The Most Evil Parents in the World
According to my kids, we are the most evil parents in the world. I'm so proud, my wife and I work extra hard to make life as miserable as possible. :-)
Here's the latest list of the "evil" things we do.
#1. Curfew: Street lights on, kids in the house.
Some of the neighborhood kids can stay out later, but this is the hard and fast rule that has only been bent twice in my memory.
#2. If we can't see you out the front door, you better have told us where you were going.
Basic rule that every kid should have (but doesn't).
#3. No going down to the lake without an adult. And no, your twelve year old friend does not count as an adult.
My wife lost two of her cousins in a horrible drowning accident when she was eight. Both kids were great swimmers, one got in trouble and the other tried saving them.
#4. I get final OK on your friends. If there's a kid that's causing problems (i.e. getting arrested), then you won't see much of them.
This one is rarely used because luckily none of our kids hang out with convicted felons.
#5. I'm open to negotiation, but when I make my decision, it's final. Whine around about it and you will find yourself in your room.
This is the hardest one to do. We're pretty strict when it comes to what the kids can and can't do, but we still give them some leeway.
So what do you guys think? I'm pretty sure these are the rules I bitched about as a kid, but my kids seem to think I could take my pet dinosaur down to the volcano anytime I wanted to....
Comments
you should be flogged then on the other hand you could bye velcro and stick the kids to the walls.
Posted by: flyboy | June 9, 2004 7:18 PM
You have turned in to your parents! HA!
But I agree...seems like a good set of rules to me. I'm in a funny spot right now, my son is not quite 2 years old yet and at this point I can't imagine myself ever telling him he can't do anything. But I'm sure I will find a way to when the time comes.
But, at the same time, I live in NYC, so he is never out of my site. (Or my wife's or our Nanny's.)
Ground rules are good. As you stated, all kids should have them. Unfortunately, some aren't lucky enough to have parents that actually put forth the effort.
Posted by: Jason | June 9, 2004 9:29 PM
Those are the rules I lived by as a ute, and are the ones my son shall strive to circumvent when he's old enough to be constrained by them. If you be Evil, let us form an Axis thereof. :)
With a 19.5 month old son, I don't quite understand how a parent of a child the same age could not have told said child "No!" enough times that said child uses that word more frequently than any other. Mine respnds more readily to "No!" than he does to his name. :)
Posted by: Dan Isaacs | June 10, 2004 1:19 AM
Wow, you guys are great!
buggy
Posted by: Bill | June 11, 2004 1:19 PM
Sounds like sound judgment to me.
My wife and I are working on making some of those kids for whom we would need such rules.
Thanks for the primer. ;-)
Posted by: J at TAotB | June 14, 2004 2:50 PM
you are gay
Posted by: arnold swarchsnegger | October 22, 2004 9:40 AM
You truly are evil parents. Approve of your kids friends? You brag about your parenting techniques in which you have people (young people, but still people) under your worthless, overcontrolling thumbs. But being able to threaten and control children is nothing to brag about. The fact you post this drivel is utterly pathetic. If I were your kid, these rules would have no bearing on me. I would disobey you and if you took away my privileges, I'd either disregard your word or still not do what you say. If you spanked me, I'd wait until it got abusive, and then I'd call the cops and throw your sorry, overbearing asses in jail. You are just unbelievably stupid.
Posted by: Rachel | December 17, 2004 5:57 PM
You brag about your parenting techniques in which you have people (young people, but still people) under your worthless, overcontrolling thumbs
Yawn...
If I were your kid, these rules would have no bearing on me. I would disobey you and if you took away my privileges, I'd either disregard your word or still not do what you say.
"Hey Junior, get out, the house is on fire."
"Yer not the boss of me, dad! There is no fire!"
I think there are times where as a parent, I not only have the right to tell my children they are wrong, but also to make sure they do what I say, when I say it or they face a consequence. It's my house, it's my money that supports them, and it's my responsilbilty if they break something.
If you spanked me, I'd wait until it got abusive, and then I'd call the cops and throw your sorry, overbearing asses in jail. You are just unbelievably stupid.
Oh that is totally rich...go ahead and just TRY to get me arrested for spanking. That would be an absolutely hilarious charge.
Posted by: Brian | December 17, 2004 7:43 PM
I am 18 years old, throughout my life my parents have always tried to control me with every aspect of my life. Demanding where I am going, and I frequently stay at my boyfriends and all they do is moan and have a go about it. I have been with him for a year and a half. I do everything they ask me to i.e. cleaning the house etc but they still insist on trying to control my each and every move.
This has resulted in my hating them with a passion and not wanting anything to do with them, as soon as university starts they won't see me for sundown. They make my life a misery and I cannot forgive them for it, nor will I let my children see them when I have them.
So for your sakes, I recommend you to make ammends before it's too late. Seeing as your children are young, come to a compromise more i.e letting them play at a park in a group without your watchful eye over them but insist that they stick together and do nto speak to strangers. You need to trust them , in return they will trust your judgement.
Lisa x x x
Posted by: Lisa | July 7, 2005 4:20 AM
I agree with lisa,
Laying down the rules is one thing, establishing a dictatorship is another.
The one difference was my fathers rules were based entirely on what was the most convenient to him, rather than my safety or wellbeing. This year he has refused to pay my school fees, and said if I could not convince my mother (who lives interstate) to do it, then I would go without. He shows no concern for my education, and seems to believe highschool is easier than I'm saying it is (probably because he failed due to lack of work). He is willing to risk my education to teach my mother a lesson, and I recently learned out he applied for my Youth Allowance without telling me. You seem to be a responsible parent, but don't do anything you wouldn't have wanted your parents doing. You need to show more trust in your children.
Posted by: ben | February 15, 2006 2:59 AM
There's inherit trust (i.e. I trust my children love me and their family) and earned trust (i.e. I trust my child with my iPod). Inherit trust almost never goes away, earned trust ebbs and flows with the behavior of my kids.
In my case, I have amply provided for my children's education and well being. Search for private schools on my blog and you will see the coin I have invested in two of my daughters. In your case, I can't offer anything but condolences from your perspective of the story.
Posted by: Brian | February 15, 2006 10:39 AM