Post 4.

    At sixteen I know a girl who lost her self esteem and her mom felt as though it was her personal quest to help her find it.  I'm describing my sixteen year old daughter Danielle, who is a young mommy.  And I'm the mom who believes finally I found her self esteem.  As a sixteen year old mom, the other students your age in school don't cut you much slack.  Everyday someone is telling you what a screw up you are.  When at sixteen we all know that just because you do not have a baby on your hip, this does not mean you have not had sex.  But maybe it's the fear of the whole truth that effects these young people who are so critical of those who have been caught.  These young adults that makeup a large part of my daughters daily intended academic timetable.  Have had a large part in the lose of her self esteem.
     For to years I studied her intently trying to figure out what her interests were and what she did well. I decided at that point to enroll her at the Rock Star Academy.  I started her off in guitar and drum lessons and then we worked in a couple singing lessons.  After the second singing lesson she was invited to a band practice.  She sang the first night, the band lost the singer and so she then was asked to become the lead singer.  Her self esteem has improved and she couldn't be happier being involved in something that is so cool.  Her band has performed several shows locally in the Flint area. And let me say, they sound awesome and they love what they are doing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gxk_SG3RnR8

Teen Parenting

Last trip with friend to Chicago Museum of Natural History

           As I told everyone in my first post my teenage daughter is a mom.  We found out when she was fourteen, that she was pregnant.  When she decided that the path chose for her, would be the one she would follow. I explained to her there would be changes.  She really couldn't imagine how profound those changes would be.   As the days pass, months slide by, and now it's been over a year since the little guy was born, her friends are no where to be found.  Those friends she spent everyday with, hanging out at each others house, Friday night football games, bowling, movie nights with all her friends.  Now Friday nights are spent watching sitcoms with mom and calling it a night by eight thirty.  If she takes a trip to Wal Mart on the weekend, it's as if I've drove twenty two hours and shes at the Disney World Resort, Orlando.  And now instead of fashion, and talking with friends about which guy is the flavor of the week,  we discuss her education and her five year plan.    And as for that fellow that was on my porch agreeing this would be difficult and there would have to be a tremendous amount of sacrifice on everyone's part, well.  He spends everyday hanging out with his friends, discussing whats new for x box, movie nights with his friends, gaming nights and the occasional party.  The last stop he makes, when there's nothing really to do, and all of his friends are busy, is our house.                         I truly wonder if she feels like she's lost everything through this, or if she understands this is the sacrifice we make as parent's.  And that no one person will ever love her as much as her son. She never complains about sitting home or the fact she is alone.  She never shows any interest in any of her classmates or discusses the topic of dating or an interest in having a relationship, at some point.  She's never on the phone or the computer.  I believe she has this mind set that she'll be rejected, or just not fit in, if she dare socialize.  I am very proud of the parent she has become, but is that enough.

Rent's Rave Review

          There is a story written and due to it's content, has won many awards.  This story became a very popular play on Broadway.  The storyline of this play is taken from a dramatic opera "La Boheme", written by an Italian playwright in eighteen ninety five.  The story has been modernized to depict current issues. Such as Aids, drug addiction, and the very painful ridicule that overshadows those who are bi-sexual and homosexual.  This dramatic musical is simply titled RENT,  a musical named for the underlying financial issues these seven friends must confront along with their personal issues they share with one another.                                     They're story begins in the winter in New York, where it is very cold, the snow is falling and the wind is howling through the old windows of an old warehouse converted into an apartment building.  Roger, a musician who is HIV positive and still trying to overcome the loss of his girlfriend to suicide.  She committed suicide after learning she was HIV positive.  And Mark an amateur film maker, who actually narrates the story, meet up in the apartment to discuss there inability to pay their rent.  From outside, phones their friend Collin who is homosexual and HIV positive.  After phoning for his friends to throw down the keys, so he can enter the apartment, he is confronted  by muggers who assault him and steal his wallet.  From across the road a street musician,  Angel, who also is homosexual and HIV positive comes to Collins side to help him.  Collin is so struck by Angels beauty he believes God has sent him an angel from Heaven.  The two form a relationship that lasts throughout the entirety of the story.
        After the landlord of the apartment shuts off the electricity for non payment of rent, Mimi a exotic dancer who is also HIV positive.  Knocks on Rogers apartment door to ask him for a lighter or matches to light a candle.  After only a moment Mimi realizes she is attracted to Roger,  but Roger is not ready to begin a relationship.  Until later at the Life Cafe when Mimi and Roger admit to one another that the reasoning behind their watch alarms sounding off  at the same time was they shared the same schedule for their AZT.  Mimi has a nasty drug habit that causes conflict in her relationship with Roger.  And also a past relationship with the landlord Benny also causes conflict later in the relationship.
         Mark the amateur filmmaker who previously shared a relationship with Maureen, a musician, who has since realized her sexual preference is not once believed.  Now shares a relationship with an attorney she meant during her relationship with Mark.  Maureen uses her musical talents to protest against their landlord Benny in various concerts around the area of the apartments owned by Benny.  Maureen is very demanding and creates a lot of stress on her relationships.  Throughout the story Mark and Maureen remain friends even though in the past suffered there own set of conflicts. 
        Benny a wealthy slumlord owns many businesses and apartment buildings.  His actions against those who are unable to pay there rent is harsh and comes swiftly.  For example when he shut off the electricity when the temperatures were below freezing. And the occupants of the building lite burning barrels inside the building to stay warm.  Candles were also used to omit light at night, while the power was temporarily off in the building.  Although Benny, rough around the edges, in the end has a change of heart and restores electricity to his occupants and provides much more to the seven friends, much more than they ever expected.
        At the end of the story tears fall, as the events of the seven friend come to a conclusion.  The conclusion is one that can be foreseen through the events of the story but this does not make it any less sad for the audience.  The events of this story are very realistic for our times.  And the story is one to educate the audience and teach compassion towards humans living with circumstances the majority of us do not understand, therefore we do not except.

Teen Pregnancy

     At fourteen a girl is swept off her feet by a boy well into his sixteenth year of life.  The boy, who has  already experienced many things in his teenage years thinks of having sex equivalent to going out for an ice cream sunday.  This young girl is asked again and again to just do it, to have sex.  Many times in months to follow she refuses, but the escalating pressure is such that she finally gives in.  At fourteen and nine months this young girl finds herself scared and pregnant.  The weeks to follow are weeks she would never want to relive, filled with the hardest decision of her life.  The church always preached about life,  the man on the corner had a sign that had a picture of a fetus that was aborted, cut up on a blood soaked towel.  And I myself, her mother believe if she were pregnant it is because God already chose life for her unborn child.  And the rest of the family, well,  they believe in abortion, especially in her situation, or at the very least adoption.   Night after night for two weeks she cried I told every one to leave her be, I knew this decision was one she had to make on her own.  I explained to her the effects, and the consequences her decision would have.  I also explained how the consequences of her decision would effect the rest of her life, no matter what she decided.  I also let her know I would support any choice she made and do my very best to help her with her needs.                      This situation has turned our lives upside down.  But I must say to wake up every morning with my beautiful Grandson Marley's big smile and hugs and kisses, I know she made the right decision.  I am unemployed and care for my Marley full time while my Daughter finishes her high school education.  I will never regret the sacrifices we've made.  Now at sixteen my daughter is an excellent mother.  She has given up all of her friends for her life as a mother, and is focusing on her education.  I'm afraid the father has not sacrificed as she has.  And I know there are times she feels very alone, but she brushes it off and stays focused. http://www.mtv.com/shows/teen_mom/season_2/series.jhtml