Tracy Farnham
www.grabthegab.com

Twas’ the teenager’s night before Christmas
And all through that rockin’ house
Everyone was stirring including the mouse.
Their clothes were not hung up on hangers with care
In hopes that their parents simply wouldn’t dare
Say, clean up your room, get off that phone,
It’s time for bed, you can stay up when you’re on your own.
Mom wasn’t sleeping and Dad was steaming
That teenagers fail to listen and go to bed dreaming
Like children wishing for Santa to come
Leaving presents and surprises in their once quiet little home
When in the teenager’s room their came a commotion
Dad stormed through the house with great emotion
As he opened the door he found with great surprise
The teenager smiling and looking quiet wise
What do you mean staying up all hours at night,
Sleeping in ‘til noon and disobeying with all your might?
To dad’s dismay, the response was quite clever
as the teen shrugged and simply said, “Whatever.”
Whatever you say, Dad responded with a shout
Never did I expect you not to care about
What your mother and I require you to do
When the clock strikes 11 not 1 or 2
The ranting and raving of each teenager
Drives Mom and Dad to make a wager
That regardless of begging and pleading
This too shall pass and then they’ll be dreading.
A house that’s grown quite in the still of the night.
With no MP3 players playing or cell phones ringing
More rapid than years that passed on before
Parents with more children will go through this once more.
Mom and Dad realize parenting is a process of stages
The one most dreaded is that of the teen ages.
Although they seem somewhat lackadaisical
They all will grow up and become rather responsible.
So, laying aside all the frustration that is present
The family decides to make life more pleasant
By getting along on this Christmas Eve night
They gave their teen a hug and turned out the light
As the teen beckoned behind them Merry Christmas and to all a good night!

Tracy Farnham is the mother of two teens

 

 

 

 

 

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Tracy Farnham
www.grabthegab.com
The presents are unwrapped. The decorations are on their way down. The clock, in just a few hours,  will roll over a new year.

In the midst of all the holiday hoopla, folks may also have been scrambling to make donations to charities, pay medical bills or county taxes and locate receipts before the New Year arrives.

This is a good time of the year to expose our current child credits and future taxpayers with a little knowledge about taxes.

The Basics
Children and teens may already be earning a little money for doing odd jobs around the house or neighborhood. When should they start reporting this income and filing returns, or just be taught a little more about the concept of preparing taxes?

Anyone who receives an income for services rendered may be required to file a return. This system isn’t based upon age of the recipient, but according to their income, therefore your child may already be a taxpayer regardless of his age.

Most of this responsibility rests upon the employer and whether they report the wages to the Internal Revenue Service on a W-2 form.

This form is used to show taxes and benefits that the employer paid on the employees’ behalf. Withholding is the reality factor for most teens receiving their first paycheck. In order to ease their shock while viewing their pay stubs, explain withholding as a service provided by the employer who sends a portion of their income to the government.

The principle behind filing a return is figuring out the amount of tax to be paid against the amount that was withheld by the employer. When an overpayment has been made then a refund is generated or if enough hasn’t been paid then the taxpayer must send in the required portion to the IRS.

Preparing for Tax preparation
Unless your youngster is self-employed their first couple of tax returns should be fairly easy to prepare. Software programs are available as well as downloading information and forms off the government’s Web site. Post offices and public libraries usually keep booklets on hand that explain the tax preparation process with forms included.

At any rate it’s always a good idea to consult with a professional to insure the return has been handled properly. Don’t forget to explain the fees involved for this service or call ahead to find out the charges for certain forms.

The gathering of materials is probably the most time consuming process unless they’re a very organized person. They will need check stubs, W-2 forms from all employers if they have changed jobs throughout the year.

Also include 1099-INT from any interest they’ve earned from banking institutions on savings accounts. If they’ve made any contributions to charitable organizations throughout the year, make sure to include this as well.

What the Professional Says
“There are certain amounts they are required to file and most of the time they don’t hold enough back so they could come up owing tax,” says Quteen Whisnant who prepares taxes in the Morganton area.

Parents ought to discuss taxes before children start working so they understand how to fill out the forms when they are hired, she says. “When filling out a W-4 kids need to know not to claim themselves,” Whisnant says.

Parents can claim children on their return up until age 24 if they’re a full-time student, she adds. A lot of working teenagers think they can claim themselves also and they end up owing taxes. “They’re not able to claim themselves since their parents claim them and they might not get back all of the tax they paid in either,” she says.

Whisnant says she’s had children as young as 6 file returns on interest and dividends they’ve earned through the year. For more information on income and age requirements, or forms 1040 EZ or 1040 A, she refers parents to http://www.irs.gov.  “Don’t throw away their W-2’s until they check to see if they need to file,” Whisnant says. Call a tax professional or look it up on the Web site in some instances they may not have to file at all, she says.

In some cases charitable contributions may be used, but they have to file the 1040 long form, and it has to be quite a bit. She has itemized for kids, she adds, and sometimes it helps.

Tips for next year
As your young employee has a better understanding of what’s needed during the tax season. Purchase an expandable file for them to store the necessary documents in so that when tax time rolls around again next year they’ll be prepared. 

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By Adam Shull

I’ve been hitting the gym lately.
Nothing crazy.
I’m pushing three or four visits a week to get healthy and “preserve my sexy,” as my good friend P. Diddy says.

And I can’t help but notice the rules of the road.

Guys don’t wear full spandex but women can.

Women mainly lift with machines, guys with free weights.

That sort of thing.

But as long as I’m keeping my fitness thing going, I want to propose my own rules.

Some new, some just re-establishments of reasonable but misplaced practices.

I shall call them Gym Laws, and all my sweaty friends on the never-ending treadmill shall follow them.

Gym Law 1: Spandex. Guys, no. Girls, yes.

I’m repeating myself but it’s important. Men, the only allowable spandex should be that worn underneath other clothes. No one wants to confront a perfect outline of your crotch as you do the butterfly curl. Women, you’re in the clear.

Gym Law 2: Wandering Eyes Allowed.

Ladies, we guys realize your eyes may fall on us out of boredom, coincidence or carelessness. We should be allowed a double take or three just to make sure you are not checking us out.

Gym Law 3: No Grunting.

Expect snickers and imitations of your noisy, spit-throwing and usually unnecessary animal sounds while exercising. The only exception to this rule: if you are the strongest person in the gym.

Gym Law 4: Talking Time Limit.

Five minutes. I’m not against socializing, but there are more gym gossipers and motor mouths putting off work than in your office’s break room.

Gym Law 5: Couples Beware.

Couple workout sessions are OK, within reason. Please spare everyone from using your gym time to practically make whoopee on the flat bench.
But if Susie is yelling at Billy to push out that last squat thrust, the couple can be just as creepy.

Gym Law 6: Makeup/Cologne Banned.

Guys don’t need a splash of Curve to do crunches or any other exercise. Girls don’t need foundation to ride the stationary bike.

Gym Law 7: Don’t Buy The Food.

This is more of a recommendation. Most fitness centers try to push everything from “chocolate” energy bars to muscle-building gum. No one really knows what’s in those things, they don’t taste like chocolate and they cost too much.

Gym Law 8: Understand The Fitness Trainer.
They’re usually friendly and helpful. Just realize they come from other planets, where energy levels are never low and everyone speaks in short, motivating statements.

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Posted in Health Gab in Print Recreation

My husband, I wouldn’t want to kiss anyone but him. We’ve been married eight years.
Brenda Browning, 57

Johnny Depp. Brad Pitt would be second, he’s so hot.
Sandra Powell, 27

Rapper T. I. He’s pretty and very smart. He’s invested a lot of his money so he’s got on-going security.
Irea Lipford, 28

My boyfriend, Chris. We’ve been dating eight months and he’s really changed my life.
Robin Henson, 43

Matthew McConaughey. He’s cute and real.
Barbara Williams, 56

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