5 Rules on Being a Teenager

Being a teenager is always an adventure. It's the stages that are between awkward and mature. Obnoxious and responsible. They're your growing up years. It's not always fun and school usually gets more challenging, and you're trying to fit in and and and... I'm only 16 and even when I feel old, I know I'm still young. So since I've been a teenager for 4 years, I decided to write down some funny and basic rules on being a teenager.

1. Do not ask someone if they have a crush on another person. For the love of all things good and pure...do NOT do this. Unless it's your best friend or your sibling. (insert awkward stories) Because when you're just minding your own business and all of a sudden someone comes up and asks you "Do you like him/her?" and 10 other people hear and look at you and wait for your response...it's not ok. Because then you can end up blushing and those people can tell other people and there's peer pressure...so unless it's a safe situation, spare that moment.

2. Smell good. Please shower. Please please please. I know you're staying up late doing homework and waking up before the rooster crows but take the time to at least shower and put some good smelly stuff on. Because the last thing you want to be in high school is "that kid who smells like he just rolled in garbage". So just trust me on this and have good hygiene.

3. Stay out of drama. If you go to school or hang out with lots of other people your age, there's bound to be drama. Even if you try your hardest to stay out of it or ignore that girl that's had 14 boyfriends - it's bound to hit you in the face sooner or later. Because as soon as you ask Suzy about her boy problems...you're her clutch-the person she complains to about everything. Blah blah blah. Or as soon as you listen to that cute boy talking about how he snuck out of his house over the weekend...you've heard it and you can't go back. So stick with the right crowd and get some friends that you know are good to be around.

4. Respect your parents. I cannot emphasize this enough. Now, my parents are great...and I really truly mean that. They're teaching me life lessons and being my best friends at the same time. But if you respect their decisions for you, as their child, and listen to them - they're going to do the same to you. They're going to realize that you know your boundaries and you're a good kid. Don't push it and ask to go to bad parties or sneak out of the house because that's how you get yourself in trouble. Because they're doing the best they can and the least you can do for them is say "ok mom/dad I understand".

5. Be original. Yeah yeah this is so cliche..."be yourself" yadda yadda yadda. You've heard it 1000 times. But no seriously. I don't care if you're with your best friend, at church, or by yourself...just be you. I've had troubles with this in the past and the last thing you want to be is the person you're not. Hiding under some fake mannequin. Sing in the shower, make stupid puns, wear your sparkly converse from 7th grade (ha funny story - I still do that), hang out with both genders, read a book - who cares if someone calls you a nerd, play a new sport, just make sure you're doing it all for you. Not me or that cute boy on the football team. YOU.

xoxo,
~Michlyn

Wish I'd Never Grown Up.

You're sitting in your room...playing Barbies or Legos. Crashing cars together or combing your favorite doll's hair.

Laughing and playing like the world will never end. Running around in your superhero cape or dress-up clothes.

Looking at your mommy and wishing that you were as pretty as her. Dreaming to wear that red lipstick or bright nail polish. Watching your daddy shave and lift heavy stuff. Hoping to be as strong as him one day.

Just an innocent little kid waiting for the day when you're big enough to drive around a real car or do your own make-up.

Then 10 years passes by like the wind, and you're a teenager learning how to fit in and get through life's crazy stuff.

The reality is that growing up is way harder than we thought. It's more than just hanging out with friends, driving fast cars, looking pretty, or watching TV like a boss. No...it includes actually becoming responsible, paying for your cell phone bill, helping to grocery shop, watching your little siblings, working hard in school so you can graduate, and maturing into the person that God wants you to be.


And did I mention innocent above? Oh yeah I did...There are so many things that we don't know as little kids. We don't know what drugs or alcohol are, we don't know that bullying even exists in school, or what suicide even is. We think guns are things that cowboys use in the wild west not a common weapon, or that music in the world can be so obscene.

Yeah there's puberty to go through and good hygiene to learn but that's just natural and normal stuff. Of course there are those awkward and funny moments about that stuff, but it's just part of growing up.


And it's hard and frustrating, good and awkward, humorous and exciting. We just have to make wise decisions and live in the moment. Realize that no matter what we go through will pass and we will grow to become mature people.


And sometimes I pretend that I'm a little kid again with no internet access, playing Barbies in my room with my little sister, or swinging with the wind in my hair. But to live without pretending is to take the hard challenges straight on and crush them!



Deep down inside we're still that little kid...Just a bigger version wishing to go back in time.
~Michlyn

Awesome and Awkward Friday

Following along with my friend Brooke! She wrote she "awesome and awkward post" here!

Awesome:

>>Getting hugs from your friends.
>Grades going up as the semester finishes up
>>Having a mom who will listen to you and give you advice.
>Receiving the sweetest emails from bloggy friends
>>My hair - I just love the new cut. It's so fresh!
>Buying new music on iTunes because your awesome dad got you a gift card!
>>Reliving memories
>Being able to drive all by myself
>>Pictures to capture those moments
>Pinterest
>>The beautiful snow

Awkward:

>Sitting in class and you see your friend through the window in the door, so you wave. Then the teacher sees you, stops talking, makes a confused face, and the whole class laughs.

>>Sitting in class as the teacher is explaining something new. Then, you're used as an example and everyone in the class looks at you.

>Your friend tells you something suuupppeeerrrrr funny and you start laughing hysterically. Nobody else knows what's going on, so they just stare at you as you turn as red as a tomato and gasp for air...and continue to laugh some more.

>>When your walking down the hall and you see someone you kinda know but not really...so you just awkwardly make eye contact like 3 times until you pass each other.

>>Talking to a good guy friend of yours and then the gym teacher says "hey lovebirds let's play the game."

Hope your Friday was fabulous!
~Michlyn

positive & negative & awkward

Sooo I've been having a fantabulous week!

Like seriously... this never happens to me. ever.

I haven't been tired all week, which rarely occurs.

I've stayed on top of homework & volleyball.

Just some random thoughts about positive. negative. and awkward stuff.

Positive//////

It's our first volleyball tournament this Saturday!! Starts at 8 am and goes through the afternoon! I'm so excited to play with the girls - So pumped to play other teams and just have a fun day with the team! :)

Negative/////

So you know how I talked about Fall Fling last year? Click here and here to read about our awesome adventures in 2011. It's a retreat that my church does almost every year with the youth group. It's a BLAST, but I can't go. Ugghhh I was so upset. Although I know that being at my volleyball tournament is important and will be fun too! :)

Awkward//////

Yesterday we had an away game for volleyball. We were playing against a reeaallly good team, and were just super excited. I'm on varsity so we play after JV does. We start the game and then one of the coaches calls a time out, a little bit into the first game. We all stand in a circle and listen to what the coach says. Adjustments and such, that will make us play better. You see, I've had this cough/congestion stuff for about 3 weeks, and it stinks big time. So my throat hurt and I needed a drink of water. I start to take a drink and then all of a sudden I choke. literally. Like my throat blew up and no way is the water going to go down. Then in another split second (kind of felt like slow motion to me - you know those moments right?) I watch water slip out of my mouth and onto a few of my teammates. Then I choke and gargle and blush and laugh all at the same time. I turn around and see if maybe between all the laughter and embarrassment .. I can actually take a normal drink of water. It was quite the "team-bonding".

Have an akwartive rest of your week everyone!
~Michlyn

Awkward and Awesome

My good friend Brooke did this yesterday - Even though she did it on Friday, I thought I could still do it on a Saturday. :)

Awkward ---

So I'm in Language class (English - whatever it's called) and we're having this discussion. We've been talking about notes, lectures, and discussions all week long. Then, finally our teacher says "Ok we're going to have a class discussion on the notes we took about water conservation. Oh and I want to hear everyone say something." Me in my mind: "What?! I don't want to say something, I have to wait for the perfect timing to say something." We eventually start the conversation, and lots of people are saying things - funny and actually smart things too. There are 4 topics that we're talking about, and we get to the 3rd one. A couple of my friends in class: "Michlyn!! Go for it! Just make something up." Me in my mind: "Oh crap, what the heck am I going to say? Just stall as long as possible." Anyway, I finally have to say something - What I planned on saying: "Water conservation is really important. We should really pay attention to the shortages that could happen in the future. The people who wrote these papers study water, and we never really do - so it doesn't seem as important to us." What I actually said: "Well it's good to um.. to pay attention to water shortages... and we like...we don't want that to happen... but like we um... we don't really know... or um... well we don't study it...and idk it's just...yeah." SMOOTH Michlyn real nice future you got in public speaking.

Awesome ---

• Pretty much all my homework is simple.
• Got to babysit all day with my sister Erin, and had a lot of fun 
• School has been weirdly crazy and fun - Even though some days I could fall asleep on my desk for the whole hour, as the rest of my group talks about shoes, sports, and other off-topic things.
• Volleyball has been sooo great, and I'm loving it.
• My family is incredible and I just love them!
• Instagram is becoming a common thing for me -- uh oh another addiction! :)
• I LOVE MY FRIENDS!
• I'm excited to do an upcoming Fall photo shoot with my best friend!!
• I've regularly been keeping up on my devotions, and it's been so great to read what's in God's word for us every single day!

Well that is my awkward and awesome Saturday! 

Hope you all have a great rest of your weekend!

~Michlyn