Julie - how did the (not) nagging work?

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-18-2005
Julie - how did the (not) nagging work?
2
Sun, 03-26-2006 - 4:51pm

How did your daughter make out this week (without the benefit of your nagging)? I've been thinking about it alot, because there are definitely times when my DD does things on her own time and not mine. So far the grades have held up, so it's working, but it's hard to remember not to nag!

Sue

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-06-2006
Mon, 03-27-2006 - 10:37am

OMG Sue, last week was just horrid. I'm not sure how successful I was in not nagging DD at all. DH was out of town last week and I did sooooo much driving that my backside bears a striking resemblance in size and shape to the drivers' seat in my car. Over 1,100 miles and close to 26 hours.

Anyway, since I was the person driving her last week, I spent a lot of time with her and we talked a lot. Whether it was just nice conversation or me nagging about what she needed to do, I don't exactly recall. I do remember her stressing about all the work that her teachers assigned and I don't recall her getting snitty with me, so I think I must have managed to keep quiet! It seems as though she took the initiative all by herself -- there were a couple late nights at the computer, and she did seem very focused on getting her act together.

But as far as the MUN conference went, she pulled it all together -- as I expected she would. Last Sunday, she came to me asking for help because she was having a hard time finding data to support the issues she needed to speak on at the conference. Another omg -- Somalia's position on the border dispute between Ethiopia and Eritrea. ??? Up until that moment, I wasn't even aware there WAS a border dispute between Ethiopia and Eritrea. The second issue was Somalia's position on the disarmament of nuclear weapons in the Middle East. Another big ??? for me. Somalia has opinions on this stuff? Don't they have enough to worry about in their own country? Like food and water? I spent more than two hours searching the web and found the same things she did -- zilch. She met with the MUN advisor early in the week and somehow they managed to find the information they needed.

She gave her speech on Thursday to the Rotary Club and she was very pleased with how she did. Not nervous at all. The fact she did this amazes me completely. This particular Rotary Club is one of the wealthiest -- if not THE wealthiest -- communities in San Diego county. Present at the luncheon was the mayor of the town, several influential businessmen and a former Congressman! I would have fainted dead away on the spot. She mixed and mingled, introduced herself around, ate lunch and gave her speech without missing a beat. I can't believe it is MY child that did this.

She said the conference was fun, but exhausting. She gave her speech on the first day of the conference and got an award for the 'Most Informative Speech' at the closing ceremonies. She was a proud and happy camper.

I know she is tired today and still has a several big projects hanging over her head in her regular academic classes. She was quite motivated and focused last week, so maybe she'll continue on in this mode for the rest of the year. Or is that wishful thinking on my part? Or maybe I was just too tired to really pay attention? Who knows?

Thanks so much for thinking of me. It does seem that these bright kids can pull it all together at the last minute and come out smelling like a rose. Scares me no end, but it seems to work out in spite of that. I hope you had a nice weekend!

Julie

 

 

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-21-2005
Mon, 03-27-2006 - 12:19pm

I'm so glad the MUN conference went well! I had to speak to our local small town Rotary Club - as an adult - and I thought I was going to faint! Good for her for pulling it together.

My guess is the not-nagging thing is working quite well for your dd .l. even if it is making you a bit crazy at first.

When you perfect the art, please consider opening an on-line school and giving lessons!
jt