agreeing to delay their need for instant gratification; talk about a treat!

Wall Street has most likely (hopefully) blurted out its final "Boo!" So tomorrow night, when your child comes home laden with sweets, let them enjoy their abundance of riches. But not too much; safely saving a piece or two or three for a rainy day is always a good drill to teach. Because you never know...

Parenting Twenty-Somethings

"Having babies is fun, but babies grow up into people. "
~M*A*S*H, Colonel Potter

My oldest child is 25, a United States Marine, and for the moment is stationed at a base on the island of Okinawa. My second oldest son is 23, a "professional hobo," and as such doesn't live anywhere in particular; he just lights here and there throughout the United States. I never know where his thumb is taking him. But even if these two children of mine have long since fled the New Canaan nest, I still think, worry and wonder about each of them daily. Though one might think having a child in their 20's means the job as a parent is pretty much over, that's hardly the case. The parenting part is actually a bit trickier than it was long ago, in a childhood far, far away.

"Mothers do not know what to do when their children come of age... it's hard to find that they've moved on to build a life of their own. It's easy to feel rejected and lonely and to express those feelings by interfering in the life they (the child) are trying to build for themselves," states a website on family education.

Although I may not be happy, for example, with Kenny's current lifestyle of living out of his backpack, I have to acknowledge that my hopes and dreams may not be his. As parents, our hopes and expectations are just that - ours. Acknowledging this is one thing, but acceptance of it with all of my being is something I find I must work on daily. I read Kenny's travel blog and I want to reach through the computer and shake him. Or we will have a conversation about where and what his next move may be and when I hang up my tongue is bloodied from biting it. Since his college graduation I have had to swallow the bitter pill that his agenda and mine are clearly not one and the same. I miss my power, as it were; my influence. Although perhaps I am not giving myself enough credit.

There have been moments in both of my twenty-something sons' lives where they have turned to me for direction or input. I am the one they call first when successes - small or large - occur. It actually happens more with Kenny than with Blake, which -- given their different life experiences so far -- makes sense. Blake has certainly seen more in his 25 years than many adults see in their lifetimes. Three combat tours in Iraq will do that for a person. He has been on his own since high school graduation, existing under the wing of the military. Blake is always quick with the phrase: "I can handle it myself, mom." I suppose on many fronts that is true, and yet every so often I get that glimmer of my pre-Marine baby boy. The boy who needed my approval, helping hand or guidance, and shyly still does.

It is so very odd to me to realize that Blake is only two years younger than I was when I gave birth to him. I remember how adult that life-changing event made me feel, yet also how frightened, young and uncertain. And so my mother came to stay with me for a few weeks before and after his birth, offering both that typical roll-your-eyes-behind-her-back type of advice, and also crucial and calming suggestions; the kind of motherly attention and affection every kid needs no matter what their age. There we were, the mother mothering the mother mothering the newborn child. I learned that there were- are - still plenty of opportunities to do some good mothering even when your child is north of age 20.

Your adult child is going to make mistakes and will have to learn to live with and from them, often without turning to you for bail out. And although it doesn't pain us any less to see our child hurt at 22 then at two, there will be times when unsolicited pontificating is not the best course of action. Your goal as a parent at this stage in the game is to help your child feel empowered to take charge. That can be best accomplished if you make it clear that he or she always has a home and family to turn to when life gets tough.

The "traumatic teens" have long passed for my older boys and have morphed into the "trials of the 20's." Their stuff is still in their room, clothes, gear and gadgets from their younger days untouched, hanging out in a closet or nestled in their dresser drawer. Both will be home for Christmas this year, a rare occurrence given Blake's career. They will pretend to chafe at my affection, but the slight pink blush that comes across their cheeks will remind me that I am still employed as their mother, even though I am not involved in their day-to-day actions as young adults.

Instant availability without continuous presence is probably the best role a parent can play.

RESOURCE LISTINGS

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Pamper Yourself!

MASSAGE

~ Massage Envy of Fairfield; 2279 Black Rock Tpk.; 203-333-ENVY
~ Massage by Helen, LMT @ The Meridian Centre, Stamford; 203-3246-6729
~Therapeutic Massage in the comfort of your own home; www.massageatyour doorstep.com; 203-531-6246
~Robin Ordan, LMT (Old Greenwich and Stamford); 203-561-8535
~ Greenwich Healing Hands,Greenwich; 203-253-5576
~ Beyond Touch, Ridgefield; 203-438-2354

FACIAL
~Therapeutic Skin Care; Marilyn Hall, certified esthetician; 203-847-0250

YOGA AND PILATES

~ Pilates Studio of Fairfield, 39 Sherman Ct.; 203-255-1246
~ Black Rock Pilates Stdio, 2889 Fairfield Avenue; 203-335-1987
~ Yoga Sensations, 511 Glenbrook Rd., Stamford; 203-965-0696
~ Nu-Yoga, Norwalk; 203-854-6744
~ Harmony Yoga, 48 Union St., Stamford; 203-962-4672

TEEN CENTERS

IN WESTPORT: Toquet Hall, is open to all students of Westport's public and private high schools.It is a supervised drug-and alcohol-free space where teens are encouraged to initiate, organize, and participate in, a broad range of activities. Located on the second floor at 58 Post Road East, directly across from the YMCA. Entrance is in an alleyway, with a sign above the door. Toquet Hall is open from Wednesday through Saturday: Wednesdays and Thursdays 3 - 9 p.m. Fridays 6 p.m - midnight and Saturdays 6p.m. - midnight (Hours are subject to change.)

IN GREENWICH: Greenwich Skate Park. 61 East Putnam Ave Greenwich, CT. Skate and ramp park with season or day passes available to both residents and non residents. Conveniently located to the train station and the Arch Street Teen Center. Used primarily by the 12-15 set. Learn to skate and camps offered. Site is supervised.

IN NEW CANAAN:The Outback. Run under the supervision of two adult directors, and by a Student Government Board, The Outback offers a projector TV (as well as several other TV's with cable access) stereo equipment, stage complete with lighting and PA system, pool and ping pong tables, Internet access, and comfortable seating and work space. The feature of the facility is the Outback Café, providing great food at reasonable prices exclusively for teens. In addition to the use of all of the facilities listed above, you can enjoy special events every Friday and Saturday night including dances, band nights, movie nights, karaoke, and improv comedy. The Outback is situated just behind Town Hall with easy access from Elm Street.

IN FAIRFIELD:The Beanery; sponsored by Fairfield Parks & Rec; a high school nightclub showcasing local bands; Fridays 7:30-11 p.m.; residents only. IN RIDGEFIELD: The Barn: 10 Governor Street;Foosball, air hockey, 2 TV's; teen dances

Gay Youth/Parents of Gay Youth Support Sites

~ outproud.org

~ youthresource.com

~PFLAG.com

~ danwoog.com

ALCOHOLISM SUPPORT (AA)

visit ct-aa.org

BEREAVEMENT OR TRAUMA COUNSELING/SUPPORT GROUPS

The Center for Hope, 590 Post Road , Darien ; 203-655-4693, also in Stamford at 325-8123.

Women's Bereavement Group in New Canaan; the Congregational, Episcopal, Lutheran, Methodist and Presbyterian churches offer a program based upon "The New Day Journal," a guide and support during a time of grief. For more information call 966-0002.

The Den-Family Centers in Greenwich: 203-869-4848.
The Danbury Chapter of The Compassionate Friends; 203-797-8896. Grief support group for families who have experienced the death of a child.

INFOLINE: 2-1-1

The Whittingham Cancer Center at Norwalk Hospital; 203-852-2148.
Northeast Center For Trauma Recovery; acute traumatic stress and grief counseling; Greenwich; 203-661-9393, ext. 8.
"Growing Through Grief,"Ann's Place The Home of I Can offers "Transitions," a bereavement support group, in the Danbury area. Call 203-790-6568.
Stamford Counseling Center; free, short-term counsel; 203-323-8560.
Christ & Holy Trinity Church Bereavement Support Group; Westport; 203-227-0827.

DIVORCE SUPPORT GROUPS
The Greenwich YWCA has redesigned its divorce support group to focus on the emotional transitions, legal transactions and the personal transformations surrounding the divorce process. To register, please call 203-869-6501, X 239.

The Family Center Services in Westport is offering divorce and separation mom support groups. For more information on days and times for the groups, call 203-226-7007.

Family Centers' in Darien is offering a single moms support group, Mondays at 6:30 p.m.; 972 Boston Post Road, Darien; 655-0547.
"DivorceCare" is a special weekly seminar and support group for those separated or divorced. Offered in the New Canaan area. For more information, call 972-7680.

Center for Divorce Mediation & Family Services; Stamford ; 203-978-7680.

SEXUAL ASSAULT & DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HELP/SUPPORT

Connecticut Domestic Violence Hotline:1-888-774-2900

The Family Center in Westport sponsors a support group for rape survivors; call 203-226-7007

The Sexual Assault Crisis Center in Stamford; support for rape and incest survivors; 203-348-9346; Hotline: 203-329-2929

Domestic Violence Crisis Center; Norwalk Hotlines - 203-852-1980 and 888-774-2900/ Stamford Hotline - 203-357-8162

Center for Women and Families Domestic Violence Service, Bridgeport - 203-384-9669; 203-334-6154; 888-774-2900

CANCER SUPPORT GROUPS

Breast Cancer Survival Center, Norwalk ; 203-857-7304.

Cancer Care, Inc., Fairfield; 203-854-9911.

Center for Hope, Darien and Stamford; 203-655-4693/203-325-8123.

Ann's Place in Danbury; learn what's new in local cancer support services at www.annsplace.org. Support groups for women, men, children and caregivers; yoga, journaling and relaxation; 203-790-6568.

Y-ME of CT; 203-483-8200. Meets in Bridgeport at St. Vincent Medical Center alternate Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m. and Milford Hospital on alternate Wednesdays.

DANCE THERAPY AND SOUND THERAPY!

The 5Rhythms of Gabrielle Roth Workshops; heal body and soul through expressive dance; 203-254-3932.

Sound Directions; drumming and rythm-based programs to meet specific therapeutic, wellness and recreational needs; 203-454-DRUM/www.sounddirections.net.

HOLISTIC HEALTH CENTERS

Angelic Healing Center, Norwalk; 203-852-1150

Centre for Natural Healing, Norwalk; 203-857-0202

Sabita Holitistic Center, Fairfield & Southport; 203-254-2633

Stamford Center for Natural Health; High Ridge Road; 203-325-3535
Total Life Care Center, Norwalk; 203-853-4852.
Kindred Spirits, Wilton: 203-563-9781
Spiritual Insights for Living, Bridgeport; 203-870-8966
Reverence and Mirth, Stamford; 203-588-9309

SPIRITUAL/RELIGIOUS STORES

Close to the Edge, 1091 Bridgeport Ave., Milford (books, music, self-help videos/tapes & more); 203-874-2899

Angels & Company, 115 Main Street, Monroe(angel gifts, cards and more); 203-445-0758

The Lion's Den Book & Gift Store/St. Mark's Parish, 111 Oenoke Ridge, New Canaan; bibles, holy books, prayer, icons, meditation, yoga, toys, jewelry, gifts, candles... ; open Wed., Thurs. & Friday 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., Saturdays at 10 a.m.

Nutmeg Healing Center & Holistic Wares & Sundries Shop, 22 Broad St., Milford; 203-783-1811

A Touch of Sedona, 452 Main St., Ridgefield (gift shop and spiritual center); 203-438-7146.

Centre for Natural Healing, 35 Wall Street, Norwalk (aromatherapy, candles, books, flower essences); 203-857-0202.