Tomorrow, my oldest will turn 14. We like to call her Zarthax, Destroyer of Worlds – or Z-DOW. She hates that name, but we use it anyhow. Someday she’ll appreciate our humor.
How she got to be 14 so fast, I’ll never know. I have to say though, she’s one of the most amazingly interesting kids you’ll ever meet. Not your typical 14 year old girl. She’s beautiful, but not even slightly interested in how she looks. She’s a tom-boy, but hates sports. She’s a fantasy and sci-fi geek who loves Ed Greenwood, Star Trek: The Next Generation, and DnD. She hates to talk on the phone, but loves to carry her cell phone because it has a camera. And she’s shy, painfully so at times. She could truly care less what shoes are on sale at the mall, but we bought her Canterbury Tales for her birthday – and I know she’ll be thrilled.
It isn’t always easy with Z-DOW, truth be told. Forget that she’s a teenager (’nuff said). She’s had her fair share of medical issues, which have been challenging at times. I really think the hardest diagnosis that she deals with is ADHD. I know, I know, it’s a catch all; over diagnosed, over medicated, and often defines typical child-like behavior. I used to think all those things. Sometimes I still do think those things. But, I gotta tell ya, this isn’t typical.
Case in point, Z-DOW is in the 8th grade. All testing points to a very high IQ (130+), standardized testing is typically in the 98-99%, reading level is post high school level (and has been for 2 or 3 years). She’s smart. No denying it. Actually, she’s smarter that I am. Probably smarter than her Dad. BUT. Her grade point average last year? About 1.4 – yeah, you read that right – 1.4! And here’s another kicker. She usually does her homework. She seldom tests lower than 98% on any given test. So, what does that leave? What’s the deal??
She doesn’t turn anything in because she can’t find it. She doesn’t finish large projects because she doesn’t know how to start them.
Simply put, my daughter is severly deficient in organizational skills. Not just as in, stack this here and put that there, but as in executive functioning. This thought first, followed by that thought. It’s hard for her to figure out how to start and where to end. Somewhere in the middle she gets all mucked up. Can you image how frustrating it has to be (No not for me, silly! That’s a different story! I’m talking about for her!!)? Well anyhow, perhaps you can see why I say that ADHD is her biggest challenge.
My husband just called my cell phone to let me know that the house phone is with him. You see, Z-DOW is spending the night with her friend tonight. Aparently, when she was packing her bag she was talking to her friend. Somehow, she managed to hang the phone up in her bag. My understanding is that as kids with ADHD get older they outgrow some of these behaviors. Maybe when she’s 15 she’ll remember to leave the phone at home?
Happy Birthday, to Z-DOW. I love ya, honey.
(I bet you thought you weren’t getting a recipe, huh? Ha! You’re wrong!)
Z-DOW’s favorite cake is this wonderful, dense, tart, pound cake that always tastes better on day two. It comes out of The Pillsbury Cookbook. I have had a copy of this cookbook as long as I can remember. Actually, I’ve replaced it twice because I’m so hard on it. Everything I’ve made from it tastes goooood. Maybe you should buy a copy. But, until you do, here is the recipe for tomorrow’s birthday cake.
Lemon Delight Pound Cake
From: The Pillsbury Cookbook
Cake
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup apricot nectar or orange juice
3/4 cup oil
2 tsp lemon extract
4 eggs
Glaze
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup lemon juice
Heat oven to 325 degrees. Generously grease and flour 12-cup fluted tube pan. In large bowl, combine cake ingredients. Blend on low speed until ingredients are moistened; beat 3 minutes at medium speed. Pour into prepared pan.
Bake for 40 to 50 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove cake from oven. Prick deeply every inch with fork. In small bowl, blend glaze ingredients until smooth. Spoon half of glaze over hot cake in pan. Let stand 10 minutes; invert onto serving plate. Spoon remaining glaze over cake.
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Hear, hear! Even with her challenges, even with her “I’m a teenager and I don’t give a flying flip” attitude, she really isn’t too bad. We’ve got a keeper, I think.
Anyone who reads this can just hear the love you have for your daughter. She’ll have fun explaining her nickname to her own kids some day.