"Life was a lot simpler when girls still had cooties."
Showing posts with label Chip. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chip. Show all posts
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Friday, September 9, 2011
Air Show
Being a member of CAP, Chip has had some terrific opportunities available to him. One of them was security detail at the airshow a couple weekends ago. He spent two long days walking the perimeter, policing the area and keeping people back behind the line. He left home at 5am and didn't get home until 10pm. He was tired, oh so very tired, but loved every minute of it. We attended the airshow the 2nd day.
It was pretty cool to walk in and see my eldest standing guard. Though the fact that he really looked like a soldier was sobering. The bus he is standing in front of has a jet engine and went down the runway at over 300 MPH.
We got a front row seat and saw some pretty cool planes and tricks.
Seeing the planes up high was much easier when they would put on their smoke.
This plane dropped parachuters. Those parachuters had red smoke but I didn't get a picture of them. :/
It was a cloudy-ish day but made for great silhouette pictures when the sun tried to pop out. Actually the sun fully came out about the time the show was over.
The University of Iowa engineering department has a trainer plane. They did a mock mission that was pretty cool.
Throughout the day we would catch a glimpse of Chip. He hated the fact that I took pictures of him. What he doesn't understand is I am proud of him.
Dill tolerated the obligatory picture.
And I love this picture of my oldest and my youngest. I have no idea what they are looking at since the airshow was in back of them. Notice the caution tape between the two.
The highlight of the day was being able to see USAF Thunderbirds.
Cool was psyched! His dream in life is to see either the Blue Angels or The Thunderbirds, preferable both. One down, one to go!
It was spectacular.
Of course, I am sure he was wishing he was a cadet in CAP because Chip was fortunate enough to not only meet The Thunderbirds, but got to see the planes and talk with the mechanics. Poor Cool had to go home while Chip got to have all the fun!
It was a great weekend, a great show, a great learning experience and something I am sure Chip (and the other picklets) will NEVER forget.
If you are interested in seeing a Thunderbird show, here is a great video, taken in Boston, from start to finish and is very good quality.
(c) 2008-2011 Wicked Pickles-Homefrontlines
It was pretty cool to walk in and see my eldest standing guard. Though the fact that he really looked like a soldier was sobering. The bus he is standing in front of has a jet engine and went down the runway at over 300 MPH.
We got a front row seat and saw some pretty cool planes and tricks.
Seeing the planes up high was much easier when they would put on their smoke.
This plane dropped parachuters. Those parachuters had red smoke but I didn't get a picture of them. :/
It was a cloudy-ish day but made for great silhouette pictures when the sun tried to pop out. Actually the sun fully came out about the time the show was over.
The University of Iowa engineering department has a trainer plane. They did a mock mission that was pretty cool.
Throughout the day we would catch a glimpse of Chip. He hated the fact that I took pictures of him. What he doesn't understand is I am proud of him.
Dill tolerated the obligatory picture.
And I love this picture of my oldest and my youngest. I have no idea what they are looking at since the airshow was in back of them. Notice the caution tape between the two.
The highlight of the day was being able to see USAF Thunderbirds.
Cool was psyched! His dream in life is to see either the Blue Angels or The Thunderbirds, preferable both. One down, one to go!
It was spectacular.
Of course, I am sure he was wishing he was a cadet in CAP because Chip was fortunate enough to not only meet The Thunderbirds, but got to see the planes and talk with the mechanics. Poor Cool had to go home while Chip got to have all the fun!
It was a great weekend, a great show, a great learning experience and something I am sure Chip (and the other picklets) will NEVER forget.
If you are interested in seeing a Thunderbird show, here is a great video, taken in Boston, from start to finish and is very good quality.
(c) 2008-2011 Wicked Pickles-Homefrontlines
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Questions from Chip
Chip: "Why is there a bowl of chicken noodle soup in the bathroom?"
Me: "Because Shadow (the cat) was eating it."
Chip: "Why did you give Shadow a bowl of chicken noodle soup? AND why did you give it to him in the bathroom?"
Me: He was hungry."
Chip: "Uh huh."
And thus ended the chicken noodle soup questioning from Chip.
(c) 2008-2011 Wicked Pickles-Homefrontlines
Me: "Because Shadow (the cat) was eating it."
Chip: "Why did you give Shadow a bowl of chicken noodle soup? AND why did you give it to him in the bathroom?"
Me: He was hungry."
Chip: "Uh huh."
And thus ended the chicken noodle soup questioning from Chip.
(c) 2008-2011 Wicked Pickles-Homefrontlines
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Above All
I believe everyone has a calling. Some know they are meant to be a mom. Some a teacher. Some an accountant. Some know they are meant to be in the military. Chip is one of those people.
To better prepare Chip for that service we signed him up to be a member of the Civil Air Patrol. He meets with his squadron about 2 hours per week to get aerospace education, moral leadership and physical training. He dresses in BDU's (Battle Dress Uniform) and spit shines his boots (which I found out doesn't really require spit!). He participates in mock search and rescue missions and meets on the weekends for activities such as placing flags on the graves of veterans, marshalling aircraft at airshows and O-Rides. O-Ride, short for orientation ride, has been one of Chip's favorite part of being a member of CAP.
Not knowing what to expect the first time, we took Chip to the airport dressed in BDU's, armed with sunglasses, chewing gum, a camera and water. Soon a CAP pilot introduced himself and the next thing we knew we were on the tarmac watching Chip be briefed on how to do the pre-flight safety check.
Soon after we watched the small plane take off "into the wild blue yonder". A couple hours later we picked him up and found out that Chip actually got to fly the plane! I think he was in love.
He has since had another motorized O-Ride (where grandpa was allowed on the tarmac to "inspect" the plane)
and a glider ride. He is hoping for 2 more, the maximum alotted per cadet in a given year.
Since he is almost 18 this will be his first and last year of O-Rides. It is too bad because had we known about the program earlier, he could have had several under his belt, been in line for pilot school or quite possibly had his own license by now. Plus he is missing years of invaluable preparation received for possible search and rescue missions.
Chip can continue to be a member of CAP, as a cadet, until he is 21 and if he keeps up his studies through CAP he still has the possibility to earn scholarships that could possibly include flight school or better.
(c) 2008-2011 Wicked Pickles-Homefrontlines
To better prepare Chip for that service we signed him up to be a member of the Civil Air Patrol. He meets with his squadron about 2 hours per week to get aerospace education, moral leadership and physical training. He dresses in BDU's (Battle Dress Uniform) and spit shines his boots (which I found out doesn't really require spit!). He participates in mock search and rescue missions and meets on the weekends for activities such as placing flags on the graves of veterans, marshalling aircraft at airshows and O-Rides. O-Ride, short for orientation ride, has been one of Chip's favorite part of being a member of CAP.
Not knowing what to expect the first time, we took Chip to the airport dressed in BDU's, armed with sunglasses, chewing gum, a camera and water. Soon a CAP pilot introduced himself and the next thing we knew we were on the tarmac watching Chip be briefed on how to do the pre-flight safety check.
Soon after we watched the small plane take off "into the wild blue yonder". A couple hours later we picked him up and found out that Chip actually got to fly the plane! I think he was in love.
He has since had another motorized O-Ride (where grandpa was allowed on the tarmac to "inspect" the plane)
and a glider ride. He is hoping for 2 more, the maximum alotted per cadet in a given year.
Since he is almost 18 this will be his first and last year of O-Rides. It is too bad because had we known about the program earlier, he could have had several under his belt, been in line for pilot school or quite possibly had his own license by now. Plus he is missing years of invaluable preparation received for possible search and rescue missions.
Chip can continue to be a member of CAP, as a cadet, until he is 21 and if he keeps up his studies through CAP he still has the possibility to earn scholarships that could possibly include flight school or better.
(c) 2008-2011 Wicked Pickles-Homefrontlines
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Birthday Boy
Today is Chip's 17th birthday. Hard to believe that 17 years ago, about the time I got up to deliver papers, I was in delivery wondering who the guy in the white shirt and blue jeans standing at the end of the hospital bed with his arms crossed was. Never did find out who.
Anyway, from that questionable moment we received a beautiful baby boy. Our first of three blessings. He was in distress for a while after delivery and we weren't able to hold or see him. Boy when we did, did we ever lavish kisses on his sweet little head. It still brings tears to my eyes.
Today he is a teenager with a mind of his own. He is moody and sweet all at the same time. I am told he is very polite and quite responsible compared to most teens his age. Of course, as his mom, I am always looking for better. ;-)
In honor of his birthday he will have no chores or school work. The other two wish they were so lucky!
Tonight we are having sloppy joes and grandma's potato salad. To surprise him we are serving mini fruit pies for dessert. He will love it!
Hippo Birdies Chip and many more.
(c) 2008-2011 Wicked Pickles-Homefront Lines
Anyway, from that questionable moment we received a beautiful baby boy. Our first of three blessings. He was in distress for a while after delivery and we weren't able to hold or see him. Boy when we did, did we ever lavish kisses on his sweet little head. It still brings tears to my eyes.
Today he is a teenager with a mind of his own. He is moody and sweet all at the same time. I am told he is very polite and quite responsible compared to most teens his age. Of course, as his mom, I am always looking for better. ;-)
In honor of his birthday he will have no chores or school work. The other two wish they were so lucky!
Tonight we are having sloppy joes and grandma's potato salad. To surprise him we are serving mini fruit pies for dessert. He will love it!
Hippo Birdies Chip and many more.
(c) 2008-2011 Wicked Pickles-Homefront Lines
Monday, April 25, 2011
Happy Monday
Hope everyone had a great Easter! We had a day filled with friends, family and lots of love. Can't beat that. My God-daughter was confirmed yesterday morning. It was a beautiful sunrise service. She had me in tears when she mouthed "I love you." to me while she stood in the front of the church. I do love that girl!
After the second church service we headed to my aunts house for dinner. We spent a lovely afternoon with Gaga and ate way too much! Shark surprised Chip with a birthday cake with a tank on it. Everyone knows how he likes CAP. While cutting the cake Chip realized the tank was actually a transformer. Everyone had fun taking turns playing with it.
Tomorrow is Chip's 17th birthday. Since tomorrow is a very busy day for us we have cancelled all activities for today and are celebrating instead. Omelets for breakfast, nachos for dinner and beef stew for supper. His requests are reasonable and easy to fulfill...except for the iPad he requested. He isn't getting that...sorry babe! Guess I shouldn't call my 17 year old son babe anymore...sorry bud! I will give you the day off school tomorrow instead. I am reasonable after all.
Better get going...gonna be a busy day. I have yogurt in the crock pot and need to get cracking on the beef stew and strawberry cake and laundry and dusting and every other thing I can possibly fit into a day at home!
Wishing you a great Monday.
Happy trails~~~
After the second church service we headed to my aunts house for dinner. We spent a lovely afternoon with Gaga and ate way too much! Shark surprised Chip with a birthday cake with a tank on it. Everyone knows how he likes CAP. While cutting the cake Chip realized the tank was actually a transformer. Everyone had fun taking turns playing with it.
Tomorrow is Chip's 17th birthday. Since tomorrow is a very busy day for us we have cancelled all activities for today and are celebrating instead. Omelets for breakfast, nachos for dinner and beef stew for supper. His requests are reasonable and easy to fulfill...except for the iPad he requested. He isn't getting that...sorry babe! Guess I shouldn't call my 17 year old son babe anymore...sorry bud! I will give you the day off school tomorrow instead. I am reasonable after all.
Better get going...gonna be a busy day. I have yogurt in the crock pot and need to get cracking on the beef stew and strawberry cake and laundry and dusting and every other thing I can possibly fit into a day at home!
Wishing you a great Monday.
Happy trails~~~
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Chip Pickle, Big Brother Extrodanair
What does a big brother do when his little sister is hungry? He does a little Great Depression Cooking of course. Thanks to Clara, Chip made his sister (and the rest of the family) a wonderful depression meal called Poorman's Meal. Can you say gooood???
Actually the fact that Sweet was hungry was just an added bonus. This was actually a home-ec assignment. I introduced Chip to the Depression Cooking videos last week. Told him to watch the videos and prepare to learn. He really liked the videos and has watched them more than once. Yesterday while we were in town, I gave him $10, told him to pick one of the recipes, buy quality ingredients and prepare supper. He chose Poor Man's Meal and for dessert Baked Apples. Oh my! Those baked apples were T-rific!
Following is the process and the final product. Chip is very anti camera these days but he did allow his hands to be photographed.
Peeling potatoes and onions.
Dicing potatoes and chopping onions.
Putting the potatoes and onions in the pan.
Pouring olive oil over the potatos and onions.
Slicing the hot dogs.
Adding the hotdogs to the potato/onion mixture.
Chip and Sweet. To go with the meal chip served carrot sticks and cucumber rounds.
To make the baked apples first he cored each apple.
Put cinnamon, sugar and butter in each apple.
Baked for 30 minutes.
Perfection!
To view the recipes please check out Great Depression Cooking. You won't be sorry.
© 2008-2010 Wicked Pickles-Homefront Lines
Actually the fact that Sweet was hungry was just an added bonus. This was actually a home-ec assignment. I introduced Chip to the Depression Cooking videos last week. Told him to watch the videos and prepare to learn. He really liked the videos and has watched them more than once. Yesterday while we were in town, I gave him $10, told him to pick one of the recipes, buy quality ingredients and prepare supper. He chose Poor Man's Meal and for dessert Baked Apples. Oh my! Those baked apples were T-rific!
Following is the process and the final product. Chip is very anti camera these days but he did allow his hands to be photographed.
Peeling potatoes and onions.
Dicing potatoes and chopping onions.
Putting the potatoes and onions in the pan.
Pouring olive oil over the potatos and onions.
Slicing the hot dogs.
Adding the hotdogs to the potato/onion mixture.
Chip and Sweet. To go with the meal chip served carrot sticks and cucumber rounds.
To make the baked apples first he cored each apple.
Put cinnamon, sugar and butter in each apple.
Baked for 30 minutes.
Perfection!
To view the recipes please check out Great Depression Cooking. You won't be sorry.
© 2008-2010 Wicked Pickles-Homefront Lines
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Getting Up On Time, part 2
We have had troubles with getting up on time. In the last post I explained the actions I have taken with Dill and Sweet. This post is going to focus on Chip.
Chip has never been a morning person. I can't understand why he was born at 4:42 am because he does not like to start his days early at all. Yesterday he wouldn't get out of bed. I used the "Have a New Kid by Friday" method and left him at home. I left him a note with chores, school assignments and instruction to call his piano teacher and explain he wouldn't be at lessons because he wouldn't get out of bed.
He did his chores and his assignments. He didn't tell the piano teacher the truth which is something we will talk about later. I thought I would share one of his school assignments. He was to write a paper about getting up on time. If only he lived by the words put in this paper.
Getting Up On Time by Chip Pickle
One of the first responsibilities you will have to learn in your life is also one of the most important; getting up on time. Getting up on time is more than just the time you have to get ready for school. Its what gets you ready for the day. Even on
the weekends if you get up at 6:00, you will have a better day, because you will have a whole day to yourself to do what ever you want. For example, if you have to be home by nine and you get up at eleven that's 10 hours to do what you want. But if you got up at six, you would have had 5 more hours.
Getting up on time is good for more than just enjoyment however. It puts you in a better mood. Generally, at least with me, when I get up earlier I feel better and have a better day.
Later on in life it becomes even more important than when you're a kid because it's what keeps the food on the table. If you don't get up on time you could be late for work and if you're late for work you could lose your job. So basically, getting up on time will help you through life from having fun on the weekends to keeping your job. Getting up on time will be hard at first but you learn to enjoy it.
(c) 2008-2010 Wicked Pickles-Homefront Lines
Chip has never been a morning person. I can't understand why he was born at 4:42 am because he does not like to start his days early at all. Yesterday he wouldn't get out of bed. I used the "Have a New Kid by Friday" method and left him at home. I left him a note with chores, school assignments and instruction to call his piano teacher and explain he wouldn't be at lessons because he wouldn't get out of bed.
He did his chores and his assignments. He didn't tell the piano teacher the truth which is something we will talk about later. I thought I would share one of his school assignments. He was to write a paper about getting up on time. If only he lived by the words put in this paper.
Getting Up On Time by Chip Pickle
One of the first responsibilities you will have to learn in your life is also one of the most important; getting up on time. Getting up on time is more than just the time you have to get ready for school. Its what gets you ready for the day. Even on
the weekends if you get up at 6:00, you will have a better day, because you will have a whole day to yourself to do what ever you want. For example, if you have to be home by nine and you get up at eleven that's 10 hours to do what you want. But if you got up at six, you would have had 5 more hours.
Getting up on time is good for more than just enjoyment however. It puts you in a better mood. Generally, at least with me, when I get up earlier I feel better and have a better day.
Later on in life it becomes even more important than when you're a kid because it's what keeps the food on the table. If you don't get up on time you could be late for work and if you're late for work you could lose your job. So basically, getting up on time will help you through life from having fun on the weekends to keeping your job. Getting up on time will be hard at first but you learn to enjoy it.
(c) 2008-2010 Wicked Pickles-Homefront Lines
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Think! Hover Craft
Chip tried his hand at the Think! hovercraft challenge. He spent maybe 10 minutes on it. It does hover if he holds the dryer just right...lol. Maybe, just maybe, he could have taken more time BUT he had to beat his siblings to get done with school work after all.
(c) 2008-2009 Wicked Pickles-Homefront Lines
(c) 2008-2009 Wicked Pickles-Homefront Lines
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Rain
I love the rain, always have. I love the sound of it hitting the road. The gentle rustling sound it makes hitting the trees. The pounding sound on our camper while we are sleeping. I love watching rain and walking in the rain even more. I love the ripples that appear when it puddles.
I find rain to be relaxing and calming.
Sweet and Banana love the rain too.
They find rain to be fun and a time to frolic.
I guess loving the rain is a matter of perspective.
Chip didn't liked the rain yesterday. And I am told he doesn't like corn anymore either.
You see Chip's first day detasseling was yesterday and it rained all day long, never stopped, until he got home. (you can see the sun out in back of him)
One look at his socks will tell you he was soaked from head to toe.
And just look at this face. It is definitely a face only a mother can love. Actually it scares me, really it does.
It shows just how happy he was to have me take his picture upon his return home. I am a mom with a camera, what else could I do?
Regardless of how Chip feels about the rain, I still like it.
(c) 2008-2009 Wicked Pickles-Homefront Lines
All Rights Reserved
I find rain to be relaxing and calming.
Sweet and Banana love the rain too.
They find rain to be fun and a time to frolic.
I guess loving the rain is a matter of perspective.
Chip didn't liked the rain yesterday. And I am told he doesn't like corn anymore either.
You see Chip's first day detasseling was yesterday and it rained all day long, never stopped, until he got home. (you can see the sun out in back of him)
One look at his socks will tell you he was soaked from head to toe.
And just look at this face. It is definitely a face only a mother can love. Actually it scares me, really it does.
It shows just how happy he was to have me take his picture upon his return home. I am a mom with a camera, what else could I do?
Regardless of how Chip feels about the rain, I still like it.
(c) 2008-2009 Wicked Pickles-Homefront Lines
All Rights Reserved
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Mock Trial Camp
The picklets were given the opportunity to attend camps at a local college this summer. Chip attended Mock Trial Camp. He absolutely loved it! Now he thinks he is an expert lets us know what can be used in court and what can't.
The Case:
- State v. Randall
Facts:
- James and Arlene go to a night club to have a drink. Randall, who has been drinking, comes up to their table, says he knows Arlene, and tries to talk to her. James gets angry and asks Randall to leave. An argument takes place and a fight ensues. The police are called and Randall is arrested for assault on James. Randall claims James caused the fight and that he was only defending himself.
Chip was one of the prosecutors. He had the burden of proof. Chip was asked by his group to write the opening statement.
"May it please the court?"
"Council?"
The reason we are here today, Your Honor, is because James Avery was assaulted by Randall Johnson.
Your Honor, this all took place on the date of May 1st, 2009 at the "Piano Bar" on 2nd Avenue, when James Avery walked into the bar with Arlene Templeton, James' new girlfriend. After entering the bar, they sat at a table and ordered drinks and dinner. While enjoying diner, Your Honor, Randall Johnson walked up to the table they were sitting at and asked Arlene, Jame's girlfriend, to dance, even though James was still sitting at the table. At that point Randall grabbed Arlene's arm to get her to dance. Worried about his girlfriend, James stood up calmly and asked Randall to leave or he would get the manager. When Randall refused to leave, James turned around to get the manager and BAM! Randall blindsided James with a punch. So as you can see Your Honor, Randall Johnson is guilty, of the assault and battery of James Avery.
Your Honor I know we have the burden of proof, which is beyond a reasonable doubt. At the end of the day we will meet that burden.
James Avery, a student at the University, will testify that Randall did indeed assault him.
Arlene Templeton, a teacher at an elementary school, will testify that Randall did grab her arm.
The reason we are here today, Your Honor, is because James Avery was assaulted by Randall Johnson. At the end of this trial we will ask that you find Randall Johnson guilty of assault and battery. Thank you.
I guess when Chip gave the opening statement he actually pounded his fist on the table when he said "BAM!" In the end the prosecution did win because they impeached a witness. A well deserved victory I do say!The instructor told Chip he would make a good prosecutor because he has a gruff voice with a sharp edge to it.
Chip tends to obsess about things and this is no exception. He wants to join a mock trial group, which in itself isn't bad, but he doesn't want to join the one that is close. He wants to travel south 35-40 miles to join one that goes to state each year. Can you say OCD??
So, we will see what this fall brings. My guess is he will be busy with 4-H, gymnastics, music and Czech duties. But if he still wants to join we can look into it.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Teenage Dating
Cool and I were raised in much different ways. That is proving to be a barrier in the rearing of our children.
Neither of our families were what you would call religious but we were given the fundamentals and encouraged to make our own decision. In that way, we were raised the same.
But, Cool and his brother were pretty much let loose to do what they wanted. There were no consequences perse. One parent would hand out punishments while the other parent would let them out of them. Or one parent would ground them to their room for a year, ultimately not a punishment that could be carried out.
Cool started hanging around the wrong crowd. His "best friend" was NOT a good influence and they terrorized the smallish town they lived in. Yet he was left to do pretty much what he wanted.
He was a smoker at age 14 and smoked another kind of tabacky until about 15 years ago. His parents let he and his brother smoke in the house because Iowa winters could be cold. His mom would find the other tabacky in the house and instead of getting rid of it, she would hide it from them. Kind of like a big game. Not that they were bad parents or bad people, because they are not, they're just different than what I grew up with.
Running unsupervised with friends, dating at a young age and the freedom to do what he wanted (within reason) was how Cool has lived his whole life.
I was not raised like that. I was not allowed to smoke either in the house or outside the house, I had to go to school, I was supervised when I went out and if I wasn't I gave an itinerary and was expected to check in and obey curfew. When I was punished, by God I was punished, I didn't get let off after a day. I didn't have the freedom to do what I wanted and I was not allowed to date until I was 16. (don't get me wrong, I wasn't Mother Teresa and my parents weren't prison guards, but I had rules and was expected to follow them)
And this is where we are running into our parenting barrier.
Chip has a crush. He asked Cool if it would be OK to ask this girl out to a movie, on a date. Without talking to me, Cool told him that would be great.
When Cool told me about this I said, "He isn't 16. He is not allowed to date yet. We talked about this two years ago with Chip and told him he couldn't date until he is 16." Cool replied with, "He's old enough." I told Cool they need to be chaperoned. Make it more of an outing than a "date". Cool just shook his head at me.
That was two weeks ago and there has been tension in the house ever since.
This weekend Cool told me that Chip called this girls dad and asked his permission to take her to the movies. (This was Cool's idea and I do think it is a good thing to do. In fact this is the only area in which we agree) Her dad said, "Uhh, shouldn't you ask her instead of me?" I guess gentlemen asking fathers for permission to date their daughter doesn't happen anymore. Chip talked his way through it by saying something along the lines of, "I wanted your permission before asking her."
Her father said it was OK so later in the day Chip called the girl. She accepted. They made a date for this coming Saturday.
Up to this point, Chip still hadn't said a word to me about it. Cool and I haven't been talking because we are disagreeing about this whole "dating idea" and I have been completely snappy with both of them. (It is a thing between him and Cool and I totally understand the boy and his father aspect of this.)
So, last night Chip said to me very nonchalantly, "By the way, I asked (the girl) out and she said yes so we are going to the movies Saturday." Just like that. I said, "Who is chaperoning?" Cool piped up and said, "Her dad didn't say they needed a chaperone." So??? I said, "Chip is only 15. He is not old enough to date. He and (the girl, who is also only 15) need to be chaperoned." Chip pipes up and says, "What do you think I am going to do. Geeze, don't you trust me? Dad does." Can you see the flames rising? I was completely furious.
He then went on to say, "A couple years ago we talked about when I could date and you guys said 16. When I asked dad about asking (the girl) out he said I could because I am almost 16." I then said, "We should have sat down and talked about this as a family." Chip interrupted and said, "Yeah, like I am going to discuss this with Dill and Sweet." Cool piped up and said, "You know that isn't what your mother meant!" I continued on with, "Family rules cannot be changed by one parent. You are too young to date." At that point Cool sent Chip out of the room and stared at me menacingly.
I bit and finally said, "What?" He said, "I have already handled it." That was when I got my panties in a bunch and said, "It was handled behind my back. When you mentioned it to me I said, he is too young, we have family rules and if they went AS FRIENDS they would need a chaperone. None of that mattered one bit. You did what you wanted without regard for what I said. This is exactly why the kids have no respect for me. You over rule everything." I was a bitch and I totally admit that, but I was fuming. He responded with, "I don't overrule everything." I guess that was the end of the conversation because he went to the garage. I remember thinking, "Want your pillow and a blanket?" I didn't say it, but I thought it.
So, as of this morning, my 15 year old boy is taking a 15 year old girl to the movies on Saturday. On a date. Without a chaperone. Family rules out the window.
Don't get me wrong, I am very happy that Chip has a crush. I am extremely happy he had the guts to ask her father for permission to ask her out. And I am happy that she said yes. But, that happiness aside, I am afraid this is setting a precedence that is going to skyrocket out of control with our other two. (In all honesty, I know this is probably just two friends going to the movies together and that I probably don't have anything to worry about. It is just the other side of probably that bothers me.)
I am trying very hard to raise kids who don't break the rules, who don't manipulate people to get what they want. I want them to be hard working adults who don't just want to get by in life. I want them to be modest, have good character and good morals.
I want them to see that Cool and I are on the same page in the "parenting" manual. This morning, I really feel like a total failure. And I just don't know what to do about it.
© 2008-2009 Wicked Pickles-Homefront Lines
Neither of our families were what you would call religious but we were given the fundamentals and encouraged to make our own decision. In that way, we were raised the same.
But, Cool and his brother were pretty much let loose to do what they wanted. There were no consequences perse. One parent would hand out punishments while the other parent would let them out of them. Or one parent would ground them to their room for a year, ultimately not a punishment that could be carried out.
Cool started hanging around the wrong crowd. His "best friend" was NOT a good influence and they terrorized the smallish town they lived in. Yet he was left to do pretty much what he wanted.
He was a smoker at age 14 and smoked another kind of tabacky until about 15 years ago. His parents let he and his brother smoke in the house because Iowa winters could be cold. His mom would find the other tabacky in the house and instead of getting rid of it, she would hide it from them. Kind of like a big game. Not that they were bad parents or bad people, because they are not, they're just different than what I grew up with.
Running unsupervised with friends, dating at a young age and the freedom to do what he wanted (within reason) was how Cool has lived his whole life.
I was not raised like that. I was not allowed to smoke either in the house or outside the house, I had to go to school, I was supervised when I went out and if I wasn't I gave an itinerary and was expected to check in and obey curfew. When I was punished, by God I was punished, I didn't get let off after a day. I didn't have the freedom to do what I wanted and I was not allowed to date until I was 16. (don't get me wrong, I wasn't Mother Teresa and my parents weren't prison guards, but I had rules and was expected to follow them)
And this is where we are running into our parenting barrier.
Chip has a crush. He asked Cool if it would be OK to ask this girl out to a movie, on a date. Without talking to me, Cool told him that would be great.
When Cool told me about this I said, "He isn't 16. He is not allowed to date yet. We talked about this two years ago with Chip and told him he couldn't date until he is 16." Cool replied with, "He's old enough." I told Cool they need to be chaperoned. Make it more of an outing than a "date". Cool just shook his head at me.
That was two weeks ago and there has been tension in the house ever since.
This weekend Cool told me that Chip called this girls dad and asked his permission to take her to the movies. (This was Cool's idea and I do think it is a good thing to do. In fact this is the only area in which we agree) Her dad said, "Uhh, shouldn't you ask her instead of me?" I guess gentlemen asking fathers for permission to date their daughter doesn't happen anymore. Chip talked his way through it by saying something along the lines of, "I wanted your permission before asking her."
Her father said it was OK so later in the day Chip called the girl. She accepted. They made a date for this coming Saturday.
Up to this point, Chip still hadn't said a word to me about it. Cool and I haven't been talking because we are disagreeing about this whole "dating idea" and I have been completely snappy with both of them. (It is a thing between him and Cool and I totally understand the boy and his father aspect of this.)
So, last night Chip said to me very nonchalantly, "By the way, I asked (the girl) out and she said yes so we are going to the movies Saturday." Just like that. I said, "Who is chaperoning?" Cool piped up and said, "Her dad didn't say they needed a chaperone." So??? I said, "Chip is only 15. He is not old enough to date. He and (the girl, who is also only 15) need to be chaperoned." Chip pipes up and says, "What do you think I am going to do. Geeze, don't you trust me? Dad does." Can you see the flames rising? I was completely furious.
He then went on to say, "A couple years ago we talked about when I could date and you guys said 16. When I asked dad about asking (the girl) out he said I could because I am almost 16." I then said, "We should have sat down and talked about this as a family." Chip interrupted and said, "Yeah, like I am going to discuss this with Dill and Sweet." Cool piped up and said, "You know that isn't what your mother meant!" I continued on with, "Family rules cannot be changed by one parent. You are too young to date." At that point Cool sent Chip out of the room and stared at me menacingly.
I bit and finally said, "What?" He said, "I have already handled it." That was when I got my panties in a bunch and said, "It was handled behind my back. When you mentioned it to me I said, he is too young, we have family rules and if they went AS FRIENDS they would need a chaperone. None of that mattered one bit. You did what you wanted without regard for what I said. This is exactly why the kids have no respect for me. You over rule everything." I was a bitch and I totally admit that, but I was fuming. He responded with, "I don't overrule everything." I guess that was the end of the conversation because he went to the garage. I remember thinking, "Want your pillow and a blanket?" I didn't say it, but I thought it.
So, as of this morning, my 15 year old boy is taking a 15 year old girl to the movies on Saturday. On a date. Without a chaperone. Family rules out the window.
Don't get me wrong, I am very happy that Chip has a crush. I am extremely happy he had the guts to ask her father for permission to ask her out. And I am happy that she said yes. But, that happiness aside, I am afraid this is setting a precedence that is going to skyrocket out of control with our other two. (In all honesty, I know this is probably just two friends going to the movies together and that I probably don't have anything to worry about. It is just the other side of probably that bothers me.)
I am trying very hard to raise kids who don't break the rules, who don't manipulate people to get what they want. I want them to be hard working adults who don't just want to get by in life. I want them to be modest, have good character and good morals.
I want them to see that Cool and I are on the same page in the "parenting" manual. This morning, I really feel like a total failure. And I just don't know what to do about it.
© 2008-2009 Wicked Pickles-Homefront Lines
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Make Something Cool Last Project and Final Thought
Since "Make Something Cool Everyday in April" ended 6 days ago I thought I should probably post the last, and by far, (my) favorite project. This one was Chip's baby. He drafted the design, engaged the help of our friend Marj Nedjl and went whole hog measuring, sketching and painting.
He used a projector to sketch the image on the wall.
Some of the gymnasts helped him paint but the design and most of the work was done all by hiim. The end product was very cool and admired by everyone who attended the competition. The design includes from left to right: a falcon, the Sokol logo, the American Flag and the Czech Flag. The words underneath the American flag mean "work hard for success". Excellent job my lad, excellent job!
As for my thoughts about making something cool, I think it is a great idea and we are going to keep it up the rest of the year. Thanks to dabbled for hosting this during the month of April.
He used a projector to sketch the image on the wall.
Some of the gymnasts helped him paint but the design and most of the work was done all by hiim. The end product was very cool and admired by everyone who attended the competition. The design includes from left to right: a falcon, the Sokol logo, the American Flag and the Czech Flag. The words underneath the American flag mean "work hard for success". Excellent job my lad, excellent job!
As for my thoughts about making something cool, I think it is a great idea and we are going to keep it up the rest of the year. Thanks to dabbled for hosting this during the month of April.
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