At cub scouts tonight, I learned my worth.
“THERE ARE JUST FIVE PEOPLE HERE DADDY.”
Well, there are mommies and daddies, too.
“PARENTS DONT COUNT.”
And I will remind him of that when his first college tuition check is due.
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“And I will remind him of that when his first college tuition check is due.”
That got me to LOL!
Nope, you don’t count until they get to about age 22.
“When I was a teenager I was amazed at all the things my parents didn’t know, by the time I was in my 20′s I was amazed at all the things they had learned” Don’t remember where the quote came from but it is very apt
You will count before the first tuition check is due. He’ll want to borrow your car shortly after getting his driver’s license.
@perren it’s actually a mark twain quote. Funny thing is, he was talking about his father, who died when he was young. It’s amazing how much things change through the lens of experience
BRK, by the time he’s ready for college, your memory will be shot. I speak from experience. I think the system is rigged against us.
Thanks Morishita, now that I know who it was I will repost it correctly thanks to google
Mark Twain: “When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years.”
As a child, my parents were harsh; seemingly cruel at times. Sometime in my late teens I realized I was particularly challenged in having two blithering-idiots as parents — I had the whole world figured out back then. In my mid-20′s I realized they were pretty good parents: they were strict, they were fair, they held me accountable for my decisions, and they prepared me well enough to survive in the real world.
Years later, after having become a father twice over, I called my parents and told them:
1. They are both incredibly brilliant — always have been!
2. I thanked them for every spanking, every grounding, and every time I was restricted or something was taken away as punishment. Each and every punishment was richly deserved and properly dished out
3. They had every right to drown me in the closest river as a child. I thanked them for their obvious restraint — no jury that included at least one parent would have convicted either of them
4. I begged my mother to lift the curse she had placed upon me so long ago, as even then I had recognized it was beginning to take hold:
The Mother’s Curse: “I hope one day you have a child just like yourself.”
Today, I have two daughters. The curse is firmly a reality in at least one child, and I see evidence that it will likely manifest itself in the second. The cycle seems to be on track: My 7 year old has clearly formed the opinion that I am an idiot — she has mastered the sniff and what I call the “dismissive eye roll.” My wife has made preliminary evocations of the curse upon the eldest, but I expect she’ll do it for real within the next few years. (I firmly believe this is a matriarchal tradition, so I’m staying out of it!) We live nowhere near a properly deep river; and, despite occasional frustrations with the kids, I have no plans to seek out swift-moving water with murderous intent. While the children will never have reason to thank me for a sound, over-the-knee spanking, I do hope the allowable discipline my wife and I impart (as needed) will prepare them for the real world.
I’m willing to admit (more now than ever) that I do not have the world remotely figured out. My approach to parenting is largely an exercise in mimicking my parents — I’m so lucky to be able to do that! So many aren’t. Perhaps, one day I’ll get a call from (at least) one of my daughters: I so hope it’ll be one that seems pleasantly familiar …
/crossing fingers
BRK, keep up the great parenting as well as the enthusiasm and humor you have in your role as a daddy. And, keep sharing: so many of us appreciate and relate so well with your experiences and observations.
As a 22 year old, Parents most definitly count. I wouldnt be here if it wasnt for them. Too bad there really isn’t anything a kid can get their parent that can even attempt to re-pay them for their undying love.
For all the hutner fans that are still here and for Daniel of course, check out this new WOW video called “I am a Hunter”:
http://www.wow.com/2009/12/15/wow-moviewatch-im-a-hunter/
Great
At age 18 my son knows everything – just ask him. Everyone tells me he will be better in his twenties. Sigh, I hope I make it til then.
Daniel, you are a wonderful Dad. I only hope when my son wakes up and realizes I am not the evil one he will be as great as Sammy.
Hey! I can dream can’t I?
Totally unrelated note… I think I just found you on LinkedIn.
Would you be opposed if I added you to my network? I know this is kind of out of the blue, so I can understand if you’d prefer not.