June 14, 2006

Adolescent energy

Today, as a public service for parents who are wondering what they can expect when their kids become teenaagers, I am going to post one of Skater Boy's videos. (Skater Boy, if you recall, is one of our extra kids.) The quality of the images is poor, because the equipment he uses is really old -- the battery runs out almost as soon as he starts the camera -- and most of the shots were taken in the middle of the night, which is when teenagers are most energetic. The action is in slow motion, too, so you have to just imagine the speed. Despite these flaws, I think this video clip captures the energy of adolescence.

The video shows my kids and my extras playing in my front yard on a winter night. You can catch glimpses of them tubing over jumps, garbage cans, a Christmas tree, and in one shot -- over five teenagers huddled on the ground. Surprisingly, no one was harmed in the making of this video.

27 comments:

Girl said...

wow.

Not Scott said...

I should be doing work--or at least watching Tunisia v Saudi Arabia. But that was a nice 3:06 diversion.

nancy said...

That was so great. I am clearly doomed in about 10 years.

Scrivener said...

Frickin' awesome!

We were at the park a couple of weeks ago and there was a group of teenage guys (maybe early 20s) filming themselves on the playground trying to jump over seesaws and benches and stuff. I was guessing that they were a band trying to make a music video, but I doubt what they produced holds a candle to this one.

RageyOne said...

Oh my! They are quite active!

Anonymous said...

Awesome. Was that The White Stripes playing?

You have the coolest kids ever. I should be so lucky.

SuperB

jo(e) said...

SuperB: Oh, yeah, I should have said that in the post. It's a White Stripes song.

Leslee said...

That looked like so much fun! I can't wait!!!

Anonymous said...

there's a special place in heaven for the mother of skatin' boys....(and for the mother of their friends.)

Professing Mama said...

That was great!

Rob Helpy-Chalk said...

Shit. Teenagers: they are reckless and creative. My life will soon become terrifying.

Yankee, Transferred said...

My kids and extras are totally different. Fun, too, but totally different. This video is terrific.

Inside the Philosophy Factory said...

Wow -- you live with my debate team... it looks like they are a lot of fun and I'm sure they are nice boys if you let them hang out with your kids.

Anonymous said...

Apple wants a trip East. Do they hang with girls?

jo(e) said...

Lisa V: Oh, sure, Blonde Niece is usually here. She and my daughter both snowboard, and they both do this kind of stuff too. Come visit!

Anonymous said...

No, not all of us visit. I was thinking of sending Apple as a foreign exchange student to a blue state.

jo(e) said...

Send her! We can always use another extra.

Unknown said...

this is great. thanks for posting it. excellent soundtrack.

L said...

This is really cool, and reminds me of my brother and his teenage years... I do have to get ready for my sons' teenage years (oh, my... I'm sure I'm going to feel real old by then)

zelda1 said...

My son and his friends hung out at our house and so I am very familiar with the play of teenage boys. They built elaborate trails in our back yard where they had ramps and ramps and ramps and they rode their bikes over them and did these really scarry stunts. I think they came to our house because I was more relaxed than the other parents and I just let them be, unless they were playing catch with their friend Jason, who was very small for his age and often became their toss the little guy toy. I drew the line over that one. Oh, and the jumping from the garage to the house, a definite no no, but the rest, go for it, I'd say. I even bought the lumber for the ramps. It kept them busy and off the streets and later at night, they watched rented horror movies and ate dip and drank sodas. My living room always had at least ten boys sleeping in sleeping bags, on the sofas, and one little guy used to sleep in the recliner. Those were the good ole days. You are definitely doing right by your kids.

Mona Buonanotte said...

I wish I had half that much energy! Nice goin' with the White Stripes song, I knew the Boys were cool, TOO cool!

Dr. Medusa said...

This is awesome, jo(e). Thanks for posting it. It and the gorge pictures made my day yesterday!

KLee said...

Whoa. Maybe I'll escape all that because I have a more girly daughter. That's way too much energy for a slug like me to have to experience!

It was cool though, especially the jump over the five on the ground. Wonder how many takes it took them for that? :)

Jennifer (ponderosa) said...

My son scares me and he is only FOUR -- after reading your blog and also seeing Zelda's comment, I'm even more nervous!

Also in an odd way looking forward to the teenage period. The energy, like you say.

Jessica said...

This is great, Jo(e) - makes me wanna post a video of my 15 year old son and some of his friends!

Anonymous said...

we have no snow -- but we had the ramps. bike ramps built on the hill behind the house. huge trails and bumps farther up the hill, built by a mountain-bike team. skateboard and rollerblade ramps the kids built.

i still remember the day that my super-mom persona evaporated. the middle-school mountain bike club was riding the big hill behind our house. i was on-scene, and when sometime-extra milo took a tumble, i had the kleenex, the antibiotic gel, the bandaids with me. it was just a scraped knee. even the teacher/sponsor, a young man of great sense, shot me a look. it was one of those blinding moments, when i suddenly knew my bandaids and reassurances would no longer be welcome, and i'd have to back off and choose my battles. call 911, yes. nag about helmets, yes. most anything else -- there is a reason they say, "live and learn."

Mary Stebbins Taitt said...

LOL! I remember being like this myself. Not any more! Good for them, it looks like fun!