I keep wondering why when I tell my kids to do something that is for their own good, they keep acting like I’ve made a mere suggestion …. annnnnnd proceed to casually blow me off.
This household is not a democracy. It is a MONARCHY. Ahem.
I also wonder what part of Parenting 101 I failed in not sufficiently teaching my children to knock on a closed door before entering. Really, it’s for their own good.
Apparently, they’re going to have to learn the hard way.
What about the not so subtle over-the-shoulder read-as-I-blog action? What’s with that?
Illustrating the very height of this issue, though, is the event that sent me to the moon on Saturday morning.
Let me set the stage. It all transpired very out of the blue via text. Went something like this.
Spin: Hey babe. I love you.
Me: Yeah?
Spin: Ya. You and me together.
Me: Yeah?
Me: (insert most imaginably embarrassing thing I could have said in response)
Me: (expound on the previous thought in an equally vulnerable way)
Spin: lol
Spin: This is Stink. (who had hijacked his cell phone while Spin was getting a haircut.)
Life and my car comes to a screeching halt.
Can you say livid? What about irate? Can you say irate? Because humiliated and violated would never sufficiently do. In fact, while I’m pretty sure a strong enough word has yet to be penned to describe my exact state of mind, I’m confident the definition would read something like:
adjective: a searing, extreme form of righteous anger that may incite bodily harm and/or homicide.
After my rant (still via text, because remember, Spin’s head is in a bowl) and threat against Stink to use his cellphone to text every. single. girl. in his contact list and “how would he like that?”, I would love to say it blew over.
But it didn’t.
Everyone was in a world of trouble. Stink was in trouble for obvious reasons. Spin was in trouble for, you know, not saying those things. (Because hello? my heart swelled just a little….. only to be crushed BY A TEN YEAR OLD.) And I was prickly all day. (Do ya’ think??)
True to form, because let’s not forget the trauma, Spin made sure I felt well loved. If I know one thing, it’s that my man doesn’t need our son to hijack his phone to tell me how he feels.
The root of everything since I keep wondering why…. is not so much disrespect as much as it is that on the whole, I think my kids feel too comfortable a camaraderie with me.
Why is that?
Oh yeah. Hello. Mom hat first. Friend hat last.
I can never seem to remember the order.
{ 19 comments… read them below or add one }
There is a part of me that is really glad I am not Stink right now. And that Stink is not Jack right now.
I would be INSANELY pissed.
Hello? Boundaries anyone?
Not to mention the creep factor.
But go easy on him. He is just too creative for his own good….and? he taught you a lesson. Never type anything (text, email, letter) that you aren’t comfortable having on the FRONT PAGE of The New York Times.
Well, that is my motto anyway.
The Glamorous Life Association´s last blog ..PhotoTalk: It’s the best because SHE SAID SO.
Holy moly. Yeah, I would be extremely — I dont know–mortified or something. Probably more embarassed than angry… But The GLA up there is kinda right…I’ve learned not to type anything I don’t want read by everyone and their brother.
But still…Stink? I’d text his young lady friends. That would be great.
No, not really I wouldn’t. But I’d want to.
kristen@nst´s last blog ..William
Holy freaking crap. About to go tweet this.
Your BFLS´s last blog ..Macy & Mom: Prison Talk
I love that you are blogging every day. It makes me so happy.
I would have been so mortified and furious and wanting to vomit (all over my child). Welllll….positive side? Is there anything redeemable here? I heard Kevin Leman (child psychologist extraordinaire) say one time that if your child is grossed out by the thought of his mom and dad being, um, “affectionate” – that’s not good, and his knowing that his parents are, um, “affectionate” can give him a sense of security in knowing that his parents love each other and the family is going to be ok.
I know. It’s a stretch. Just trying to be Positive Polly here. I still would have killed him.
Jennifer´s last blog ..Ticking time and transfers
:shudders: I’m only beginning to get a taste of the lack of privacy thing as my kids are a bit younger than yours, but I can totally see them pulling a stunt like this and I think my reaction would be equally as visceral!
ramblinred´s last blog ..Not Me Monday 1-25-10
When this post started out I was agreeing with you and thinking I have the same problem here. But not having a 10-year-old son, I *so* did not see that one coming. And – truly sorry about this, too – and I am dying laughing. That is flippin’ hysterical! Mortifying of course, but also really, really funny. When he’s an adult you’ll all have a good laugh over this.
At the risk of getting into a big heap o’ trouble…(I love you, Soliloquy)…I feel the need to come to Stink’s defense a little bit. This anecdote perfectly illustrates the difference between boys and girls.
While I do not disagree with the boundary violation…that’s a big issue…this isn’t the first time Stink has pulled this stunt. It has happened in reverse on a few occasions. Stink texts me from Soliloquy’s phone. AND…we have a few laughs and life goes on.
What Stink never contemplated is the difference between Papa Bears and Momma Bears. Papa Bears just kind of roll with it…pranks like this are what we boys do. In fact, we excel at it. Unfortunately, it also gets us into a lot of unintended trouble.
He crossed Momma Bear, though, and Momma Bear was not happy. Momma Bears don’t quite see the humor in these sorts of pranks. Stink went from comic genius to comic fool quickly.
So…YES…it was wrong. BUT…he was just behaving the way God created him. Fortunately, God also gave him the ability to learn from his mistakes. I assure you, there will be no more texting stunts with the Momma Bear…no promises about it happening to someone else, though. Or, Stink doing some other stupid thing…in the near future.
Remember this sage counsel the next time the boy/man in your life attempts to be a comic genius.
Sigh. My kids are much younger, but with my 4 year old’s personality, I can see very similar happenings. Kudos to your husband for trying to come to his defense. I enjoy the suggestion of texting the girls on his phone. But as moms, we’re more mature. Right?? So instead, I would just invite a girl over for family night
Ashley@ Just Another Mom of 2´s last blog ..Post It Note Tuesday!
Oh. Dear.
That’s almost as bad as the baby monitor scandal…
frantically heidi´s last blog ..Heidi Will Absolutely, Positively NEVER (Do you hear me? I mean it!) Have a Facebook
I would so hijack his phone and text everyone even the guys in this contacts. I say go for it and then smack the Shhhhhhheeeeeettttt out him! Or just just drink a glass or two of wine. What ever would make you feel better. Hmmm maybe both would make you feel better!
rrmama´s last blog ..Gum+hair=peanutbutter
Yeah, I was going to make reference to the monitor post too. You two seem to get yourselves into some trouble in that regard, no? I’m thinkin’ maybe you’re in the wrong line of work. Because, um, I’d bet my bottom dollar that you and Spin could make a KILLIN’ handing out your “keep love alive” tips to couples everywhere. Just sayin’.
Oh yeah. And monarchy is close, but not quite right. My lovely 15 y/o refers to it as a “momarchy”. And she’s quite right.
Darcie – Such The Spot´s last blog ..Cut. That’s a Wrap.
O.M.G! How utterly embarrassing. I could touch on the Stinks’ boundary issues, BUT like you said, the root of it all is the balance of the whole parent vs friend. And it has to be a balance. Here is my take on it. In this day and age, our kids have to be able to talk to us. And who do they talk to? Friends. I certainly didn’t feel any kind of friendship with my mom until I was an adult….AND I never in a million years would have confided any of my personal feelings to her. We need our kids to trust us and talk to us. So for him to feel this camaraderie with you is not all bad.
Plus, I think Spin has a very good point about the differences between boys and girls. And I am pretty sure Stink learned a big lesson in what is ok with Papa Bear is SO not OK with Mama Bear.
Sara´s last blog ..AT&T
this is totally something my 13 year old brother would do.
and also something that my dad and husband would totally laugh about while me, my mom and sisters sat in a huff on the couch.
sam´s last blog ..My dog has a foot fetish.
I’d be furious too.
Headless Mom´s last blog ..Salsa Chicken-It’s What’s for dinner!
Oh my. That is REALLY. FREAKING. HILARIOUS!!!! But you know, he’s 10. That’s a good age to learn about the birds and the bees! lol
I read one blog, I wish I could find it again, who had the family over for dinner and snuck upstairs to do the deed. Afterwards, realized the baby monitor was on in their bedroom. AND in the kitchen.
There is just something about other people’s humiliation that makes me roar!!! lol
Rhonda´s last blog ..Writer’s Workshop – Back In Time
I really should have linked back to this post, because it’s one that I unfortunately came to be known for. Is the baby monitor story this one? Because, yeah – that would be ME.
http://shejusthadtosayit.com/2008/07/humiliated/
[and it cracks me up to remember that this is the post that started our friendship! ha!]
alece´s last blog ..she was my first
Oh my!!!!! I feel your embarrassment, but that is just hilarious! I would have been MAD too! And yes, the first thing I thought about was the baby monitor incident (uh oh now I am showing how long I have been lurking without commenting).
Christina´s last blog ..I’m a Gummy Bear…
If it makes you feel better, you probably scarred that 10year old for life. I know, because I do it on a daily basis.
thatgirlblogs´s last blog ..I must be on my iPeriod.