Best of 2012 According to My Daughters

Having two adolescent daughters is challenging on many levels.  One obstacle that pops up is their lack of willingness to answer my questions, such as, "How was school?"  Their never-fail answers are always something like, "It was fine, but I don't feeeeeel like giving you all the details."  End of discussion.

Last week after I composed and posted my list of 2012 Favorites, I thought it may be a good conversation starter with my girls.  I was right.  At first, they begrudgingly read it.  But after one simple question from me-What were your favorites of 2012?-they miraculously opened up.

I found out there was a group of girls on Twitter cutting themselves due to the horror of Justin Bieber smoking weed (truly shocking).  I found out that my 14 year old has quickly moved on from thinking pop music is cool to thinking it's "stupid" and helped her choose different words to express this opinion in order to not hurt her 12 year old sister's feelings.  We talked drugs, the objectification of women in videos, the good and the bad of pop culture.

I am not certain if they realized we were talking about such significant topics.  That was not the point. For me, the priority was and is to be available in the moment, when the important emerges.

Out of our discussion came their willingness and desire to share their favorites from 2012 here.  Of course, I was and am willing to do so.  And of course, I am hoping this post will spur even more conversation.

2012 Favorites

                     Antonia                                                              Sophia
                     (age 12)                                                               (age 14)

Movie:        
                    Pitch Perfect                                          Perks of Being a Wallflower


Album:        
                    Red, Taylor Swift                                   Centipede Hz, Animal Collective


Song:          
                    Boyfriend, Justin Bieber                       Myth, Beach House


Tweeter:      
                    N/A                                                           N/A


Blog:          
                    Sperk*                                                      "I don't read blogs."


TV Show:  
                    Arrested Development                           Arrested Development 


Instagrammer:
                    Boo the Dog                                            Pudge the Cat


Moment:      
                    "Having a facial                                     Tie between trip to D.C. -
                     on my birthday."                                   performing in spring musical                                                                                                                                                    


Conference:
                    Junior Winds Camp                                Ohio Junior Thespians


Viral Video:  
                    Star Wars Kid (not from 2012,                 Gangnam Style
                       but still her favorite)



What were some of your kids' favorites from 2012?
How do you start conversations with your kids?


                                                                                                                                                                       
                                                                                               

10 Best Movie Quotes

I am thrilled to be participating in my first Monday Listicles of 2013.  There was one last week, however, I did not have myself organized enough to get one together.  This week, I barely was able to cut my list down to 10.  The topic is 10 Best Movie Quotes as suggested by Ally at Just a Normal Mom.  Great topic, tons to choose from, and very timely being it's awards show season.

As a bonus, I mixed in my daughters' favorite movie quotes.  Within the list, there is one favorite from Antonia (age 12) and one from Sophia (age 14).  Find their choices among the 10 and let me know your guess in the comment section.

10 Best Movie Quotes  

(in no particular order)

*"I don't want to be a product of my environment. I want my environment to be a product of me." ~The Departed

*"Hurt people hurt people."  ~Greenberg

*"Losers are people who are so afraid of not winning, they don't even try."  ~Little Miss Sunshine

*"He's the cheese to my macaroni" ~Juno

*"Our good fortune allowed us to feel a sadness our parents never had time for." ~Beginners

*"Sometimes, I guess there just aren't enough rocks."  ~Forrest Gump

*"It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to your enemies, but a great deal more to stand up to your friends."  ~Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone

*"Just keep swimming." ~Finding Nemo 

*"Sometimes I wonder about my life. I lead a small life - well, valuable, but small - and sometimes I wonder, do I do it because I like it, or because I haven't been brave? So much of what I see reminds me of something I read in a book, when shouldn't it be the other way around? I don't really want an answer. I just want to send this cosmic question out into the void. So good night, dear void." ~You've Got Mail

*"Do, or do not. There is no 'try'."  ~The Empire Strikes Back

photo credit: wallyg via photopin cc