Random Thoughts

[skimom2]

'Tis the era of role reversal. The child runs the parents life.

If I had access to my blue ribbon, this would have one given

 

[Spideyman]

No doubt. I can remember how conversations with my dad went about going to bed....

Mom: "Ok, time for bed."

Me: "AWWWWW, but it's summer, I don't wanna go to bed."

Dad: "Go to bed, or I'll come PUT you to bed......James."....not even looking up from whatever hunting magazine he was usually reading.

Imagine a smoke cloud where I had been standing 1 second previously as I launched myself at a full sprint toward my bedroom.

Now, my dad putting an emphasis on PUT and using my first name were both indicators that clearly meant "This conversation is not open for discussion, go to bed OR ELSE."

Nope, we didn't run the show when we were kids, mom and dad did. Different era I guess.

Same with my dad. You never thought to argue back once told to go to bed.
The world moved on. Saw it almost everyday when I taught. Child rules the parent. Parent actually fearful of an older child--You can't make me, I'll call child services. Somewhere, many parents lost control. Tend to think it was all the "win win" being told to parents. That is not reality, nor real life. Sometimes you lose. That's how you learn. Rules and consequences are no more. It has become empty threats by the parent with no follow through. Please note: this is not ALL parents. But alas the well mannered children seem to be in the minority right now.

 

[skimom2]

No doubt. I can remember how conversations with my dad went about going to bed....

Mom: "Ok, time for bed."

Me: "AWWWWW, but it's summer, I don't wanna go to bed."

Dad: "Go to bed, or I'll come PUT you to bed......James."....not even looking up from whatever hunting magazine he was usually reading.

Imagine a smoke cloud where I had been standing 1 second previously as I launched myself at a full sprint toward my bedroom.

Now, my dad putting an emphasis on PUT and using my first name were both indicators that clearly meant "This conversation is not open for discussion, go to bed OR ELSE."

Nope, we didn't run the show when we were kids, mom and dad did. Different era I guess.

At 50 and 52, my husband and I are definitely from a different generation than the standard parents of an 11 year old--lol. Our other kids are 23, a month from 21, and 18. We both came from traditional families, as well (mine was military, so my kids have to contend with that, as well ), so our kids have never run the show.

They're all reasonably happy, well-adjusted, respectful, and productive members of society, able to think for themselves and control their behaviour, so I think we've done okay.

 

[mjs9153]

Same with my dad. You never thought to argue back once told to go to bed.
The world moved on. Saw it almost everyday when I taught. Child rules the parent. Parent actually fearful of an older child--You can't make me, I'll call child services. Somewhere, many parents lost control. Tend to think it was all the "win win" being told to parents. That is not reality, nor real life. Sometimes you lose. That's how you learn. Rules and consequences are no more. It has become empty threats by the parent with no follow through. Please note: this is not ALL parents. But alas the well mannered children seem to be in the minority right now.

 

[skimom2]

Same with my dad. You never thought to argue back once told to go to bed.
The world moved on. Saw it almost everyday when I taught. Child rules the parent. Parent actually fearful of an older child--You can't make me, I'll call child services. Somewhere, many parents lost control. Tend to think it was all the "win win" being told to parents. That is not reality, nor real life. Sometimes you lose. That's how you learn. Rules and consequences are no more. It has become empty threats by the parent with no follow through. Please note: this is not ALL parents. But alas the well mannered children seem to be in the minority right now.

This made me think of the ONE time I decided to challenge my dad as a child

I was 9 or so.

Mom: Time to brush your teeth and get ready for bed.

Me: No.

Dad looks up from the couch, incredulous face: Autumn Lynn, do what your mother said.

Me: No.

Then my brain caught up to my mouth and I took off running, dad in pursuit. Hampered by wearing socks on a hardwood floor, he couldn't catch up to me until right before I slammed my bedroom door in his face.

One of only 3 times I remember being spanked. It made an impression.

 

[ghost19]

At 50 and 52, my husband and I are definitely from a different generation than the standard parents of an 11 year old--lol. Our other kids are 23, a month from 21, and 18. We both came from traditional families, as well (mine was military, so my kids have to contend with that, as well ), so our kids have never run the show.

They're all reasonably happy, well-adjusted, respectful, and productive members of society, able to think for themselves and control their behaviour, so I think we've done okay.

I've raised my son in a similar manner to how I was raised but my son has just always been well natured. We didn't have any terrible two type time frame with him and although he's a complete space cadet as far as common sense goes sometimes, he's never given me any problems....of course, he's about to hit 13 so I may end up ramming my words down my throat later on but he seems to have a good head on his shoulders considering what he's been thru in the last few years. I think I just got really lucky because I'm 100% sure it wasn't due to my parenting skills....just always been firm with him and let him know I'm always willing to listen to his side of the conversation on any topic as long as it's discussed rationally, but at the end of the day, I'll make the call.

A quick recent example....I go out last night to get the laundry out of the dryer. Out of the corner of my eye, I notice Daniel is out by the sidewalk with the broom sweeping small rocks and twigs off the sidewalk into the grass. I didn't ask him to, didn't even know he was outside. I asked him what he was doing. He likes to go barefoot and had walked across some of the rocks on the sidewalk and they were hurting his feet...ok I get that part, but he's standing in the same place and keeps swiping at something on the sidewalk. I walk over and ask him what he's doing.

Swipes at the rock with the broom....."There's a rock that I can't get to move with the broom." Swipe.....Swipe.....Swipe-Swipe couple more times. Swipe again.

I just continue to stare at him, then bend down and pick up the rock and toss it aside.

"There you go Einstein, maybe we can work on some nuclear physics next...."

Daniel giggling "Maybe...lol, I wanted to get that rock with the broom. You cheated."

"I guess that's one way of looking at it...lol"

Not kidding, next sentence out of his mouth...."I saw some stocks online today that looked like they might be a good investment."

"What?"

"I was looking at stock market reports of companies and read some reports on which stocks would be good to invest in. We should invest in some stocks."

I spent the next ten minutes discussing the stock market, of which what little I know came from the movie "Wall Street", with a 12 year old who seemed to know the recent trends of Wal-Mart, Microsoft, and other companies. I was sitting there talking to him just amazed. A few minutes ago I had to bend down and get a rock out of his way and we're now discussing the stock market. I think if his mental compass ever finally swings to true north on what he wants to do with his life, he's going to be very good at it...as long as he remembers to wear socks to work. Every day is an adventure...

 

[ghost19]

This made me think of the ONE time I decided to challenge my dad as a child

I was 9 or so.

Mom: Time to brush your teeth and get ready for bed.

Me: No.

Dad looks up from the couch, incredulous face: Autumn Lynn, do what your mother said.

Me: No.

Then my brain caught up to my mouth and I took off running, dad in pursuit. Hampered by wearing socks on a hardwood floor, he couldn't catch up to me until right before I slammed my bedroom door in his face.

One of only 3 times I remember being spanked. It made an impression.

That's a great story, very similar to my household ma'am.

I'm getting a different view of things now as my girlfriend has a two year old boy who just turned two and he's going thru a phase where his sole purpose in life seems to be to push her as far as he can just shy of her losing her mind. We haven't been together long enough for me to add my two cents in on discipline but I really want to tell her if we combine forces as far as backing each other up it becomes a lot easier. She's very bad about getting on to him then immediately hugging him and saying she's sorry. I just mentally shake my head and wait for the day if she asks me to help out..lol He has mommy wrapped around his sticky little two year old fingers...lol

 

[Spideyman]

I've raised my son in a similar manner to how I was raised but my son has just always been well natured. We didn't have any terrible two type time frame with him and although he's a complete space cadet as far as common sense goes sometimes, he's never given me any problems....of course, he's about to hit 13 so I may end up ramming my words down my throat later on but he seems to have a good head on his shoulders considering what he's been thru in the last few years. I think I just got really lucky because I'm 100% sure it wasn't due to my parenting skills....just always been firm with him and let him know I'm always willing to listen to his side of the conversation on any topic as long as it's discussed rationally, but at the end of the day, I'll make the call.

A quick recent example....I go out last night to get the laundry out of the dryer. Out of the corner of my eye, I notice Daniel is out by the sidewalk with the broom sweeping small rocks and twigs off the sidewalk into the grass. I didn't ask him to, didn't even know he was outside. I asked him what he was doing. He likes to go barefoot and had walked across some of the rocks on the sidewalk and they were hurting his feet...ok I get that part, but he's standing in the same place and keeps swiping at something on the sidewalk. I walk over and ask him what he's doing.

Swipes at the rock with the broom....."There's a rock that I can't get to move with the broom." Swipe.....Swipe.....Swipe-Swipe couple more times. Swipe again.

I just continue to stare at him, then bend down and pick up the rock and toss it aside.

"There you go Einstein, maybe we can work on some nuclear physics next...."

Daniel giggling "Maybe...lol, I wanted to get that rock with the broom. You cheated."

"I guess that's one way of looking at it...lol"

Not kidding, next sentence out of his mouth...."I saw some stocks online today that looked like they might be a good investment."

"What?"

"I was looking at stock market reports of companies and read some reports on which stock would be good to invest in. We should invest in some stocks."

I spent the next ten minutes discussing the stock market, of which what little I know came from the movie "Wall Street", with a 12 year old who seemed to know the recent trends of Wal-Mart, Microsoft, and other companies. I was sitting there talking to him just amazed. A few minutes ago I had to bend down and get a rock out of his way and we're now discussing the stock market. I think if his mental compass ever finally swings to true north on what he wants to do with his life, he's going to be very good at it...as long as he remembers to wear socks to work. Every day is an adventure...

Love that story. He's just on a different level of reality. Be a proud dad. Picking up the rock was just too easy, not within the thought pattern at the moment. However, stocks-- well that's future planning. You have a winner, ghost19

 

[ghost19]

This made me think of the ONE time I decided to challenge my dad as a child

I was 9 or so.

Mom: Time to brush your teeth and get ready for bed.

Me: No.

Dad looks up from the couch, incredulous face: Autumn Lynn, do what your mother said.

Me: No.

Then my brain caught up to my mouth and I took off running, dad in pursuit. Hampered by wearing socks on a hardwood floor, he couldn't catch up to me until right before I slammed my bedroom door in his face.

One of only 3 times I remember being spanked. It made an impression.

I got to watch my younger sister of 7 years not learn from anything I did wrong so I always enjoyed watching her interactions with my dad. She's very stubborn, very strong willed and was somewhat spoiled by my mom. One night at dinner, she was about 7, I was around 14. I forget what we were eating but she kept complaining she didn't like the food to mom, repeatedly. I saw my dad look up from his magazine once and give her a stare which she just rolled her eyes and went back to complaining to mom. I began to get interested in the goings on as I shoved food into my mouth when dad quietly and ominously rolled up his magazine into a very tight tube but just continued to sit there and watch her complain about mom's food. I took a few more bites then looked up and somehow dad had magically transported himself very quietly to right behind my sister's chair. I dropped all pretenses of trying to eat and watched, riveted. My dad never raised his voice but put his face right into my sister's and said:

"Ok, I'll give you a choice. You can either eat every single bite of what's left on your plate, thank your mom for supper, then leave the room...OR....I can blister your a$$ with this magazine, then you still get to eat every single bite of what's left on your plate, thank your mom for supper, then leave the room. I really don't care which choice you make but make it.....NOW."

I'm sure the maniacal grin on my face at that point was comical. My sister really didn't even hesitate, she put her head down and started shoveling food into her mouth as fast as she could eat it. I looked at my dad with something akin to awe and he gave me a quick wink on his way back to his chair. So, being as I was the older brother, I finished my meal, went over and told my mom I appreciated her cooking us supper and that she was a wonderful mother. She didn't fall for it but the look on my sister's face was pure murder.....

 

[Sundrop]

Morty, the real thing of evil, guards the gates of hell... AKA my shed.

Kill it. Kill it, and purify it with fire........

 

[DiO'Bolic]

Kill it. Kill it, and purify it with fire........

LOL. Confirms my theory... Women of the SKMB are the sweetest, most beautiful, loving, amazing, evil, psychotic creatures you’ll ever meet.

 

[Doc Creed]

That's beautiful, Doc... you're very talented.

Spoiler

It's technically something we would normally put into the Self Promotion area, but seeing as you're merely sharing and not promoting it, I think it can probably stay here.

Indeed, I could feel the mood you set with your music. Awesome.

Thank you very much.

 

[Dana Jean]

Just a heads up:

Hot topics will now close each day at 4 p.m. eastern standard time. They will also be closed on weekends.

 

[GNTLGNT]

I've raised my son in a similar manner to how I was raised but my son has just always been well natured. We didn't have any terrible two type time frame with him and although he's a complete space cadet as far as common sense goes sometimes, he's never given me any problems....of course, he's about to hit 13 so I may end up ramming my words down my throat later on but he seems to have a good head on his shoulders considering what he's been thru in the last few years. I think I just got really lucky because I'm 100% sure it wasn't due to my parenting skills....just always been firm with him and let him know I'm always willing to listen to his side of the conversation on any topic as long as it's discussed rationally, but at the end of the day, I'll make the call.

A quick recent example....I go out last night to get the laundry out of the dryer. Out of the corner of my eye, I notice Daniel is out by the sidewalk with the broom sweeping small rocks and twigs off the sidewalk into the grass. I didn't ask him to, didn't even know he was outside. I asked him what he was doing. He likes to go barefoot and had walked across some of the rocks on the sidewalk and they were hurting his feet...ok I get that part, but he's standing in the same place and keeps swiping at something on the sidewalk. I walk over and ask him what he's doing.

Swipes at the rock with the broom....."There's a rock that I can't get to move with the broom." Swipe.....Swipe.....Swipe-Swipe couple more times. Swipe again.

I just continue to stare at him, then bend down and pick up the rock and toss it aside.

"There you go Einstein, maybe we can work on some nuclear physics next...."

Daniel giggling "Maybe...lol, I wanted to get that rock with the broom. You cheated."

"I guess that's one way of looking at it...lol"

Not kidding, next sentence out of his mouth...."I saw some stocks online today that looked like they might be a good investment."

"What?"

"I was looking at stock market reports of companies and read some reports on which stocks would be good to invest in. We should invest in some stocks."

I spent the next ten minutes discussing the stock market, of which what little I know came from the movie "Wall Street", with a 12 year old who seemed to know the recent trends of Wal-Mart, Microsoft, and other companies. I was sitting there talking to him just amazed. A few minutes ago I had to bend down and get a rock out of his way and we're now discussing the stock market. I think if his mental compass ever finally swings to true north on what he wants to do with his life, he's going to be very good at it...as long as he remembers to wear socks to work. Every day is an adventure...

 

[GNTLGNT]

I got to watch my younger sister of 7 years not learn from anything I did wrong so I always enjoyed watching her interactions with my dad. She's very stubborn, very strong willed and was somewhat spoiled by my mom. One night at dinner, she was about 7, I was around 14. I forget what we were eating but she kept complaining she didn't like the food to mom, repeatedly. I saw my dad look up from his magazine once and give her a stare which she just rolled her eyes and went back to complaining to mom. I began to get interested in the goings on as I shoved food into my mouth when dad quietly and ominously rolled up his magazine into a very tight tube but just continued to sit there and watch her complain about mom's food. I took a few more bites then looked up and somehow dad had magically transported himself very quietly to right behind my sister's chair. I dropped all pretenses of trying to eat and watched, riveted. My dad never raised his voice but put his face right into my sister's and said:

"Ok, I'll give you a choice. You can either eat every single bite of what's left on your plate, thank your mom for supper, then leave the room...OR....I can blister your a$$ with this magazine, then you still get to eat every single bite of what's left on your plate, thank your mom for supper, then leave the room. I really don't care which choice you make but make it.....NOW."

I'm sure the maniacal grin on my face at that point was comical. My sister really didn't even hesitate, she put her head down and started shoveling food into her mouth as fast as she could eat it. I looked at my dad with something akin to awe and he gave me a quick wink on his way back to his chair. So, being as I was the older brother, I finished my meal, went over and told my mom I appreciated her cooking us supper and that she was a wonderful mother. She didn't fall for it but the look on my sister's face was pure murder.....

...dude, you should be a writer!....you and Doc hook up and damn!-best seller time.....

 

[Doc Creed]

...dude, you should be a writer!....you and Doc hook up and damn!-best seller time.....

I appreciate that, man. ghost19 really should unholster that pen more often. He has a way of getting to the heart of a scene.

 

[Steffen]

"There are several back-up toes available but bar staff say this was their newest and freshest."

It's becoming increasingly difficult to take the Human Race seriously.

Severed human cocktail toe stolen from Yukon hotel pub - BBC News

 

[do1you9love?]

"There are several back-up toes available but bar staff say this was their newest and freshest."

It's becoming increasingly difficult to take the Human Race seriously.

Severed human cocktail toe stolen from Yukon hotel pub - BBC News

 

[Steffen]

An old story that I just came across for the first time. This is nothing short of amazing to me. It's also why I often like animals more than people.

Man Goes The Distance For Tiny Hummingbird His Dog Helped Rescue « CBS Los Angeles

 

[mjs9153]

Love that story. He's just on a different level of reality. Be a proud dad. Picking up the rock was just too easy, not within the thought pattern at the moment. However, stocks-- well that's future planning. You have a winner, ghost19

I agree with Spidey..sounds like perhaps he was thinking,while doing the sweeping and maybe not paying attention so much to the physical act as what he was thinking about.I do that all the time,when doing things like mowing the lawn or other menial tasks,my mind takes over and I just keep doing the physical task without really thinking about it..though hope your boy ends up being smarter and more successful than me,if he is thinking about stocks already I suspect he will..