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NEVERENDING ♾️ The NEVERENDING Raising Children Thread

Last night we were calling stores looking for candy corn at 8pm. Actually I made the boy call. No luck. He needed it for a project that was actually pretty clever. His science class group had to present to the class an exercise to explain some aspect of cell function. The candy corn was to be used as the outer membrane with the different colors representing the different qualities of the outer and inner linings of the cell wall. The other kids will then assemble a cell using different candies to represent elements of the cell. In the end we found images of candy corn and printed them out en masse.

Finally solved the issue a little after nine. Short pause. "I also need to get some gummy bears for the same project..." WTF?!


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RT did a bar crawl with her friends on Saturday night. She nursed her first hangover yesterday. I don't think she will drink much for a while. I sent rt downstairs to bother her around noon :D
 
My son (eighth grader, age 13) has gone downtown three times during Christmas break to spend time with a girl he likes (I think it is somewhere between a.friend who is a girl and a girl he was romantic feelings about, not quite puppy love yet). He has always asked me if he could go and I have said it was fine mostly because I don't think he spends enough time with kids his own age.

My wife doesn't like the idea. She thinks he should concentrate on his studies and forego girls until basically he is of marrying age. Oh yeah, that is going to happen. :r:

I figure better he wades in the waters of romance now than take a big plunge later in life and then has to learn how to swim in deep water.

Is 13 too young for a boy to spend a few daytime hours alone with a girl his own age?
 
otterpop said:
Is 13 too young for a boy to spend a few daytime hours alone with a girl his own age?
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At some level isn't it more important to let him figure out who he is around girls at 13? I mean it is more scary that kids know so much about the human anatomy than it is about two kids spending time together.

I would imagine that if they weren't spending time downtown, they would spend it online. Downtown is much more healthy in my opinion.
 
otterpop said:
My son (eighth grader, age 13) has gone downtown three times during Christmas break to spend time with a girl he likes (I think it is somewhere between a.friend who is a girl and a girl he was romantic feelings about, not quite puppy love yet). He has always asked me if he could go and I have said it was fine mostly because I don't think he spends enough time with kids his own age.

My wife doesn't like the idea. She thinks he should concentrate on his studies and forego girls until basically he is of marrying age. Oh yeah, that is going to happen. :r:

I figure better he wades in the waters of romance now than take a big plunge later in life and then has to learn how to swim in deep water.

Is 13 too young for a boy to spend a few daytime hours alone with a girl his own age?
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I think it is more a question of maturity rather than age. If you raised him to respect women, (which I am sure that you did), I think it would be perfectly fine.
 
otterpop said:
My son (eighth grader, age 13) has gone downtown three times during Christmas break to spend time with a girl he likes (I think it is somewhere between a.friend who is a girl and a girl he was romantic feelings about, not quite puppy love yet). He has always asked me if he could go and I have said it was fine mostly because I don't think he spends enough time with kids his own age.

My wife doesn't like the idea. She thinks he should concentrate on his studies and forego girls until basically he is of marrying age. Oh yeah, that is going to happen. :r:

I figure better he wades in the waters of romance now than take a big plunge later in life and then has to learn how to swim in deep water.

Is 13 too young for a boy to spend a few daytime hours alone with a girl his own age?
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Having daughters I would say they need to stay in public areas, but you know your kid. In this case it actually sounds harmless. I used to hang out with girls at his age, but I wasn't smart enough to make any real moves and we were usually at a park or some other public area where we were "alone".
 
Hink said:
At some level isn't it more important to let him figure out who he is around girls at 13? I mean it is more scary that kids know so much about the human anatomy than it is about two kids spending time together.

I would imagine that if they weren't spending time downtown, they would spend it online. Downtown is much more healthy in my opinion.
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Agreed.
 
Hink said:
At some level isn't it more important to let him figure out who he is around girls at 13? I mean it is more scary that kids know so much about the human anatomy than it is about two kids spending time together.

I would imagine that if they weren't spending time downtown, they would spend it online. Downtown is much more healthy in my opinion.
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Spot on! I really think it's better and nothing weird about it at all. My daughters did this alot, kind of in a group, but just with a couple of the guys wouldn't have worried me either.
 
michaelskis said:
On a side note, do you get your kid's teacher a Christmas Present?
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ursus said:
We usually do something really small. Bottle of lotion, maybe a gift card to eat out. Not sure what we're doing this year.
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michaelskis said:
Thinking about a bottle of Jack Daniels. She has to deal with my kid... ;)
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My daughter is in preschool and my wife got each of her three teachers a coffee mug with some fancy teas in it and a small gift card for Starbucks. I suggested also adding in one of those little airplane bottles of booze into each one. My wife wasn't amused even after I told her that it's an Anglican church so there's probably already plenty of booze there in the building somewhere.
 
Yesterday I got to pick up my daughter from preschool. When I got there the kids were milling around on the little patio outside the church (the patio acts sort of as a pocket park in this town for you planner types) and as I was picking up my daughter's backpack and saying goodbye to one of her teachers another little girl came over to hug my daughter and tell me that my daughter is her best friend. My daughter gave me a funny look and then when we got in the car I asked what that little girl's name is and she had no idea.

This is sort of a constant struggle with us regarding our daughter - getting her to be interested in other little kids. There is a playground near our house and we walk over to it occasionally and she never has a desire to play with the other kids that might be there even if they seem to be about the same age and are actively trying to play with her. There's even a little girl who lives across the street (she's about a year older) who always wants to play with our daughter when they see each other outside and my daughter's response is basically, "meh".

We were sort of disappointed that this year there are 0 kids in her preschool class that will likely be in her kindergarten so she will not know anybody at school next year (they will all be in the same district but probably at two other elementary schools). My wife is more worried than I am about her not having any friends when she starts school - I didn't know a single soul in my kindergarten class when I started and don't think I knew any in my 1st grad class either and I turned out [STRIKEOUT]just fine[/STRIKEOUT] absolutely perfect.
 
Mine tend to be a little more outgoing, but my youngest just followed the older one and didn't really have her own friends until she started kindergarten. Now I can see her breaking away and becoming more of an independent person. My guess is she'll make some friends at school, but I don't expect she would change on the whole playground and neighborhood kid front.
 
WSU MUP Student said:
Yesterday I got to pick up my daughter from preschool. When I got there the kids were milling around on the little patio outside the church (the patio acts sort of as a pocket park in this town for you planner types) and as I was picking up my daughter's backpack and saying goodbye to one of her teachers another little girl came over to hug my daughter and tell me that my daughter is her best friend. My daughter gave me a funny look and then when we got in the car I asked what that little girl's name is and she had no idea.

This is sort of a constant struggle with us regarding our daughter - getting her to be interested in other little kids. There is a playground near our house and we walk over to it occasionally and she never has a desire to play with the other kids that might be there even if they seem to be about the same age and are actively trying to play with her. There's even a little girl who lives across the street (she's about a year older) who always wants to play with our daughter when they see each other outside and my daughter's response is basically, "meh".

We were sort of disappointed that this year there are 0 kids in her preschool class that will likely be in her kindergarten so she will not know anybody at school next year (they will all be in the same district but probably at two other elementary schools). My wife is more worried than I am about her not having any friends when she starts school - I didn't know a single soul in my kindergarten class when I started and don't think I knew any in my 1st grad class either and I turned out [STRIKEOUT]just fine[/STRIKEOUT] absolutely perfect.
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She will be fine. RT used to be like that too and none of her preschool classmates went to kindergarten with her. She has a few close friends and is otherwise social. rt is the same way.
 
JNA said:
this really bad parenting video made international news which happened in my fair city :-@ :-$

US couple arrested over baby gun video
http://www.smh.com.au/world/us-couple-arrested-over-baby-gun-video-20150111-12lymb.html
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Though I think yours wins, we have our local contenders for parents of the year too.

County Prosecutor initiating investigation of White Lake python owner

But Dad Says You Shouldn’t Be Outraged By This Video Of His Infant Daughter Playing With A 13-Foot Python :r:
 
WSU MUP Student said:
Yesterday I got to pick up my daughter from preschool. When I got there the kids were milling around on the little patio outside the church (the patio acts sort of as a pocket park in this town for you planner types) and as I was picking up my daughter's backpack and saying goodbye to one of her teachers another little girl came over to hug my daughter and tell me that my daughter is her best friend. My daughter gave me a funny look and then when we got in the car I asked what that little girl's name is and she had no idea.

This is sort of a constant struggle with us regarding our daughter - getting her to be interested in other little kids. There is a playground near our house and we walk over to it occasionally and she never has a desire to play with the other kids that might be there even if they seem to be about the same age and are actively trying to play with her. There's even a little girl who lives across the street (she's about a year older) who always wants to play with our daughter when they see each other outside and my daughter's response is basically, "meh".

We were sort of disappointed that this year there are 0 kids in her preschool class that will likely be in her kindergarten so she will not know anybody at school next year (they will all be in the same district but probably at two other elementary schools). My wife is more worried than I am about her not having any friends when she starts school - I didn't know a single soul in my kindergarten class when I started and don't think I knew any in my 1st grad class either and I turned out [STRIKEOUT]just fine[/STRIKEOUT] absolutely perfect.
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Junior is an only child and exhibited this tendency until he was maybe 6 or so. He gradually became more interested in spending time with other kids as he got into elementary school.
 
Any one have experience with middle school children and cell phones? In particular, broken cell phones?

Maybe two months ago my son dropped his fairly new phone and broke the glass. I got it fixed and it was expensive. Today he called me on our landline and started with "I have something to tell you and don't get mad." No good news follows that opener. He told me his phone was broken and couldn't be fixed. He said it just happened and he doesn't know how. I don't really believe that one. I didn't just fall off the turnip truck.

I don't want to be a hardass but can I really afford to buy him a new phone when he isn't doing a good job keeping the one he has (had) out of harm's way?

Anyone got experience with young teenagers, cell phones and personal responsibility?
 
otterpop said:
Anyone got experience with young teenagers, cell phones and personal responsibility?
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Well, not as an parent, but I distinctly remember being a teenager.

My position is basically "make him pay for the replacement". As an analogy, I preferred to have Oakley sunglasses as a teenager, but that wasn't going to happen from my parents, so I worked and saved to buy them. Since I paid for them, I was extra vigilant with their care and use, because I knew well that if I was careless with them and they broke, I would have to replace them.

That's a real motivator. :D
 
mendelman said:
Well, not as an parent, but I distinctly remember being a teenager.

My position is basically "make him pay for the replacement". As an analogy, I preferred to have Oakley sunglasses as a teenager, but that wasn't going to happen from my parents, so I worked and saved to buy them. Since I paid for them, I was extra vigilant with their care and use, because I knew well that if I was careless with them and they broke, I would have to replace them.

That's a real motivator. :D
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Same thing on my end - The Girl broke her ipod & we had insurance to get it fixed. Several months later, she was careless and left it sitting and it was stolen. We did not replace it and told she needed to save her money to buy a replacement. It took her about a year (& we subsidized 35% of the cost) and she bought a new one. She has now had it over 1.5 years and with no issue.
 
otterpop said:
Any one have experience with middle school children and cell phones? In particular, broken cell phones?

Maybe two months ago my son dropped his fairly new phone and broke the glass. I got it fixed and it was expensive. Today he called me on our landline and started with "I have something to tell you and don't get mad." No good news follows that opener. He told me his phone was broken and couldn't be fixed. He said it just happened and he doesn't know how. I don't really believe that one. I didn't just fall off the turnip truck.

I don't want to be a hardass but can I really afford to buy him a new phone when he isn't doing a good job keeping the one he has (had) out of harm's way?

Anyone got experience with young teenagers, cell phones and personal responsibility?
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Thankfully, I have no experience yet with kids and cell phones but I will say that instead of paying out of pocket for a replacement or to get it fixed in the future, you may want to check with your credit card company if you use one to automatically pay the cell phone bill as some cards actually will cover the cost of repairs/replacement.
 
otterpop said:
Any one have experience with middle school children and cell phones? In particular, broken cell phones?

Maybe two months ago my son dropped his fairly new phone and broke the glass. I got it fixed and it was expensive. Today he called me on our landline and started with "I have something to tell you and don't get mad." No good news follows that opener. He told me his phone was broken and couldn't be fixed. He said it just happened and he doesn't know how. I don't really believe that one. I didn't just fall off the turnip truck.

I don't want to be a hardass but can I really afford to buy him a new phone when he isn't doing a good job keeping the one he has (had) out of harm's way?

Anyone got experience with young teenagers, cell phones and personal responsibility?
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RT had a basic flip phone until she was a senior in high school. That was really the beginning of the smart phones for the masses. She did get an iPhone 3 her senior year but I made her pay half. The rule has always been that if she lost it or broke it that I would not be replacing it at my expense. For me personally, I'd give him a dumb phone for the time being and warn him that if he breaks it or loses it that it's going to be some time til he gets a new one and that will be at your determination.
 
Things turned out better than I expected. The cell phone was a wreck and I read my son the riot act. We had a long talk at dinner. I told him I would pay for a cheaper flip phone (like I have) but if he wanted a better phone he had to pay for it himself. That meant he would have to spend the money he'd been saving up for a new computer. He said he would rather have a phone he liked, and would start saving for his computer again.

So we got him a new phone he wanted. He paid for it. I agreed to pay for insurance.

At bedtime he said "thank you" and gave me a hug.

I was flabbergasted. :-o
 
otterpop said:
Things turned out better than I expected. The cell phone was a wreck and I read my son the riot act. We had a long talk at dinner. I told him I would pay for a cheaper flip phone (like I have) but if he wanted a better phone he had to pay for it himself. That meant he would have to spend the money he'd been saving up for a new computer. He said he would rather have a phone he liked, and would start saving for his computer again.

So we got him a new phone he wanted. He paid for it. I agreed to pay for insurance.

At bedtime he said "thank you" and gave me a hug.

I was flabbergasted. :-o
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Excellent fathering there, otterpop! You're a great example of good parenting. :D
 
otterpop said:
Things turned out better than I expected. The cell phone was a wreck and I read my son the riot act. We had a long talk at dinner. I told him I would pay for a cheaper flip phone (like I have) but if he wanted a better phone he had to pay for it himself. That meant he would have to spend the money he'd been saving up for a new computer. He said he would rather have a phone he liked, and would start saving for his computer again.

So we got him a new phone he wanted. He paid for it. I agreed to pay for insurance.

At bedtime he said "thank you" and gave me a hug.

I was flabbergasted. :-o
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Keep this up and you'll give Ursus a run for him money for Cyburbia's father of the year.
 
otterpop said:
Things turned out better than I expected. The cell phone was a wreck and I read my son the riot act. We had a long talk at dinner. I told him I would pay for a cheaper flip phone (like I have) but if he wanted a better phone he had to pay for it himself. That meant he would have to spend the money he'd been saving up for a new computer. He said he would rather have a phone he liked, and would start saving for his computer again.

So we got him a new phone he wanted. He paid for it. I agreed to pay for insurance.

At bedtime he said "thank you" and gave me a hug.

I was flabbergasted. :-o
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Good solution; good outcome.
 
This evening we have "Kindergarten Round Up" at our daughter's future elementary school.

I don't exactly know what that means but I think I better take my lasso.
 
A bunch of 4 or 5 year olds running around. You'll need that lasso and they' enjoy every minute of being roped and tied.
040445f6e99b422019f9f9f01b27ff2478.png
 
otterpop said:
Things turned out better than I expected. The cell phone was a wreck and I read my son the riot act. We had a long talk at dinner. I told him I would pay for a cheaper flip phone (like I have) but if he wanted a better phone he had to pay for it himself. That meant he would have to spend the money he'd been saving up for a new computer. He said he would rather have a phone he liked, and would start saving for his computer again.

So we got him a new phone he wanted. He paid for it. I agreed to pay for insurance.

At bedtime he said "thank you" and gave me a hug.

I was flabbergasted. :-o
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Parenting win :)

rt successfully went without a diaper all day yesterday except for her nap. I am excited that the end is near for buying diapers. We're trying to figure out a preschool arrangement for the fall since she recently turned 3. The school district offers free universal preschool for 3 & 4 year olds either at an elementary school or private providers like my employer. Because of this there are very few private for pay preschools in the city. Also complicating the issue is the school district's school assignment system, effectively it's a matched lottery and there is no guarantee that she will end up in one of our preferred schools or that it will be in the immediate area. The private/parochial schools in the county give preference for kindergarten admission if the child has attended the related preschool.

Things were never this stressful with RT.
 
Interesting book -

Savage Park: A Meditation on Play, Space, and Risk for Americans Who Are Nervous, Distracted and Afraid to Die

Inspired by a Tokyo playground that allows children to play with fire and hand tools, Amy Fusselman wrote this passionate exploration of “wild spaces” and what they mean to the development of kids in a safety-obessed culture. (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
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http://parade.com/392005/lwiget/perfect-presents-for-moms-who-read/#gallery_392005-4

What does it mean to play without direction or overt protection? Why have American parents become so averse to letting their kids skin their knees, bang their elbows, or experience the heretofore usual hardships of happy childhoods? What’s happened to the idea of letting children’s creativity guide their arts and crafts, instead of circumscribing it with computers and tablets? What has changed since the days when American kids played with pocket knives? What exactly are we so scared of?
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http://www.santafenewmexican.com/pa...cle_58b7c76f-0a3e-5ce6-a5eb-13d1bcb9ae2a.html
 
So Junior had a big 3rd grade science test this week. His teacher sent home a study guide last week and we quizzed Junior on it every evening until (finally) the night before the exam he was able to consistently answer every question correctly. He gets these study guides every couple months or so before tests and while they are great for test prep (they're for all intents the test answers) they have become a major source of conflict in our home. See, Junior powerfully resists having us quiz him (he has since birth been an extremely strong-willed child) and there are tears practically every study session because we end up going through the ritual forms of homework battle (excuses, recrimination, self-pity, accusations, judgment, etc).

Earlier in the year I had a brainstorm and told Junior "fine, if you don't want us to quiz you then you can study for this test by yourself." He did that and spent maybe 30 - 60 seconds studying one night and chose to spend the remainder of his time playing every evening. As expected, he got every question wrong and failed a major test. I figured great he's seen the consequences and now he'll listen. Nope. Next time a big test came up he bucked all assistance again. Mrs. Maister wasn't going to allow him to "flunk 3rd grade" and now forces him to study (with my reluctant cooperation). So he does great on tests when forced to study, but will exert no effort at all if permitted to study independently. I think long term this is perhaps not doing him a service, but maybe Mrs. Maister is right and he's too young to really understand the consequences of academic failure.

What would you do?
 
Maister said:
So Junior had a big 3rd grade science test this week. His teacher sent home a study guide last week and we quizzed Junior on it every evening until (finally) the night before the exam he was able to consistently answer every question correctly. He gets these study guides every couple months or so before tests and while they are great for test prep (they're for all intents the test answers) they have become a major source of conflict in our home. See, Junior powerfully resists having us quiz him (he has since birth been an extremely strong-willed child) and there are tears practically every study session because we end up going through the ritual forms of homework battle (excuses, recrimination, self-pity, accusations, judgment, etc).

Earlier in the year I had a brainstorm and told Junior "fine, if you don't want us to quiz you then you can study for this test by yourself." He did that and spent maybe 30 - 60 seconds studying one night and chose to spend the remainder of his time playing every evening. As expected, he got every question wrong and failed a major test. I figured great he's seen the consequences and now he'll listen. Nope. Next time a big test came up he bucked all assistance again. Mrs. Maister wasn't going to allow him to "flunk 3rd grade" and now forces him to study (with my reluctant cooperation). So he does great on tests when forced to study, but will exert no effort at all if permitted to study independently. I think long term this is perhaps not doing him a service, but maybe Mrs. Maister is right and he's too young to really understand the consequences of academic failure.

What would you do?
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Still too young to self govern studying, especially when you have a "resister". Make it as structured as possible, same time, same place and same order of business. Set a timer to study in 15 minute increments and give him a 5 minute break, then go back to it.
 
kjel said:
Still too young to self govern studying, especially when you have a "resister". Make it as structured as possible, same time, same place and same order of business. Set a timer to study in 15 minute increments and give him a 5 minute break, then go back to it.
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Good advice. ^^

My oldest son wasn't a good student, despite being very intelligent. I was called into conferences that often included every one of his teachers. He attended catholic school at the time, and I discovered during during a class conference that he was getting high grades on anything that included drawings and graphics, and low grades on paperwork. Not one teacher noticed it before I did, and never took it into consideration after I pointed it out. When he moved to public school, he could take shop classes and art classes taught by qualified art teachers, where he excelled. That boosted his confidence and his other grades came up.

Beginning next year, his grades are going to matter more. I'd let him relax and be a kid all summer, and hope he's ready when he gets back. I know how frustrated you are, and remember those stressful homework nights. He's going to be OK.
 
I'm lucky, these kids are pretty easy. I might have to pry them away from playing to get started, but they usually get through it. I like to reward/bribe them with some M&Ms for each right answer or something like that. I've made spelling lists a game before where there is a pile of stuffed animals and for every one she gets right she gets an animal. Get it wrong and I get an animal. Then we see who wins. My daughter is slightly competitive so it works. The only time I struggle is when she doesn't understand a math concept. When I try to teach her she gets mad or starts crying because she doesn't get it. Then I just need to take a break and try again much later. Once she gets it she's okay.

For fun things kids say these days, my daughter told me last night she got a game for the ipad then added this gem, "I just pulled it from the cloud." It's the beginning of being out teched by my kids.
 
Sorry but I have to brag...

The Girl's middle school held awards day this morning. She walked away with Perfect Attendance, Honor Roll, Junior Beta Club, & 6th Grade Female Student of the Year. We knew about this a couple weeks ago when the principal called to make sure we would be able to make it, but she was not told. She was very surprised.













I'm glad she takes after momma :D
 
Planit said:
Sorry but I have to brag...

The Girl's middle school held awards day this morning. She walked away with Perfect Attendance, Honor Roll, Junior Beta Club, & 6th Grade Female Student of the Year. We knew about this a couple weeks ago when the principal called to make sure we would be able to make it, but she was not told. She was very surprised

I'm glad she takes after momma :D
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congrats to the kiddo for a job well done and a attaboy to you for doing a great job of coparenting.
 
Planit said:
Sorry but I have to brag...

The Girl's middle school held awards day this morning. She walked away with Perfect Attendance, Honor Roll, Junior Beta Club, & 6th Grade Female Student of the Year. We knew about this a couple weeks ago when the principal called to make sure we would be able to make it, but she was not told. She was very surprised.













I'm glad she takes after momma :D
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Awesome!
 
Planit said:
Sorry but I have to brag...

The Girl's middle school held awards day this morning. She walked away with Perfect Attendance, Honor Roll, Junior Beta Club, & 6th Grade Female Student of the Year. We knew about this a couple weeks ago when the principal called to make sure we would be able to make it, but she was not told. She was very surprised.













I'm glad she takes after momma :D
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I think she deserves a pony!


In all seriousness, that is awesome and is a reflection of our wife's parenting skills. Ok, your skills too.




On a side note, #3 has hit the terrible twos and he still has several months before his second birthday. We are about to sell him to gypsies.
 
michaelskis said:
I think she deserves a pony!


In all seriousness, that is awesome and is a reflection of our wife's parenting skills. Ok, your skills too.




On a side note, #3 has hit the terrible twos and he still has several months before his second birthday. We are about to sell him to gypsies.
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Terrible Twos is your state of mind. Roll with it. :)
 
When my kids get bored we have the "job" game. They invented it, not me, but I'll take advantage of it when I can. I just give them random things to do like ride your bike up and down the street 3 times. Sometimes I make them do helpful things like close all the gates to the back yard. We have three and they leave every one of them open. The other game it "try to get me". Essentially dodgeball with a stuffed animal. They jump around like monkeys and I lazily throw stuffed animals at them while watching TV.
 
I have to post the conversation my wife told me about between the two kids on their way to the Pizza Hut lunch buffet (we don't take our kids to crime laden pizza joints).

Older girl: Now remember the plan, we get to our booth then we go to the buffet and get...

Younger girl: I know what I'm getting! First I get my salad, croutons, and pudding then the second trip I get my pizza and more salad then on the third I get my pudding.

Older girl: But remember to get as much as you can on the first trip to the pizza side because it takes them so long to make more pizza and you know how it is, the adults take all the good pizza and leave us with just the ones with the little brown stuff (hamburger)

Younger girl: I know, I know

Older girl: JUST REMEMBER THE PLAN!
 
Awesome.

Make sure the older one becomes a benevolent dictator.

The Force is strong with this one.

"This is not the pizza you're looking for"

:D
 
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I had lunch at a little store, and ate outside at the single table they have. A free range kid sat down with me and struck up a conversation. He's 10 or 11, and was waiting for his free range friends to join him. He was a pleasant kid, but probably told me enough info for a person to figure out that his parents work during the day, and where he lives. Good thing I"m not a bad person, and good thing he lives in a relatively safe town.

I told him that most of the people in town know him and keep an eye on him, and he told me that his mother already gave him the warning,"If you get in trouble, everyone knows you and knows me..."
 
My son got to use real fireworks for the first time on the 4th. We live in a city that bans them, but this year one of his friends who lives in the lawless environs outside the city invited him to spend the night. So we traveled outside town and purchased some illicit fireworks. Not the stuff you can buy on the Rez - that stuff is really scarey.

When I picked him up the next day, he showed me a first degree burn and singed hair on his leg and asked, "Mama is going to notice, isn't she? She notices everything." Apparently someone was firing a rocket and it fell off the stand and shot past him, grazing his leg. I had to laugh.

Every boy should have at least one minor fireworks related injury and a good story to go with it. He has been initiated into the Fraternity of Men. We do dumb and sometimes dangerous things. Because it's fun!

So far Mama is none the wiser. And, true to the Fraternity of Men, a bro doesn't rat out a bro, even if that bro is his father.
 
My kids loved the fireworks, but no burns. We got the usual collection of somewhat safe fireworks like fountains and pooping dogs, but we had a couple good ones like the ladybug that flies up and spins and a couple rockets. We left the mortars to the people down the street that really wanted to spend money.
 
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