One of my pet peeves is truly bad kids. I don't mean very active, bundles of energy that can't sit down. I don't mean kids who get into stuff they shouldn't. I'm talking about actually disobedient children. Otherwise, I wouldn't like my own kids because Brayden is the poster child for too much energy and Danae is the one who will say stuff that you really rather she keep inside.
I also know it's not really the child's fault. We all come into this world as a blank slate. Whatever is put in, usually comes right back out. So, maybe I should say my pet peeve is bad parenting. Let me get to the story.
Our next door neighbors fit this bill. They (especially the mom) are what would be considered white trash kind of people. But, she's really nice. These are the people who live in this home. The parents, a 20-ish daughter and her boyfriend, and the 5 year old son. They have another son around 18 but I'm not sure he lives here anymore. The first time I met them, when we moved here, the father and then 13 year old son were in the middle of the street having a very loud argument, complete with all manner of profanity. At about 7:00 in the morning. Crazy!
My focus today is on the 5 year old. He doesn't go to school. He just turned 5 within the last month or so and his mom doesn't want him in an actual school until kindergarten. I have no problem with that because I plan to do the same with my kids. But, here's the thing. She spends no time with him during the day. He is out of the house very early in the morning. As a matter of fact, he walks to the bus stop with the other kids every day to see them off to school. He is usually shirtless and shoeless, even in this cooler weather. When it's too cold, he will wear a shirt and shoes but I've never seen him in a jacket. He plays outside almost all day and is usually out before his mom wakes up for the day.
He likes to come to our house to play when my kids are outside. It's usually not a problem. At first, he would be over here cussing but I told him it's not acceptable here so that stopped. Once, he tried to push Brayden off Danae's trike, but both Danae and I stepped to him. Danae was about to knock him down! She can kill her brother if necessary but nobody else better not even think about touching him. Sibling love at its finest! So now he knows that he can come here to play but there are rules. And he abides by them for the most part. He once asked me what would happen if my kids cussed at me or hit me, I told him they would get a spanking. And I told him the same goes for him. Shock and awe!
So, on Monday (I think) we were outside because it was such a nice day. Neighbor kid came over to play too. His mom needed to leave to go to the store and came to get him. He straight up cussed her out and told her no. She then said "You don't have to speak so rudely. I said come on." He said "She (meaning me) will watch me." I countered by telling them we would be going in soon. Then he said "I'll go but only if you promise to buy me a toy." Do I really need to tell you who won this argument?
Who's the parent here?
I actually feel sorry for him. When he's out early, he hasn't eaten so I've let him eat breakfast with us sometimes. I've fixed him sandwiches.
I also worry about him. He's still very young and wanders around alone a lot. He's a prime candidate for a kidnapper or sexual predator or something like that. I also worry about how he'll be as he grows up. With no discipline and structure now, what will he do as a teen and adult?
Our nickname for him in our house is Huck Finn, by the way. Sometimes, Dwayne and I talk about him in his face but he doesn't even know it.
I also know it's not really the child's fault. We all come into this world as a blank slate. Whatever is put in, usually comes right back out. So, maybe I should say my pet peeve is bad parenting. Let me get to the story.
Our next door neighbors fit this bill. They (especially the mom) are what would be considered white trash kind of people. But, she's really nice. These are the people who live in this home. The parents, a 20-ish daughter and her boyfriend, and the 5 year old son. They have another son around 18 but I'm not sure he lives here anymore. The first time I met them, when we moved here, the father and then 13 year old son were in the middle of the street having a very loud argument, complete with all manner of profanity. At about 7:00 in the morning. Crazy!
My focus today is on the 5 year old. He doesn't go to school. He just turned 5 within the last month or so and his mom doesn't want him in an actual school until kindergarten. I have no problem with that because I plan to do the same with my kids. But, here's the thing. She spends no time with him during the day. He is out of the house very early in the morning. As a matter of fact, he walks to the bus stop with the other kids every day to see them off to school. He is usually shirtless and shoeless, even in this cooler weather. When it's too cold, he will wear a shirt and shoes but I've never seen him in a jacket. He plays outside almost all day and is usually out before his mom wakes up for the day.
He likes to come to our house to play when my kids are outside. It's usually not a problem. At first, he would be over here cussing but I told him it's not acceptable here so that stopped. Once, he tried to push Brayden off Danae's trike, but both Danae and I stepped to him. Danae was about to knock him down! She can kill her brother if necessary but nobody else better not even think about touching him. Sibling love at its finest! So now he knows that he can come here to play but there are rules. And he abides by them for the most part. He once asked me what would happen if my kids cussed at me or hit me, I told him they would get a spanking. And I told him the same goes for him. Shock and awe!
So, on Monday (I think) we were outside because it was such a nice day. Neighbor kid came over to play too. His mom needed to leave to go to the store and came to get him. He straight up cussed her out and told her no. She then said "You don't have to speak so rudely. I said come on." He said "She (meaning me) will watch me." I countered by telling them we would be going in soon. Then he said "I'll go but only if you promise to buy me a toy." Do I really need to tell you who won this argument?
Who's the parent here?
I actually feel sorry for him. When he's out early, he hasn't eaten so I've let him eat breakfast with us sometimes. I've fixed him sandwiches.
I also worry about him. He's still very young and wanders around alone a lot. He's a prime candidate for a kidnapper or sexual predator or something like that. I also worry about how he'll be as he grows up. With no discipline and structure now, what will he do as a teen and adult?
Our nickname for him in our house is Huck Finn, by the way. Sometimes, Dwayne and I talk about him in his face but he doesn't even know it.
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