Since the divorce I took my kid on at least 2 adventure vacations per year. My version of a "Live, Laugh, Love" sign in the living room says "Be Bold," and there's pictures of our adventures all around it.
I always drilling into him, "There are no problems, only opportunities for creative problem solving." I actually got us into a few dire situations over the years that we kept our heads for, and figured shit out.
Yesterday my barely-18-year old few across the world on his own, and is currently asleep in Thailand.
We'll see if he can keep from getting mugged in southeast asia over the next couple weeks, but good job so far.
Being a parent
Being a parent
"Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid."
Being a parent
That probably makes the ass pounding easier to take.
I mean, congrats!
Yeah, our HS junior is looking at a 3 week summer program in London. Trying to help teach some independence + skills.
It's not me, it's someone else.
Being a parent
That's very cool. I wish him safe travels.
"Happy slaves are the worst enemies of freedom." - Marie Von Ebner
"It was always the women, and above all the young ones, who were the most bigoted adherents of the Party, the swallowers of slogans, the amateur spies..." - Orwell
"It was always the women, and above all the young ones, who were the most bigoted adherents of the Party, the swallowers of slogans, the amateur spies..." - Orwell
Being a parent
So is this part of a school thing, or just a "I'm backpacking through Thailand on my own" thing?
It's not me, it's someone else.
Being a parent
On his own.
well, my sister lives there, and showed him the ropes for a day... but in the morning he's getting on a bus to a different city. He wanted to spend a little money of his award money on travel and got round trip tickets for under $1k. He did that all on his own, too. The cost of this trip will be less than what he makes in investment interest, for the year.... which he is also doing on his own. I'm proud of how he was ready to hit the ground running at 18.
I'm a little concerned about the solo travvel. He doesn't speak Thai, and english is not common. He says google translate will get him by.
Until his phone gets yoinked.
But anyway.
well, my sister lives there, and showed him the ropes for a day... but in the morning he's getting on a bus to a different city. He wanted to spend a little money of his award money on travel and got round trip tickets for under $1k. He did that all on his own, too. The cost of this trip will be less than what he makes in investment interest, for the year.... which he is also doing on his own. I'm proud of how he was ready to hit the ground running at 18.
I'm a little concerned about the solo travvel. He doesn't speak Thai, and english is not common. He says google translate will get him by.
Until his phone gets yoinked.
But anyway.
"Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid."
Being a parent
He's still in Thailand, been travelling solo for a few days.
He just got off a bus to the city where parts of Rambo 4 were filmed. Bussed all night. I told him to check in with me from time to time, so I know he's alive.
So he just got there, and texted me, "There are a lot of honkies here."
He just got off a bus to the city where parts of Rambo 4 were filmed. Bussed all night. I told him to check in with me from time to time, so I know he's alive.
So he just got there, and texted me, "There are a lot of honkies here."
"Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid."
Being a parent
If he goes all the way to Thailand just to fall in love with a cracker, I'm going to be terribly disappointed.
"Happy slaves are the worst enemies of freedom." - Marie Von Ebner
"It was always the women, and above all the young ones, who were the most bigoted adherents of the Party, the swallowers of slogans, the amateur spies..." - Orwell
"It was always the women, and above all the young ones, who were the most bigoted adherents of the Party, the swallowers of slogans, the amateur spies..." - Orwell
Being a parent
He's super sensitive to the cliché of westerers going to Thailand for prostitutes.
Also super sensitive to the cliché of a white man going to Asia to find a wife.
And I told him that's unfortunate, because he seems to be pivoting his education and career on trade in China, with China, and if he isn't willing to date a Chinese woman he works (or whatever, women in his sphere) with because of an internet meme, and the opinions of strangers, then he's looking at a sad, lonely life.
Also super sensitive to the cliché of a white man going to Asia to find a wife.
And I told him that's unfortunate, because he seems to be pivoting his education and career on trade in China, with China, and if he isn't willing to date a Chinese woman he works (or whatever, women in his sphere) with because of an internet meme, and the opinions of strangers, then he's looking at a sad, lonely life.
"Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid."
Being a parent
"Happy slaves are the worst enemies of freedom." - Marie Von Ebner
"It was always the women, and above all the young ones, who were the most bigoted adherents of the Party, the swallowers of slogans, the amateur spies..." - Orwell
"It was always the women, and above all the young ones, who were the most bigoted adherents of the Party, the swallowers of slogans, the amateur spies..." - Orwell
Being a parent
My 18 year old, studying abroad in South Korea:
"We have a 4-day weekend. I'm going to fly to Taiwan to do some hiking."
"It is nonstop raining this weekend. I'm going to fly to Japan to do some hiking."
Meanwhile, most 18 year olds: "Mom, are my dino nuggies ready yet?"
"Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid."
Being a parent
I'm heading to watch mine as the lead in her college's latest play tonight.
Although, off stage she drives her mother and I nuts with waiting until the last minute on everything.
Although, off stage she drives her mother and I nuts with waiting until the last minute on everything.
"Happy slaves are the worst enemies of freedom." - Marie Von Ebner
"It was always the women, and above all the young ones, who were the most bigoted adherents of the Party, the swallowers of slogans, the amateur spies..." - Orwell
"It was always the women, and above all the young ones, who were the most bigoted adherents of the Party, the swallowers of slogans, the amateur spies..." - Orwell
Being a parent
Grounded one of our kids until Saturday morning because of something she did.
She then got very upset with me, we argued about it, etc, etc. Then she tried appealing to mom, no dice. it was like 30 minutes...
Finally, I was like "It's literally just two days, what's the big deal?" And she said "Oh, in my head Saturday was further away" and that was the end of it.
She then got very upset with me, we argued about it, etc, etc. Then she tried appealing to mom, no dice. it was like 30 minutes...
Finally, I was like "It's literally just two days, what's the big deal?" And she said "Oh, in my head Saturday was further away" and that was the end of it.
It's not me, it's someone else.
Being a parent
I had mine home for 36 hours for an orthodontist appointment.
Long drive home. He's like, "Ugh, I'm tired. But I have a chemistry assignment due (online) in 3 hours. Ugh."
He did his chemistry homework before sleep.
Today on the way back I told him I was officially no longer worried about his future, because he has the correct priorities. Most of his peers would have gone for the instant gratification and blown off the assignment.
Long drive home. He's like, "Ugh, I'm tired. But I have a chemistry assignment due (online) in 3 hours. Ugh."
He did his chemistry homework before sleep.
Today on the way back I told him I was officially no longer worried about his future, because he has the correct priorities. Most of his peers would have gone for the instant gratification and blown off the assignment.
"Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid."
Being a parent
Went to a lacrosse meeting/dinner last night with our youngest. This was put on by the lacrosse boosters club, which I didn't know was a thing. I also learned that for the first time, the lacrosse team is now officially under the school's umbrella. They said this was a big deal, but didn't really specify what that meant, except for the obvious legal things: Your physical MUST be done before you can practice, grades have to be good, and something else I'm forgetting that was clearly insurance related.
Once people were eating, the presentation begins and they start with fundraising. They bring up some dude in his late-20s to do this portion. He's not with the school. First, I did not know this, but they had asked everyone to bring 20 email addresses of friends and family. The host then asked the kids to get on the website set up for this fundraiser and set up an account. My kid looked at me and I shook my head no. I could see where this was going.
He then offered candy to the kids who could enter in those email addresses fastest. He then asked them to do the same with cell phone numbers, and again offered candy.
One parent asked how much of the money was going to the boosters. 85%.
These scumbags are taking 15% of the money raised. Their methods to raise the money is to manipulate children with contests and candy, and then bombard anyone unlucky enough to have their info entered with messages asking for money.
Gross.
Once people were eating, the presentation begins and they start with fundraising. They bring up some dude in his late-20s to do this portion. He's not with the school. First, I did not know this, but they had asked everyone to bring 20 email addresses of friends and family. The host then asked the kids to get on the website set up for this fundraiser and set up an account. My kid looked at me and I shook my head no. I could see where this was going.
He then offered candy to the kids who could enter in those email addresses fastest. He then asked them to do the same with cell phone numbers, and again offered candy.
One parent asked how much of the money was going to the boosters. 85%.
These scumbags are taking 15% of the money raised. Their methods to raise the money is to manipulate children with contests and candy, and then bombard anyone unlucky enough to have their info entered with messages asking for money.
Gross.
Being a parent
Fucking WHAT? I'd throw hands over that shit.
What do you think happened in our history where we once fought a war over two percent, while we now happily bend over and take it from all comers?
"Happy slaves are the worst enemies of freedom." - Marie Von Ebner
"It was always the women, and above all the young ones, who were the most bigoted adherents of the Party, the swallowers of slogans, the amateur spies..." - Orwell
"It was always the women, and above all the young ones, who were the most bigoted adherents of the Party, the swallowers of slogans, the amateur spies..." - Orwell
Being a parent
Yeah. People got mad and then people are like "What's your alternative?" Then the room gets quiet and 50% stays....
It's not me, it's someone else.
Being a parent
Worked for the Founding Fathers.
"Happy slaves are the worst enemies of freedom." - Marie Von Ebner
"It was always the women, and above all the young ones, who were the most bigoted adherents of the Party, the swallowers of slogans, the amateur spies..." - Orwell
"It was always the women, and above all the young ones, who were the most bigoted adherents of the Party, the swallowers of slogans, the amateur spies..." - Orwell
Being a parent
ANything done before 1996.TheCatt wrote: ↑Fri Feb 07, 2025 4:57 pmYeah. People got mad and then people are like "What's your alternative?" .
"Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid."