Bad Parenting Tip #2
Anyhow, my new furniture is red. I was looking for complimentary colors to it and the lady suggested grey. I told her that could never happen. We are Magnolia people. And a true Magnolia fan would never put River colors (red and grey) in their house.
She laughed and said she heard New Martinsville people bleed Blue and Gold- so much so that some woman raised a huge stink over stolen signs.
I told her that woman would be me.
I'm am totally uncool and humorless.
When it comes to bad behavior.
Yes, I trust that kids will be kids, and they will do stupid things.
But when adults catch them being bad, it is incumbent upon us to kick their asses, figuratively, of course.
I told her that woman would be me.
I'm am totally uncool and humorless.
When it comes to bad behavior.
Yes, I trust that kids will be kids, and they will do stupid things.
But when adults catch them being bad, it is incumbent upon us to kick their asses, figuratively, of course.
I am fine with- "Kids will be kids,"
As long as it's followed up with- "Adults will be adults."
If you catch them, you punish them.
Not saying it has to be by firing squad, but never, ever blow off destructive behavior as appropriate or normal...well, unless you want more of the same.
So, that's the bad parenting tip #2: Be uncool and kick ass when necessary.
Thanks to our hosts Lexa, L.G, and Tonja Drecker for this weekly good things check in! Boy #1 graduated from West Virginia University.
Boy #3 will graduate high school on Friday.
I get my new furniture delivered on Saturday.
Boy #3 will be attending the All-State banquet on Sunday. He's 1st team football.
Swept Away releases Monday!
Book Blurb:
Sixteen-year-old Grape Merriweather has just moved to Sortilege
Falls and already she knows something isn't right. A small pack of teenage
models, too beautiful for words, holds the town in their sway. The models have
no plans on making Grape's life easy. But no matter how cruel they are to Grape
and the other “Normals”, no one can stay angry with them for long.
Grape's life changes for the better, or so she thinks, when Mandy,
the only “nice” model, befriends her. But that’s when the trouble truly begins.
Mandy's friendship places Grape smack in the middle of a medical mystery that
has the entire town on edge. One by one, the models fall ill from an incurable
disease. Grape quickly realizes that the models' parents are hiding a secret,
even as they watch their children die. To save her only friend, Grape will have
to find the truth–and that means putting her life in danger.
Libby’s bio:
Libby Heily began writing after spending years as an
obsessive reader. She's written plays,
screenplays, flash fiction, short stories, and novels. When not spending time in made up places with
invisible friends, she enjoys reading, running, hiking and performing improv in
Raleigh, NC.
Release Date: May 31st
Opportunity to win Free Copies:
Find Libby on the web:
Monday? That's awesome!
ReplyDeleteYes, if they are caught, they need to be punished.
I bet the look on that woman's face was priceless when you said it was you...
She was a very nice lady, so I felt a little bad for her. I'm the queen of reaching my foot to my mouth, so I totally know how she felt!
DeleteWe were so badd...we'd 'light the I' on the mountain.
ReplyDelete(hmmm...thought sure I'd find a picture in google...but, alas)
My husband was bad. Seriously, I wonder how he didn't ever get arrested. The only thing that stopped him was he got in trouble when he got caught and wised up before it was too late.
DeleteGood Luck Monday Loved the picture at the top of post,
ReplyDeleteAnyone would think I was a bad parent, 2 of my kids not on speaking terms with me,
Yet they never went short of anything and certainly not love. I still have not the slightest notion why the family rift. But I do have one who speaks though he lives across the sea in Spain.
Enjoy your week-end.
Yvonne.
I'm so sorry to hear that, Yvonne. I don't know your circumstance, but I think sometimes, kids have a hard time accepting that their parents are human. Mine will get mad at me sometimes and I have to remind them that even though I am far from perfect, they still need to have some respect.
DeleteHugs. I hope things get better.
lol whoops, she probably gave a blank stare. Very true, they get caught, punish them a little or lot.
ReplyDeleteImmediate apology. And in her defense- she never read the blog post. She, like most people heard the rumors, and for the most part the rumor is I flaked out over a sign or two. Not that our streets were almost cleaned out of signs we'd paid good money for.
DeleteThat is vandalism and I remember that story. Should have been my mother that lady was talking to. Maybe kids should spray penises all over her house and see if she'll still think they're just being kids. Punish bad kids, adults, everybody. If you don't face consequences, you won't improve on bad behavior. Congrats on your book, lovely boys and new furniture Liz.
ReplyDeleteNo, not her house. I didn't do her justice. She was nice. Once I explained, she quickly agreed. She said she once worked in retail and would cringe when some people would come in with kids and let them loose in the store. Like she said, if people can just chalk it up to kids being kids, they can be lazy and not have to parent.
DeleteI bet your mom has never taken the lazy road!
Woo HOO! Your book's coming out on Monday! The cover is perfect. Looks great, and really complements the story. Great job!
ReplyDeleteYeah, I was one of those uncool moms, too. I even hauled our sons off to the police station one time. (I called and set up an appointment first.) I caught them throwing some fighting stars, after I'd specifically told them they were NOT to buy them. The policeman was great. He took the time to explain how dangerous those things were, and that he and other officers considered them to be lethal weapons. It made quite an impression on them. Far more than if I'd said it to them myself.
Thank you so much, Susan. And thanks for all your input in the book. It really is a much better book with your geniusness.
DeleteYou're a smart mom. When my son was in high school, a lot of the kids were experimenting with drugs. I warned him then, I ever caught him, I'd ship him off to rehab without blinking an eye. And he knew I would. When they were little they called me Killjoy because I'd veto much of the "fun" their dad gave them approval for.
What did she say when you told her it was you? Red furniture eh? I hope you enjoy it. I do agree kids should be disciplined severely over such behaviour.
ReplyDeleteOnce I told her the whole story- and explained that in two years, we'd lost well over $300-400 in signs, she was in total agreement with me. And we both decided it was much better to be the uncool mom than let our kids be bad.
DeleteI'm curious what she said when she heard it was you, too! Talk about putting your foot in your mouth!
ReplyDeleteShe was at first surprised, but then after the full story, we were like old friends complaining about people not taking the time to parent...that as a society, we really are becoming lazy and expect other people to clean up after us. Although, the vandalism between the two towns is a decades long feud. I suppose, since I'm not from this town, I don't see the fun in destroying property for fun. It's in the same category as people who smash other people's mailboxes for sport (that was also a sport in this area)...I just never saw the fun in it. It's not clever. It's not creative. It's just mean.
DeleteI totally agree on the parenting advice. Ignoring wrongdoing just leads to the kids feeling untouchable and they'll do more (and worse) in the future. Congrats on the graduations, the new furniture, and the banquet to celebrate 1st team football! Congrats to Libby and to your on your upcoming release. Woohoo!
ReplyDeleteI'm all for fun, but when things get broken or people get hurt- it's no longer funny. And I'm not saying kids won't be kids- mine do plenty of stupid things- but you're right, when you catch them, you can't condone it. You're only asking for more of the same.
DeleteRed furniture sounds red and bright!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to Libby Heily!
It is bright. I like it. I need to just tape off the room and not let humans or pets into it.
DeleteYeah, I'd love to hear what she thought when she heard it was you. I'm as childish as they come, but even I agree with you. Vandalism isn't a joke. It's just being stupid, and shouldn't be something you get away with, kid or not.
ReplyDeleteAnd it's not clever. I'm more impressed with clever orneriness. Now, had they taken our signs and stuck them in a graveyard, or better yet, taped them together to make a run-through sign? I'd have considered them the winner in the smack talk competition. Absolutely zero originality in the destruction.
DeleteCongrats to your kids, Elizabeth!
ReplyDeleteI agree that kids will be kids, but discipline also needs to be maintained. :-/
Yep. Kids will do however much they can get away with. Myself as a teen included.
DeleteI'm with you 100% Elizabeth. I hate it when adults just let bad behaviour happen and don't bother doing anything about it. Yes kids are kids but they'll never learn if they get away with it! it's a shame you can't have grey and red in your house though because they are cool colours together lol!!
ReplyDeleteLibby's book sounds amazing... my kind of YA story, for sure :D
Suzy xx
www.suzyturner.com
I love Libby's cover. And I read her other book (name escapes me!) and it was a great read. Libby is very clever and her stories are rarely what they seem.
DeleteAwesome news about your boys! And yes, we must be uncool at times. Yay for Libby and congrats on your release today, Liz!
ReplyDeleteThanks! Yes, I am very uncool. :(
DeleteOh well. There is no prize money for being cool, so what do I care?
Good for you. That woman learned or re-learned a lesson, didn't she?
ReplyDeleteShe was a true believer in the lessons. She was just going on gossip.
Deletenot to sound like a 90 year old but I seriously cannot deal with parents who don't handle their kids well!
ReplyDeleteI used to work as a waitress and I'd cringe when women would come in with kids. It's amazing how, in a restaurant, moms will let their kids smear food on windows and leave it all over the floor. I've always made my kids "bus" their own space before leaving. They don't pay people enough to be their personal maids. It's about respect. They aren't born that way, they must be taught it.
DeleteYes, good tip!
ReplyDeleteWhy thank you!
DeleteAmen and seconded! Too often kids just do whatever they feel like without any kind of consequence. That's setting society up for failure.
ReplyDeleteI agree!
DeleteLol:) I stopped giving parenting advice once I became a dad;)
ReplyDeletePeople always ask me, "How did you get great kids?" Well, it's been hard work. Maybe I can get enough bad tips together to sell and afford a rest home by the end of it all.
DeleteHa! Yes. I try to be uncool and humorless. Hopefully people will think me a good mother when my kids get older.
ReplyDeleteThey will. Being cool is over rated.
Delete