Good Golly It's Molly!

A motivational speaker, Milton Creagh, joined us on The Morning Blend today.  He said something funny while he was talking about raising teenagers.  He shared a story about a dad who was worried because his son put a padlock on his bedroom door.  Big Milt said that's a hint and a half that there's a problem.  I don't have teenagers yet (about 2 more years to go) but I think he sure has a good point!

He was trying to outline that fine line parents walk between respecting a teen's rights and staying on top of problems in a child's life.  He said parents have to feel free to check on their kids -- but they also shouldn't over-do it.  He talked about going into his daughter's room and finding a love note to a boy.  Milton said that's sort-of "off limits".  Once he found it and began to read it, he set it back down and didn't finish reading it.  He said he would never tease her or bring up that note.  That's being respectful.

But being responsible means invading their privacy a little bit.  That's not just a parent's right, it's also our responsibility.   That's a good hint -- and a half -- for all of us!

I hope you'll tune in to The Morning Blend this Monday, April 26th.  Milton Creagh is back to talk about sexting, texting, Facebook bullying and lots of other topics that should be important to all of us who have kids who will become teenagers -- or parents who already have teens living under their roofs.

Milton is an inspirational speaker with an incredible background.  Bay United in Whitefish Bay has brought him in several times -- and the demand is huge for his interaction with parents and students.  Bay United was formed after a high school student in WFB died of a drug overdose.

On Monday we'll chat with him about a variety of topics affecting kids today and then take your questions.  You can write to us at feedback@themorningblend.com with any questions you'd like Big Milt (as he's called) to answer.  I promise you his input will change the way you think about bullying, parenting teens and drug & alcohol abuse among young people.

There are lots of spaces in my home that need a little organizing love, but my garage isn't like a coat closet where I can just shove a bunch of stuff in there and keep the door shut forever.  The garage has a door on it that opens to the world and for some reason my kids insist on keeping it open. 

Here's the problem -- the garage is often a disaster.  I read an organizing tip once about a litmus test for garage organization.  Open your garage door and imagine somebody driving by -- does that thought make you cringe?  If so, you need to clear the clutter.  Makes sense.  But here's the challenge -- we seem to be organizing and cleaning out the garage every other week; it just doesn't stay that way.

Here's another obvious sign that we have a problem -- we park both of our cars on the driveway most of the year.  It's mostly because other stuff has taken over our garage.  The garage is a catch-all for everything from lawn & garden equipment to tools, sports gear, fertilizer, coolers.

I have come to the conclusion that this is one area that needs constant maintenance.  And it starts with convincing my family that they need to put stuff away whenever they use it.  Those darn bike helmets all need a hook, too!  And do we really need 20 shovels, 15 rakes and 5 bags of fertilizer? 

Tomorrow on The Morning Blend we'll have a woman on the show who calls herself an "organizing professor".  www.clutterclearingchoices.com I can't wait to talk to her and ask for some tips about clearing the clutter on that window to the world that we call a garage.  Do you have questions you want us to ask her?  If so, let me know! 

Today on The Morning Blend we asked viewers to share the best piece of advice they've ever received.  It could be advice about love, pregnancy, parenting, life -- whatever comes to mind.  I think one of the best things I ever heard was, "No is the most powerful word in the English language, so use it"!

Turns out that was great advice because I do use it.  In fact, I say no more now than ever.  Something about the word "no" just clicked with me after turning 40.  I'm much better at saying no to things I don't really want to do -- and "yes" to only the things that are either really good for me or that I really want to be doing. 

Here are just a few others to get you thinking.  Maybe you haven't heard these before.  Enjoy and please, share your best advice!

"Amateurs practice until they get it right; professionals practice until they can't get it wrong". - Tiffany's mom (Momma O)

"Persistence beats resistance" - Tiffany

"Always have a Plan B" - my mom

"Life is a game of inches" - my dad

"The harder you work the luckier you get" - anonymous

"Books and dogs make good companions" - Penny Abbott, Retired School Counselor

"Forget head, heart.  Go with gut" - Lorraine Gibson, Microbiologist

"Life's a rummage sale, no returns" - Sally Friedman, Journalist

My first blog using our new company program for blogging is called, "I'll Computer It" because I'm so techno-challenged and I decided to write about it.  Just figuring out how to write this blog and post/publish it was a major hassle.

Everybody in our office regularly makes fun of me because I don't use Twitter, Facebook or Linked-In.  I'm on all those sites but don't really know how to use them -- or use them effecitively.  Heck - I hardly know how to use texting on my ancient cell phone.  To add to this -- at home -- I don't know how to use the DVR, how to dowload songs to my iPod or program our microwave.

Recently I told my boss I would "computer" something to him.  He laughed and when I told our staff they all got a kick out of it.

Anyway - I like to read books, read a newspaper (emphasis on paper) and still use an old-fashioned paper calendar (that's always in my purse).

Is there anybody else out there who's like me?  Maybe we should have a name for ourselves.  Something like "the techno challenged" and let's be proud.  What do you think?