Early this year, Jonny challenged Gabe to build a drone. I can’t remember how it came about, but I think they were discussing something along the lines of boredom and screen time. I’m not sure that Jonny expected Gabe to take up the challenge, but he did! He did his own research and settled on building a racing drone. I started getting emails with links to parts that he needed me to order. I was a little shocked at how much this project cost! Gabe paid for it all himself and he must have been pretty motivated because his total cost was around $300 (I’m sharing this so you know what you are getting into just in case one of your kids would like to build one.)
Drones remind me of little ufos. They are a little bit creepy! Gabe built this one complete with a video camera. When it zips around the backyard it sounds like a giant mosquito. Last week something went wrong and it flew out of range, over the treetops and back towards our old house down the road. I was sick at the thought of all Gabe’s money and hard work wasted. I sat in the house and prayed while Gabe and some of the younger kids went searching for it. One of our neighbor’s kids had heard it and was able to give Gabe a general idea of where to look for it, and he found it! It wasn’t even broken. I think he’s done some sort of reprogramming and it is behaving itself now. I’m so proud of him for taking on this project. Jonny will have to think of something less expensive for his next challenge because Gabe is out of money now!
Screen time and how best to spend our evenings have been recurring topics of conversation with our older boys lately. Of course, my own habit of picking up my phone to scroll Instagram was quickly noted. Teenagers are good at calling out their parents. There is no room for hypocrisy. To show them that I was serious, I immediately picked up my phone and deleted the app. I check in from my computer every now and then and it feels much more intentional that way.
It occurred to Jonny and me that if we don’t want the boys watching shows every night or getting on computers, then we can’t do that either. So, we have been requesting that our boys play games with us a few nights a week. I doubt that playing games with their parents is necessarily their first choice, but two out of three of our teenaged sons actually like playing games. Teenagers are fun to talk to and it’s hilarious to listen to the boys tease each other. Our favorite game right now is Rummikub. I remember playing this with my family when I was a kid. Sometimes we play Scrabble. Sometimes all three boys are glad to play. Sometimes one of them is reluctant (It’s always the same one-ha!) We don’t insist every night, but we do insist. If I had teenager energy I do think we’d play a quick game every night because it’s such a good way to check in with everyone.
As an aside, I got excited and decided that we should learn to play Bridge. I remember that my grandparents played it with friends. I love the idea of a Bridge club (I’m thinking for Jonny and me, not our boys. I’m not that unrealistic.) I printed instructions online, but they are around 60 pages long and I feel intimidated now. Any tips on learning? Is it that complicated?
We are still doing puzzles. I had a friend and her kids over recently and while the kids played, we worked on a puzzle and talked. I am a very fun friend. My twenty-something self wouldn’t know what to think of my forty-something self, but here I am. I like forty-something life. Though I wish I had the energy I had twenty years ago, as we all do.
This puzzle (Hound of the Baskervilles) was completed by Silas and Job (ages 6 and 8 for reference). They really enjoy Charles Wysocki 300 piece puzzles. Even Mabel can help with them. We have had so much rainy, gray weather lately and puzzles have been a lifesaver. I like the way that putting the edges of a puzzle together is a little like casting on a knitting project. The boys can complete a 300 piece puzzle in a couple of hours. I will work on a 500 piece puzzle with them and those last a day or two. I think those are really satisfying. A 1000 piece puzzle is the most economical because it will last a few days, more if I don’t let myself work on it for too long at a time. We have quite a crowd here and I am finding that we go through puzzles much like we do groceries. Jonny came home from the thrift store the other day with a box of four Americana puzzles for a few dollars and everyone cheered. I watch Amazon for puzzles to get discounted and eBay can be a good source as well.
A few of you have asked what we do with our finished puzzles. As soon as a puzzle is finished, I take a photo and then we carefully take it apart and put it back in the box. For me, gluing a puzzle together would take the life out of it. We will put a puzzle together more than once, especially the one 300 and 500 piece puzzles that the kids enjoy most.
p.s. The weather here is crazy. Warm then cold and back again. Lots of rain. Flowers are already starting to bloom though there are cold days ahead… in case you were wondering about the weather in Virginia. 😉
dorinalouise says
I appreciate hearing about the weather in VA! The weather here is NYC has been similar: grey and crazy – meaning one day it’s 40 degrees, and the next its 20 degrees! Mostly, it’s been 40. We usually get several good snow storms, but not this year. There’s also no ice in the river this year, either. It’s one of the warmest winters I’ve ever experienced.
Thanks for writing a little bit about your teens. Teen years were the most difficult for me, and though my youngest is no longer a teen, she still acts like one. Playing games and project challenges are the best suggestions. I’ve been saying to myself for awhile now that my husband and I need to insist on a game night. Time to implement it! I do have a “your turn to make dinner” night, and it’s always one of my favorite evenings with her.
Thanks again, Ginny. Take good care xoxo
Bev says
At our house, it’s my 76 year old husband who has been researching and planning to build a drone. We recently moved from our long time home in IL to live near our daughter, son-in-law, & young adult grandchildren in the Phoenix area. That necessitated building a hobby/projects addition on to our home here, so the drone project is on hold for a couple more months. He enjoyed seeing the pics of the one Gabe built!
Helen says
I don’t have crocus yet, but lots of Lenten roses. Enough to bring a few in for the kitchen sink window sill. 🙂
karen says
my son taught himself bridge on the internet (not sure where…) and then played with others at a group setting. I don’t know how to play bridge. Love hearing about your days and your puzzling happiness. Sometimes it’s a tricky slope with on screen time. I have been limiting myself on social media and the less I am there I am happier here. Balance is the key.
Jeni B says
I miss you.
Latista Delgado says
Great post about screen time! Gabe is such a handsome young man, he reminds me of my son Asher. What an awesome but yes expensive challenge lol. Great job Gabe! My children also enjoy completing puzzles and are asking for more so thank you for the links!
Patricia Byron says
Happy Valentine’s Eve – I know its not like Christmas Eve but its a happy time, anticipating those cards and candy. I’ve just put the Japanese tea garden puzzle in my Amazone cart – I love doing jigsaw puzzles these days. Being 73, retired, stay at home granny, I have the time to work on one a bit each day. “Winter” was wonderful and soothing – I’m looking forward to ordering “Spring” within the next month or so. I’m in love with your puzzle board with drawers and I know you’ve mentioned it in a blog post but I can’t seem to find it, so please let me know where to order it.
I;ve been following your family in the blog for many years now and feel like you are a family member who lives in Virginia, where we do have family.
Take care, tell Gabe that an old lady in NY is so proud that he built that drone using his own money for the parts. I noticed that Mabel’s “over-the-eye” boo boo has healed and hopefully there won’t be much of a scar – if there is it will be enchanting and a good conversation starter when she is of dating age.
Connie says
hi ginny…….that is so funny you mention wanting to learn how to play bridge! my mother-in-law recently gifted me a bridge set that she received from the condo she moved in to (she has no desire to play). i do not know how to play either. we haven’t even opened it up yet, so i’m hoping it’s not too hard to learn!? i’m also enjoying looking at your puzzles. that japanese tea garden one is exquisite!!
Elisabeth Leake says
I’m in my early 20’s and I am glad you’re talking about screen time with your young men. Also, the resistance is normal. I have 8 siblings, 6 of which are older than me. I saw a lot of resistance toward what our parents wanted us to do, besides my own. It can be hard, especially for someone Seth’s age, to know when to leave them be because they are an adult or to also push them because they are your child and live with you. I think teenage boys are the best, too. Even if they get grumpy and don’t always SEEM to like what you want them to do, they often turn it into fun. Anyway, don’t give up, and in the end, I think they’ll be happy you didn’t.
I really enjoy your blog. I appreciate you being honest about struggles with your kids.
Bianca says
Listening to a good book has been a family affair here. Luckily my husband is a great reader. The Count of Monte Cristo is a very long book we read but a good one. Also we read House of the Seven Gables. Both good for older kids. Then of course there are the Harry Potter books and the Lord of the Rings books. Listening to stories does make for a good night together. Just an idea.
Dawn Harris says
My boys (ages 7 and 8) have never really been too interested in puzzles, I think, because they have never wanted to slow down long enough to do them But, they are enjoying the game Rivers, Roads, and Rails. It’s essentially a puzzle but can be treated like a game where each player has tiles they play until they can no longer connect them. It can be hard to find (one of those wonderful Ravensberger inventions) but I lucked out through a homeschooling BST group on FB. My boys were screen-free until age 6 and I am now in the thick of determining the appropriate level of screens for us. They do provide an opportunity to learn things outside your daily experience but can be far too addictive. Life is a constant striving for balance. Thanks for your constant inspiration!
Rebecca says
A metal detector question for Seth…my 11 year old just got the Bounty Hunter Discovery 3300 for his birthday (the Garrett was a little too expensive) and we’d like to get a pinpointer to go along with it. Does Seth have a recommendation! I’m willing to spend a little more than entry level on the pinpointer. Thank you!
Ginny says
Hi Rebecca! Here’s what Seth says: “Sooo, a pinpointer is actually going to be more expensive than that metal detector, as crazy as that may be… The most affordable pinpointer that’s actually decent is this one https://www.bigboyshobbies.net/nokta-waterproof-pin-pointer-metal-detector”
Penny says
We borrow puzzles from our library. It’s been a nice way to pass time on winter evenings.
Andrea says
Such an inspiring blog! We’re empty nesters but I’ve gotten my husband & I games to start playing in the evenings, get us away from mindless tv! Such a bad habit! I’m also inspired to start a puzzle, so many adults I know are really getting into them and I recently saw one with vintage VW bugs and since I drive one I thought well now I HAVE to. And if it makes you feel any better. I’m in Georgia and our weather is all over the place as well. You literally have to check the forecast every morning to know what to wear.
Tracy says
As always I love your pictures!! And words of course. Amazing he built a drone himself!! Truly impressive.
I agree with the comment above – you do sound like a very fun friend. I would love to have a puzzle set out to chat and work on while visiting. I want to live in that house in the moonlight and roses picture!!!
Never stop blogging. Its my happy reading.
Katie @ The Cozy Burrow says
Flowers! Your pictures are so lovely – thank you for sharing.
You’ve piqued my interest with the puzzles – it seems like just the thing for my oldest (he’s 6).
Jan says
I want to learn Mahjong, I have two sets but no one to learn with. One day I’ll teach myself.
I used to tutor adult literacy students and ESL. Upwords is a great game, similar to scrabble but you can change words by building tiles upwards. It helped improve the students word vocabularies greatly. We also played chinese checkers, it was a great way to end a day of study and for the students to interact with other nationalities. Word Yahtzee was popular as well. It could get quite competitive, especially since I was always the winner, they all wanted to beat me. Most of the games were bought at op shops (Goodwill) for a couple of dollars each and the joy and learning they gave was priceless.
Jennifer Williams says
Ginny, your teen boys might like strategy games, we play Catan, Queen Domino, Ticket to Ride, Cornucopia, and munchkin (but we warned, that gets brutal towards the end and ganging up must be done to try and win so it’s not for the faint hearted!)…. my parents in law play bridge and they learned by going to a club and having lessons… it is REALLY complicated, and they are seasoned card players!! x
Helena says
I also often think that my 20-something self wouldn’t know what to make of my 40yo self, but it works for me. And personally I think you do sound like a fun friend–if I got to a friend’s house and there was a puzzle to work on while we chatted, I would be delighted. 🙂 We don’t have a good place to do puzzles right now, as our only table is the one we eat on (and use for school), but I am brainstorming ways to figure something out, as I got a puzzle for my birthday and have been wanting to put it together.
When I was a kid our library had puzzles you could check out just like books. I wish the one here would have that, as I love to do puzzles but don’t necessarily want to store a bunch of them.
Claire says
I find good puzzles at Tuesday Morning which is a discount store chain so you could see if there is one near you. I hear Ollie’s also has good puzzles. Sometimes thrift stores are worth a look. When I was in college (I went to a tiny liberal arts college in the North Carolina mountains) we always kept a puzzle going on the big table in our dorm’s common room and people who needed a break from studying would come and place a few pieces. It was a fun tradition.
Elizabeth says
I just read a mystery by Agatha Christie that had the game of Bridge in it (called Cards on the Table). I don’t know about the game though. Good for you about the changes to phone use and playing more games at nights; that’s super great. I love how you are intentional and TALK with your family and listen… and of course I love all your pictures. And how cool about Gabe’s project!!! well done! cool looking drone! God bless you dear one!
Chantal says
We’ve recently moved to a new town and we’re thrilled to find a puzzle exchange at our local library! Take a puzzle, leave a puzzle. It’s keeping our family entertained during these winter months and there are always new puzzles to try.
Pam says
My two children are grown and social media was not yet active when they were growing up. I don’t know how I would manage that now. I give you so much credit for all the time and energy you invest in your children’s upbringing – it is inspiring. I also love puzzles but we don’t have a place to do them right now. I would like to get a puzzle table so you can work on it whenever the spirit moves you. Right now I’m trying to organize my enormous stash and giving a great deal of it away. I bought some cabinets from Ikea to organize what I’m keeping. It’s a very daunting job. I love reading your blog and catching up on your life. I know the weather you speak of because I live in Keswick, VA, I think not too far from you.
Ellen Fox says
Ginny, Even though I don’t have children, I think that how you work with your children is inspirational – for anyone. The themes you bring up are pretty universal. It has to be hard to deal with multiple age ranges at one time, given how your time is divided. You seem to do such a great job and your children will benefit. I love reading your blog! It’s a reminder to me of how things should be.
Victoria Wilkes says
You got me hooked on puzzles, reading your most recent blog posts – boy are they addictive and enjoyable!!
Ginny says
They really are!
Harrison says
My wife pointed me here, because she reads your blog and I play bridge. The best way to learn, hands down (no pun intended), is the American Contract Bridge League’s (ACBL) *Learn to Play Bridge* software, which is free on their website if you give your email.
https://web3.acbl.org/newmembers/free-learn-software
Unfortunately it’s PC-only. I learned through that software and by taking a class at a local community center.
Ginny says
Thank you!!!
Kelly says
Yay! Thx – I’ve been toying with learning for years! ?