Posted by Tom Whittaker | Posted in journal | Posted on 11/19/2009 07:37:00 AM
Good morning!
Firstly, let me say that I imagine it is not easy to raise children, especially with today's recession and other pressures. I commend you for being parents. Unfortunately, Dale and I have never been blessed with a child. I have to assume he is not fertile and has issues with his ovaries, but we are blessed in so many other ways. Anyhow, back to you and specifically your children.
This morning on my walk to the bus I passed a bus stop with 5 middle school kids. I was horrified to see 3 of the 5 kids were wearing short-sleeved shirts with no jackets and shivering in the cold. One was even in shorts. I was horrified because it was 35 degrees this morning. Yes, 35 as is 3 degrees from the temperature where water can freeze. 35 degrees as in, look I can see my breath.
Now, this is not an isolated occurrence. I pass this bus stop every day I walk to the bus and see this type of thing all the time. Now you may be thinking maybe this just happens in my neighborhood. No! If I drive to work I pass a middle school and see hundreds of kids in the winter dressed like they are heading to the beach.
Now, I know kids wants to be cool. I am not expecting them to wear a winter parka, but for goodness sake, I think something like a sweatshirt or a hoodie that covers their arms is appropriate. I will not even mention gloves and a hat as I do not want to push my luck.
Personally, I do not blame the kids. They are stupid. I know. I was an idiot at their age. I am sure my sister or father are more than happy to validate this claim. I blame you the parents. You are the adults. You should be the voice of reason. When you see Sally 7th Grader or Ethan 8th Grader walking out the door in Colorado when there is still snow on the ground think to yourself and say, "Huh? Snow happens when it is cold, but my child is wearing shorts and a t-shirt. Something is wrong with that. Maybe I should recommend this sweatshirt sitting on the floor instead of hanging in the closet. Maybe."
I will get the next excuse out of the way. Yes, the weather in Colorado is wacky. It will be warm this afternoon. You are right. Point for you. So what! It is cold now and that is your kid standing at the bus stop freezing his or her niblets off. I think they can carry the stupid sweatshirt later if needed and let's be honest at an expected high of 50 degrees it will not be that warm.
My Mom would never let my sister and I out of the house dressed in a t-shirt in the winter. Why? She had common sense and loved us. She was willing to argue with us and tell us we were idiots for not wearing a jacket. She was a parent, not our best friend. She took care of us. Part of me thinks that is the problem. Too many parents either do not care enough to argue with their children or do not want to be the nag. It is okay to be a parent and not be cool. Even if you are a cool parent, take my word on this, your kid still finds you annoying. All teens find their parents annoying, useless and lame. It has been that way since the dawn of time and never changes.
Do yourself a favor, be the voice of reason and tell your kids to put on a jacket. They will love you for it when they are in their 30s and 40s and that is what matters. Who cares what your kid thinks of you now. It only matters if they like you when they are at an age when they can put you in a nursing home.
Thank you for listening and good luck when your kids start having sex because if you can't get them to put on a jacket, you have not shot on a condom. Think about it.
Tom
Firstly, let me say that I imagine it is not easy to raise children, especially with today's recession and other pressures. I commend you for being parents. Unfortunately, Dale and I have never been blessed with a child. I have to assume he is not fertile and has issues with his ovaries, but we are blessed in so many other ways. Anyhow, back to you and specifically your children.
This morning on my walk to the bus I passed a bus stop with 5 middle school kids. I was horrified to see 3 of the 5 kids were wearing short-sleeved shirts with no jackets and shivering in the cold. One was even in shorts. I was horrified because it was 35 degrees this morning. Yes, 35 as is 3 degrees from the temperature where water can freeze. 35 degrees as in, look I can see my breath.
Now, this is not an isolated occurrence. I pass this bus stop every day I walk to the bus and see this type of thing all the time. Now you may be thinking maybe this just happens in my neighborhood. No! If I drive to work I pass a middle school and see hundreds of kids in the winter dressed like they are heading to the beach.
Now, I know kids wants to be cool. I am not expecting them to wear a winter parka, but for goodness sake, I think something like a sweatshirt or a hoodie that covers their arms is appropriate. I will not even mention gloves and a hat as I do not want to push my luck.
Personally, I do not blame the kids. They are stupid. I know. I was an idiot at their age. I am sure my sister or father are more than happy to validate this claim. I blame you the parents. You are the adults. You should be the voice of reason. When you see Sally 7th Grader or Ethan 8th Grader walking out the door in Colorado when there is still snow on the ground think to yourself and say, "Huh? Snow happens when it is cold, but my child is wearing shorts and a t-shirt. Something is wrong with that. Maybe I should recommend this sweatshirt sitting on the floor instead of hanging in the closet. Maybe."
I will get the next excuse out of the way. Yes, the weather in Colorado is wacky. It will be warm this afternoon. You are right. Point for you. So what! It is cold now and that is your kid standing at the bus stop freezing his or her niblets off. I think they can carry the stupid sweatshirt later if needed and let's be honest at an expected high of 50 degrees it will not be that warm.
My Mom would never let my sister and I out of the house dressed in a t-shirt in the winter. Why? She had common sense and loved us. She was willing to argue with us and tell us we were idiots for not wearing a jacket. She was a parent, not our best friend. She took care of us. Part of me thinks that is the problem. Too many parents either do not care enough to argue with their children or do not want to be the nag. It is okay to be a parent and not be cool. Even if you are a cool parent, take my word on this, your kid still finds you annoying. All teens find their parents annoying, useless and lame. It has been that way since the dawn of time and never changes.
Do yourself a favor, be the voice of reason and tell your kids to put on a jacket. They will love you for it when they are in their 30s and 40s and that is what matters. Who cares what your kid thinks of you now. It only matters if they like you when they are at an age when they can put you in a nursing home.
Thank you for listening and good luck when your kids start having sex because if you can't get them to put on a jacket, you have not shot on a condom. Think about it.
Tom
I LOVE this post. As a parent... I am willing to be the bad guy for the greater good of my child. I do it daily and it is tiring and at times I don't want to do it but... it is what parenthood is all about.
I gotta say I don't have ant jr. high kids yet, but the coat thing is a daily battle with Janelle, one that I always win.
Nicole - Thanks. That is because you are a good Mom.
Jillian - glad to hear you win. She will appreciate it one day. I promise.
I'd ALSO like to point out that if parents let their kids go to school half naked in freezing weather it does not take them long to figure out ways to get warm. Which brings us full circle to your closing argument about condoms.
Andrew - If there is a way, kids will figure it out.
It could be argued that parenting is a never ending stream of choosing your battles and to some, the jacket-battle may be the least of their worries.
There's also something to be said for giving your kid freedom to make choices, even bad ones assuming they're relatively harmless, so that they learn. This jacket thing came up with my then 6 year old daughter last winter. Rather than fight her, I said "Ok, but you're choosing this path and have to accept the consequences... so don’t complain about being cold." That's the last time it's ever come up.
Paul - I agree that parenting is tough and you have to pick your battles. I think it is good parenting to allow your children to make choices, but I see these kids all the times wearing t-shirts in 30 and 40 degree temperatures. I personally do not think allowing this day after day is harmless though. I think there is a point where a parent must intervene.
What I can't understand is I'm cold when it's 70 degrees. I would be in a winter parka at about 50 degrees. How can anyone walk around in short sleeves in 35 degree weather and not be freezing?
Anjanette - exactly!
I have to admit, the first year we were here we didn't run the heater once all winter, we would be outside in t-shirts and think people were insane for wearing coats...the temps are similar between colorado and michigan, but the windchills and humidity make a big difference, both that if feels cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter here for whatever reason...but, now that we've gotten used to it...well, yea...