Post by Groks on Jun 13, 2008 9:09:22 GMT -6
I don't seem to be able to let this go. Yes, I'm 42, but outside of my family, my best friends are teenagers. Does this make me creepy? I've heard from more than one sorce that it seems weird I sometimes hang out with teens.
My daughter tried to put it into prerspective for me....we were driving home from someplace when the subject came up. She asked me to think of what I'd think if she were friends with another 42 year old. I thought about that for a moment, and saw kind of what other parents saw, it might be creepy. But then I thought, if my kid had a friend like that, I'd want to meet this person and get to know them. This person would definitely sound interesting!
But see, that's another reason I'm "weird". I'm definitely a creative person, I thrive on the arts and music and dancing. For the first 9 years we lived here in Missouri, I thought I was going to go insane. I mean, how long can one discuss the "Chiefs" or where to find a bargain at Cargo Largo. My creativity took a major nose dive.
I am now trying to find the art culture here in Kansans City, and there are promising venues (you really have to look for them), but the thing that has kicked my creativity into higher modes was when I started helping out with my daughter's Anime Club at her high school. I don't know what it was about Japanese Anime and high school kids, but after a few meetings, I felt I had finally found a niche' here (in Missouri) where I felt I belonged. These kids were smart, creative, and had all of this crazy energy. Other parents must have thought I was nuts, but I really loved those Wednesday afternoons at Anime Club.
I guess maybe I seemed "creepy" when I started having friendships outside of the club (you know who you are). So, I started this crazy forum, and found a place where I could still have creative contacts with those I knew, without seeming quite so....creepy. But still, even now, I guess that when I do hang out or talk to teens, it could seem kind of weird. Forgive me, I have enjoyed talking to and being with them.
But give up the friendships that I have now?? What, are you nuts?? Someone once told me that when dealing with teenagers you have to make them listen and hear what you have to say. I say it should be the other way around. There is so much to be learned from kids these days. They've shared with me their music, their art (and "youtube" offerings , their literature, poetry, and writing, their belief systems (and gaming systems), their views on the planet and themselves, and most of all, their unbridled creativity. I don't intend to give that up.
Perhaps I should take a good look at what my boundaries are, if it seems that I have crossed boundaries where I shouldn't have, forgive me, I am bipolar and this is a small scratch compared to the bloodbath of past years. I hope parents will be patient as I work out the details.
But, working with teens is where I feel I should be. And for the record, you guys (here on the forum) are "uber" awesome. ;D Lawl....
My daughter tried to put it into prerspective for me....we were driving home from someplace when the subject came up. She asked me to think of what I'd think if she were friends with another 42 year old. I thought about that for a moment, and saw kind of what other parents saw, it might be creepy. But then I thought, if my kid had a friend like that, I'd want to meet this person and get to know them. This person would definitely sound interesting!
But see, that's another reason I'm "weird". I'm definitely a creative person, I thrive on the arts and music and dancing. For the first 9 years we lived here in Missouri, I thought I was going to go insane. I mean, how long can one discuss the "Chiefs" or where to find a bargain at Cargo Largo. My creativity took a major nose dive.
I am now trying to find the art culture here in Kansans City, and there are promising venues (you really have to look for them), but the thing that has kicked my creativity into higher modes was when I started helping out with my daughter's Anime Club at her high school. I don't know what it was about Japanese Anime and high school kids, but after a few meetings, I felt I had finally found a niche' here (in Missouri) where I felt I belonged. These kids were smart, creative, and had all of this crazy energy. Other parents must have thought I was nuts, but I really loved those Wednesday afternoons at Anime Club.
I guess maybe I seemed "creepy" when I started having friendships outside of the club (you know who you are). So, I started this crazy forum, and found a place where I could still have creative contacts with those I knew, without seeming quite so....creepy. But still, even now, I guess that when I do hang out or talk to teens, it could seem kind of weird. Forgive me, I have enjoyed talking to and being with them.
But give up the friendships that I have now?? What, are you nuts?? Someone once told me that when dealing with teenagers you have to make them listen and hear what you have to say. I say it should be the other way around. There is so much to be learned from kids these days. They've shared with me their music, their art (and "youtube" offerings , their literature, poetry, and writing, their belief systems (and gaming systems), their views on the planet and themselves, and most of all, their unbridled creativity. I don't intend to give that up.
Perhaps I should take a good look at what my boundaries are, if it seems that I have crossed boundaries where I shouldn't have, forgive me, I am bipolar and this is a small scratch compared to the bloodbath of past years. I hope parents will be patient as I work out the details.
But, working with teens is where I feel I should be. And for the record, you guys (here on the forum) are "uber" awesome. ;D Lawl....