Poor Michael must be so confused. Yesterday he was a big boy and expected to let his sister win. Today he is just a little boy and expected to call and let his mother know where he is. Which way is it? I agree with today’s version.
Love that response! Granted, my kids would probably laugh at me because I make up things all the time with them, and they know it. But it might work once and that’s good enough for me… :-)This one reminds me of a story my mom tells of when I was in Kindergarten. Back then, we did 1/2 days and I was supposed to walk home at lunchtime (yes, I walked home alone at age 5 and it was not a small town). One day, I was very late coming home and when I finally arrived, she asked me what took me so long. I figured out that I was in trouble, so I lied and said that the teacher kept me after school. She asked why, so I quickly said that she wanted to ask me difficult spelling words like Pennsylvania. Of course, she called the school, and figured out that I was lying. The truth finally came out and I admitted that I had found a kitten on the way home and stopped to play with it. Of course, now I walk with my kids everywhere and can’t believe I was allowed to walk alone at age 5. Age 8 is a different matter…
One incident like that in my youth, and it would have been a long time before I went anywhere by myself again. We were taught a healthy respect for explicit instructions.
He’s at a difficult age. One day he’s a big boy then he’s a little boy. It’s quite a big adjustment. Still, enforce this rule to your kids that they must ALWAYS let you know where they’re going to be.
Yeah, Mom . . . he’s almost eight!!!!! What’s wrong with you anyhow?!? How dare you want to know where your child is at every moment of the day so that you know he’s safe!!!!! What an absolutely horrible parent you are!
When I was five I walked to school in Pittsburgh, kindergarten through Feb. of third grade. Went all over Dormont Park by myself (it was a couple of blocks away from our apartment, across a street.) In St. Petersburg, age 9-high school, went to school by myself and on Tuesday nights at one point would walk from operetta practice at Mirror Lake Jr. High to 4th St. and 5th Ave. N.(downtown) after dark and catch the bus home. No one thought anything of it. Things certainly have changed since the 40’s and 50’s!
As an Official Old Fart, I expect a lot of flak from this- but I think today’s kids are extremely overprotected, overcoddled, overdirected, and underprepared for life. I started school in 1st grade, not preschool, in 1951 at 6. For the first month or two, Mom walked me to the corner, and from there the other neighborhood kids and I walked the rest of the way; about 3/4 mile. Not uphill both ways, but every day. We also walked home and back for lunch, and home at the end of the day. Rain, shine, or snow. It was rare that we got a ride. We didn’t have arranged “playdates”. When we got a little older (8 or 9) and visited with other friends who lived outside the immediate neighborhood, the first order of business was to get home and out of the “school clothes”, then as far away from “adult supervision” as we could. We knew when we were to be home and stretched the boundaries without breaking them. I was riding trolleys alone or with a same-aged buddy to go to the library by 10 or 11; at 15, I transferred from trolley to el to subway to another trolley to get to private high school. Of course, that was the ‘50s and early ’60s. There were no “funny Uncles” or perverts back then, and everywhere was Mayberry. We turned out OK, maybe because we knew about the dangers but weren’t taught to fear them.
pouncingtiger over 12 years ago
Just wait until Michael becomes a teenager. Oh boy!
luckylouie over 12 years ago
Doggone, why didn’t I ever think of that with my kids?
slug_queen over 12 years ago
You’re my kind of fellow, Baslim!
Elaine Rosco Premium Member over 12 years ago
You’ll always be a baby in moms eyes. It’s a mom thing.
Aaberon over 12 years ago
Hahahaha!!! I bet you’re the FUN Guy in your neighborhood – any places for rent where you live?? HA!
psychlady over 12 years ago
Poor Michael must be so confused. Yesterday he was a big boy and expected to let his sister win. Today he is just a little boy and expected to call and let his mother know where he is. Which way is it? I agree with today’s version.
longandgreen over 12 years ago
U are so right…
lightenup Premium Member over 12 years ago
Love that response! Granted, my kids would probably laugh at me because I make up things all the time with them, and they know it. But it might work once and that’s good enough for me… :-)This one reminds me of a story my mom tells of when I was in Kindergarten. Back then, we did 1/2 days and I was supposed to walk home at lunchtime (yes, I walked home alone at age 5 and it was not a small town). One day, I was very late coming home and when I finally arrived, she asked me what took me so long. I figured out that I was in trouble, so I lied and said that the teacher kept me after school. She asked why, so I quickly said that she wanted to ask me difficult spelling words like Pennsylvania. Of course, she called the school, and figured out that I was lying. The truth finally came out and I admitted that I had found a kitten on the way home and stopped to play with it. Of course, now I walk with my kids everywhere and can’t believe I was allowed to walk alone at age 5. Age 8 is a different matter…
Kydex29 over 12 years ago
One incident like that in my youth, and it would have been a long time before I went anywhere by myself again. We were taught a healthy respect for explicit instructions.
jimgamer over 12 years ago
Michael is a big boy now ?
iced tea over 12 years ago
He’s at a difficult age. One day he’s a big boy then he’s a little boy. It’s quite a big adjustment. Still, enforce this rule to your kids that they must ALWAYS let you know where they’re going to be.
hsawlrae over 12 years ago
You live in a world of fantasy.
coffeeturtle over 12 years ago
LOL!!! Luv it! :-)
burleigh2 over 12 years ago
“I’m practically ready for my own apartment!!”
Gretchen's Mom over 12 years ago
Yeah, Mom . . . he’s almost eight!!!!! What’s wrong with you anyhow?!? How dare you want to know where your child is at every moment of the day so that you know he’s safe!!!!! What an absolutely horrible parent you are!
;-)
awesome44048329 over 12 years ago
i wish that i could do that
Gokie5 over 12 years ago
When I was five I walked to school in Pittsburgh, kindergarten through Feb. of third grade. Went all over Dormont Park by myself (it was a couple of blocks away from our apartment, across a street.) In St. Petersburg, age 9-high school, went to school by myself and on Tuesday nights at one point would walk from operetta practice at Mirror Lake Jr. High to 4th St. and 5th Ave. N.(downtown) after dark and catch the bus home. No one thought anything of it. Things certainly have changed since the 40’s and 50’s!
NEMO1967 over 12 years ago
.AHAHA!! CUZ MIKE DON’T HAVE CELLPHONE YET :/ NEED PUBLIC PHONE WITH MONEY.. HE IS CHEAPOO!! HE GROW UP NOW…
bluskies over 12 years ago
As an Official Old Fart, I expect a lot of flak from this- but I think today’s kids are extremely overprotected, overcoddled, overdirected, and underprepared for life. I started school in 1st grade, not preschool, in 1951 at 6. For the first month or two, Mom walked me to the corner, and from there the other neighborhood kids and I walked the rest of the way; about 3/4 mile. Not uphill both ways, but every day. We also walked home and back for lunch, and home at the end of the day. Rain, shine, or snow. It was rare that we got a ride. We didn’t have arranged “playdates”. When we got a little older (8 or 9) and visited with other friends who lived outside the immediate neighborhood, the first order of business was to get home and out of the “school clothes”, then as far away from “adult supervision” as we could. We knew when we were to be home and stretched the boundaries without breaking them. I was riding trolleys alone or with a same-aged buddy to go to the library by 10 or 11; at 15, I transferred from trolley to el to subway to another trolley to get to private high school. Of course, that was the ‘50s and early ’60s. There were no “funny Uncles” or perverts back then, and everywhere was Mayberry. We turned out OK, maybe because we knew about the dangers but weren’t taught to fear them.
jimlttx over 12 years ago
romanic eveing