Teenager Watching

I love people watching. One of my favorite pastimes. Seriously....I could fill several hours just watching people go about their own business while I do nothing about minding my own.

So I've decided that I'm in the right profession right now. So much of my days of my new job are spent sitting in various locations around the high school doing just that...sitting. So I have lots of time to watch.

This is what I've noticed....

• there are way too many SCARY shirts being sported by teenagers these days. All the skulls and bloody letters are a little too horror movie-ish for me. Note to self...never purchase a shirt that involves a scary skeleton part....even if it is for a 13 year old kid "just trying to express himself." Gross.
• girls don't really care what they look like. This fascinates me because I remember only thinking about what I looked like in high school. I can probably count on one hand the girls at that school that even take any interest in their appearance. The rest are not in the least concerned that they are wearing basketball shorts with a lacy cardigan sweater only because they were too lazy to put their jeans back on after gym class. I don't get it. More power to 'em, I guess. But, I just want to shake them and say, "At least leave your tee-shirt on....you can't go half-way....so not attractive."
• I want to cut half of the boys' hair at school. Either that or brush it out of their eyes. Now I sound like my mother, but good grief....
• name brands are everything. Not that that is a news flash, but I have seen more Aeropostale, American Eagle, and Hollister these past couple of days than I have in a trip to the mall. These kids are walking billboards....too bad their parents aren't getting paid for their advertising services.
• boys still think that "bustin' a sag" is a good thing. Uh, not so much. No one wants to see your Aeropostale, American Eagle, or Hollister undies, buddy....really, we don't....
• lots of kids like to dye their hair....in very interesting ways. The new thing with girls dyeing the top of their (very long) hair blond and the underneath and edges pitch black is still puzzling me. I find myself mulling that one over often.... It looks really "interesting" when they pull their hair up in a ponytail...

I should stop. I sound so judgemental. No, maybe I just sound OLD. I'm probably one of the youngest people employed at the high school and I've joined the crowd of fuddy-duddies.

There are things that I do like....really. Hard to believe, but there are.

• I really like that everyone wears flip-flops. If I could, I would, too!
• I like to look at all the fun nail polish colors that float through the halls.
• I like that the girls are wearing long basketball shorts for gym and not the cut-up-to-forever teeny-tiny shorts that some also insist on rolling the waistband down on, too. It makes me happy that they are covering themselves up! (Even if they do wear the b-ball shorts with really cute shirts....still confused about that.)
• I like the really sarcastic sassy shirts that some of the kids wear. They make me laugh. Some of them are naughty and I don't like those, but if I see one of those shirts coming, I just gotta read it. I just gotta.

See....I found some positives!

Love my people watching! Actually, it is one of the things that I love most about this job. I get to spend so much time just observing these kids go about their days. I'm learning their names and who their friends are. I know what they eat for lunch and who they eat with. I know who saves their homework for the last minute and I know who passes notes in class. I know who they have crushes on and who's going out with who....all from just watching. LOVE IT! Looking forward to more watching tomorrow!! :)

If I've offended you....so sorry. If I sound super-superficial....I kinda am. If you are one of these kid's parents....I probably could give you the scoop!