Good Sunday morning to all of my Bagwine drinkers.It’s been a busy and topsy-turvy week in my life.
I lost an important key. I have been swamped with things that have prevented me from making my blog rounds this weekend.
And now…I find that my son, who became a teenager in October, is starting to take on some typical teenage traits.
Among the typical things like checking out girls, sports, seeking some independence, and being a lovable smart-ass, he has also developed a disturbing habit.
Mr. Smart-as-Hell Straight As and Bs Boy evidently has recently felt that turning in homework on time is not important.
His grades have suffered…and I mean SUFFERED. The boy is in trouble.
His mom and I have been through this before with him, but not to this extent. Oy Vay!!
We have been asking him every afternoon and every morning…Is your homework done? Do you need help with any subjects? How’s school in general?
The answer every time: Just great Mom. Just great Dad. Everything’s good!!
Maybe things are good in the Bizarro World, but he has been neglecting just about everything.
Well, the little fella got busted on Friday about this, and yesterday, Matt-Man the Hammer came a-calling to his house.
Now typically, I am a positive reinforcement kinda parent, but since that hasn’t worked, I, and his mom agreed with it, went negative.
His My Space page, Gone. Track Team, Gone. Wednesday night fun at his Church, Gone. Basketball Camp this summer, Pending.
Neither his mom nor I wanted to do this, but, I figure it’s not simply punishment for Ryno, it’s a valuable civics lesson demonstrating our government’s system of checks and balances.
Sad times indeed this week, but there has been some upside as well.
I found my key. I have seen a lot of new faces on Bagwine this week. I have many new readers to put on my links page. And…
When I said to Ryno, “You know you really screwed up don’t you?”
In atypical teenage fashion, without a song, dance, or excuse, he replied, “Yes I did.” I liked that.
So, this morning I am off to Ryno’s because we are holding a brief funeral service for his My Space page, prior to deleting it.
Through all of his temporary embarrassment and tears, he still thought my idea of the funeral was pretty funny.
Amen, and Amen.
And now, our Sunday Serenade…
Life certainly is a series of ups and downs, but we need to treat it as a Treasure Hunt. One in which we hold the secret map within our heart and soul.
Even if things go bad for awhile we have to keep on roaming and find our treasures along the way. Here’s the B-52s with 60 year old Birthday girl Kate Pierson.
Cheers!!
If you get the chance, listen to Turnbaby's Blog Talk Radio Show tonight at 8 EDT. For details, click HERE.
52 comments:
Ahhhh ... Matt-Man ... you haven't made the blog rounds this weekend, have you?? You'll see a very similar post from me yesterday. It appears spring is in the air and young men are pushing boundaries.
Enjoy the funeral - that is priceless!
Dana: Yes, spring is in the air everywhere, and I have to work 11-7today. Pfffft. Cheers Dana, I'll catch up with ya soon.
The funeral was very moving...
I'm glad you found your key....
Poor lil Ryno...but hey...it's good that they see the consequences of their actions....It's tough being a parent but someone's gotta to it.
(So, is there going to be a test on that video? Just so you know, I did notice the banana going thru the hole in the bagel....wtf???
Peace
The joys of being a parent. Doing what we have to do, not what we want to. Glad to hear you and his mom are in agreement on how to handle his adolecent antics.
He may not be too happy about it now, but he will appreciate that you stepped up and helped him beconme a man. Good going my friend.
Odat: Ha. I am sure there was no meaning in the banana and begel thing ; ) Ryno understands completely. Cheers!!
Jeff: He has handled everything quite well. He is incredibly smart, which is why I get irritated when he sometimes doesn't apply himself. Cheers!!
I'm proud of you for PARENTING. Not always easy but it is alway neccessary.
When Rhyno is making HIS Presidential exceptance speech, or getting parolled for good behavior (what? who said that? Not Jen) you can say "Remember when we deleted your My Space? That helped you to become the man that you are today. Where's my #$%& Thank You?"
Happy Sunday Matt.
Jen
Jen: I think you covered his future outcome possibilities perfectly. He has all of the charm and skills of a slick politician and the ability to get himself in trouble at the drop of a hat.
Happy Sunday, and Cheers!!
In the spirit of positive parenting is it possible "Mr. Smart-as-Hell Straight As and Bs Boy" is bored as hell at school? Is it possible to look into some sort of gifted and talented program? Won't help the day dreaming about the girls but it might motivate him to do his homework.
We'll also keep a moment of silence for his My Space page. *lights a candle*
Talisman: That's not the problem. He's not as bored with school as he is just interested in goofing off. I've seen him struggle with things when he is paying attention at school.
Thanks for the candle, his late MS page thanks you. Cheers!!
Tell me again why we teach our kids to speak?
Matt honey we are definitely twins. KIDLET did the same frickin thing! Remember the drama with the math teacher at the beginning of the year?
Well little miss, who knows her teacher is a sad (possible closet drunk) retirement case waiting to happen did not follow the rules we laid down for having her teacher sign that she turned in homework.
Final grade...D due to 5 missing assignments. Which we KNOW she did but she slacked on covering her ass.
Her dad went ballistic (the school did not follow their written policies for notifications etc) and Kidlet gets to turn in her missing work, and take a C. The rest of her grades...3 A 2 B. It's a good life lesson for her that the only one really looking out for you is you.
When you allow the holy reincarnation of the My Space holler at me and I will have kidlet go take a look. They can bond over what beyotches we both are :P
Love me some B52's =)
I followed you from Jay's blog and am glad I did!
I love the idea of a funeral service for the myspace. That is quite funny and something that I'm sure he'll look back on when he's an adult and laugh about. Good luck making it through the rest of his teenage years without a gun or rope.
I, as well, am glad you found your key. Whew!
Kids - don't you just love when they show off the very characteristics that we ourselves passed on and detest in ourselves? Not saying that's the case here, but it really frustrates me when my kid shows this same laissez-faire attitude, and I know he got it from me. Damn!
I have a friend who's daughter failed algebra and ended up in summer school. The first day of summer school she discovered that her daughter had done all the work the previous semester but just didn't bother to turn any of it in and that's why she failed. And of course, the teacher never said a word to her about it. Even on parent/teacher conference day. Amazing, huh?
Good for you holding Ryno accountable for his actions. That lesson could not be more valuable. He sounds like a great and typical new teen..he'll have his bumps didn't we all) but with 2 loving parents he can't go wrong.
HUGS!!
PS: Love the B-52's
I went through the same thing with my kids.
Now I look at every assignment and dig through their backpacks even if they tell me everything is done.
Many schools have internet portals that allow parents to check posted grades and see blanks for missing assignments.
Best of luck to you and your son.
Wait until college, when its really easy to be a slacker, spoken by a true professional by the way.
Sometimes good cop/bad cop works
BAH - teenagers. You've gotta love 'em.
Much luck...and for what it's worth, you did good. ;-)
Oh God no...not the myspace? He'll never get laid now! Um I mean, how will he stay in contact with his friends? What will there be to do all day?
Oh yeah, homework.
You killed his Myspace page? How cruel. Now to fill out personality quiz's for all his friends he will have to resort to the archaic mass e-mail system.
consequences schmonsequences ... he'll turn it around
that's what they do ... they push us ... see how far they can get ... then when they realize .. oh shit ... mom and dad aren't gonna let this one go ... they get back on the staight and narrow
and 60?! seriously?? damn ... that means i'm not really 21 anymore, huh? jeez!!
thank gosh Kate is only 8! Not prepared for all of this yet. Glad to see you doing the right thing about the My Space Page. My it forever RIP!
You totally DELETED the My Space??
Kinda harsh,that.
Babygirl can't live without texting, so we took away her phone. Also cutting out the computer-except for school use seemed to work.
I hope it works out for Ryno. Hang in there!
For some reason, no matter what my mom took away... It never bothered me that much. At least, I still never did what I was supposed to... Payin' for it now, though, heh.
Hell, she STILL threatens to take away the computer or my phone! *shudder*
I don't get it!
Why is it that we humans are so inteligent that we've gotten ourselves to the moon, and built i-pods to cruise through the internet, but yet generation after generation, the children will still make the same mistakes that their parents as children made? Over and over again, generation after generation. Can't we evolve past this crap?
I guess as a spieces, were just to
dumb!
Ryno has a good dad!
Ahh. The MySpace funeral. Excellent. I love it when teenager fun stuff like IMs get deleted! Enjoy!
Nicely done there Dad. Even good kids go awry once in awhile.
Leighann: I love listenin' to my kid. He's a hoot!! Cheers!!
Starr: Yep that's a pisser alright. And your kid and mine schemin' together? Is the world ready? Cheers!!
Steph: Thanks for stopping. We had a bit of a laugh over it today. Cheers!!
Songbird: Hey I put things off and put things off, BUT I do turn things in by the deadline. Cheers Dear!!
Jay: What's up with these youngin's? But yeah, in that case the teach should have said something. Cheers!!
Leelee: He's a cutie, and I guess he told his mom today that he was glad that it was off his chest. Cheers!!
Hammer: I could do that, but his mom and I have told him that he should be doing these things without us having to check to see if he did it, unless he needs help with something. Cheers!!
Sparky: No kiddin'. That's why we jumped his butt now. Cheers!!
Tug: HA. And thanks Tug, I hope it has worked out. Cheers!!
RLL: Ha, yep that's the goal. And I hope he never gets laid!! Cheers!!
Knight: Yeah, he will become a serial Spammer. Cheers!!
That Girl: I think he has learned his lesson. And yeah, when I heard she was turning 60, I felt old as well. Cheers!!
Jahooni: You have a few years before the nightmares start. I want him to have fun with the net, but not until it is not all consuming of his time. Cheers!!
Metal: I think he will be just fine after awhile. Cheers!!
Motley: Boy, that mother of yours is the infinite in cruelty. Cheers!!
Micky: Because each generation thinks that they can get away with it. Thanks and Cheers!!
Winter: I bet you messed with your kid's head alot didn't ya? Cheers!!
Travis: Yes they do, and he will right his ship I am sure. Cheersmy good man!!
Greetings! I'm Aunt Jackie.
Came by to check you out per Jay (Cynical Bastard)'s recommendation! His blog-o-mercial was top-notch. :)
Wow, so your son is going through those teen "issues" now. It's rough and all, remember how we all were at certain ages, just think of the feelings and hormone changes we all went through.
Cute idea the funeral... but I was wondering, maybe you could've just taken away all computer access as opposed to killing his MySpace page, but then, you're probably right... he'd just go get online at the Library or something. :P
Great stopping in, cool blog so far as I have read.
Aunt Jackie: Why thanks for stopping. He needs the computer for school at times, so we didn't want to take it all away. Maybe it will help him with responsibility. Cheers!!
well if he takes after his father then what does one expect? **cough cough** ;)~
Jahooni: Are you saying that, he is headed for trouble...or unintentional celibacy? Cheers!!
Alway appreciate a matter of fact answer that is true. Thanks bunches for the vid, cool, way cool. I dig the B-52's. See ya in the funnies Bud.
Lu: You are so correct. I'll catch up with ya tomorrow Lu. Cheers!!
I see you also found the smart dad key.. well done...
btw Where was the lost key?
Way to go... I'm glad you found your key.
celibacy... you? Matt-Man? pulllease! ;)~
Cheesy: It was in the pocket of a pair of my pants. Oy Vay!! Cheers!!
Marilyn: Hiya Pal. Thanks so am I. Cheers!!
Jahooni: Well, if self-love counts, I guess not. Cheers!!
I know that I have this to look forward to when Tyler gets into school. *sigh*
Glad you found your key.
So~~ you found it whilst playing pocket pool?? ^5!!
CrAzY: Thanks and don't worry, the things kids do could be worse. Cheers!!
Cheesy: Ha. Bada Bing!! Cheers Cheesy!!
don't erase his myspace page. it's part of his universe. try to understand what made him so bored of school.
Marmelade: The problem is that it is too big a part of his universe as are other things. He will get it back eventually. Cheers!!
I love the funeral idea. You are a cool dad!
Karen: Why thank ya Karen. He was amused. Cheers!!
I remember the good ole days of being grounded from stuff...I love the myspace page deletion...sooooo 2008
and just think....you are only in your FIRST year of teenagerhood....
(picture me laughing uproarishly)
Post a Comment