The epic bad parenting thread

[stm61]

must be something about boys and bikes and hills lol. One Christmas some kind sole decided to give my then ds8 a huge big wheel. Driveway went down a steep hill, road we lived on was a steep hill perpenicular to the driveway. Older kids would ride down the driveway, make a right turn, and end up at the bottom of our dead end road. They'd just paved the road a week before (sound familiar?). Older kids had enough body weight to go over the edge of the new pavement and make the turn. Ds2 was a light weight. He went down the drive, hit the pavement, and the big wheel stopped dead. Ds went head first over the front wheel and landed on his face. I was in the bathroom and didn't even know he'd escaped from the house until ds8 came in and casually mentioned that I might want to check out his little brother because he had blood all over him! I run out and literally have to drag him back in to see where the blood is coming from. I've got him sitting on the kitchen counter, trying to clean him up enough to see if he's hit an artery, and he's fighting and screaming "Owside, owside, wan owside". He didn't look real pretty but he was fine. Found out later the daycare documented all the scrapes and bruises, just in case they ever felt the need to report me for something in the future. This is the same child who managed to break his nose twice before he was 3 so I imagine the file was pretty thick before he started kindergarten.

 

[Wall-E1]

Wall-E1 - I just your love your hair today in your avatar. But I should warn you, it kinda makes you look almost like a woman.

Only kinda', though.

Kate was right everybody wants the Kate haircut it is official. I bet it will be bigger then the Rachel.

Gotta love the ball breaker haircut...er, sorry the Kate Gosselin cut. A true classic, for sure.

Thank you for all the lovely compliments on my new hairstyle. I was getting tired of the same old mullet. So I thought to myself...why not flip it around? Now I'm all business in the back and all party up front.

 

[paintnolish]

Get with the times, man. Kate's got $7,000 extensions now.

 

[JerseyJanice]

That avatar is a scream!

Bad parenting? Not me. That is one department in which I am completely perfect in every way.

 

[Wall-E1]

So, to follow up on my post a few days ago in which my son made me look like a bad parent to his school guidance counselor - I am proud to say that he has done it again. This time, he did it with a school therapist.

I requested that we both meet for psychological counseling, as I know what I am doing is ineffective, as his grades have been steadily dropping. He is generally an honor roll student, but this year he has been really slacking. I don't know if it's the change to high school or what. Anyway, we arrive to the counselor's office and he wants to see my son alone first, while I fill out some paperwork. At this point, I know it is over. My son will play him like a fiddle.

My son comes out twenty minutes later and the therapist now wants to speak with me alone. After asking me one question - what do I hope to achieve from counseling?, he promptly launches into interrogation mode. Your son says he has to clean the entire house all by himself(untrue). Don't you think that may be a bit much? He says you won't help him with homework(untrue). He told me that he is never allowed to play with any friends(untrue). He says you don't feed him(untrue). And on and on it went. Instead of me using my time to discuss strategies to help my son's behavior and academics, I spent my session defending myself, and not very well I think. I just don't think I sounded believable enough. I didn't sell it.

As to the untrue statements -

1. My son is responsible for helping me clean the common areas of the house (living room, dining room, kitchen; etc.) He does not clean my bedroom or bathroom. He has no outdoor yard work.

2. I do try helping him with homework. He will come to me and say he does not know how to do something, but when I try to teach him how, he complains that I am doing it wrong. If he does not know how to do it, how does he know I am doing it wrong?

3. I questioned him about the friends issue after therapy, as he has a lot of friends and had just slept over one of their houses a few days ago. He told me that it doesn't count if adults are present. So, I guess I will have to inform his friends' parents that they will need to get a hotel room for the night, next time my son sleeps over, or it won't count.

4. Dinner. I always try to cook food that he will eat. He used to enjoy my cooking. One time, a couple of years ago, I overcooked a chicken dinner. It was kind of dried out. Well, he has never been able to let go of this. I have cooked many perfect dinners since, but apparently that one overcooked meal has had serious lasting side effects on my poor child. So, I'm in a bit of a conundrum. If I cook for him, he won't eat it. If I don't cook for him, I am neglecting him.

The point of this post would be the same as my other one. My son has once again used his truly diabolical skills to sway another adult over to the dark side, where I am the world's worst parent.

All I want is for him to focus a little more in school. Why does he play with my sanity as if it is play-doh?

 

[It'sWDW4me]

So, to follow up on my post a few days ago in which my son made me look like a bad parent to his school guidance counselor - I am proud to say that he has done it again. This time, he did it with a school therapist.

I requested that we both meet for psychological counseling, as I know what I am doing is ineffective, as his grades have been steadily dropping. He is generally an honor roll student, but this year he has been really slacking. I don't know if it's the change to high school or what. Anyway, we arrive to the counselor's office and he wants to see my son alone first, while I fill out some paperwork. At this point, I know it is over. My son will play him like a fiddle.

My son comes out twenty minutes later and the therapist now wants to speak with me alone. After asking me one question - what do I hope to achieve from counseling?, he promptly launches into interrogation mode. Your son says he has to clean the entire house all by himself(untrue). Don't you think that may be a bit much? He says you won't help him with homework(untrue). He told me that he is never allowed to play with any friends(untrue). He says you don't feed him(untrue). And on and on it went. Instead of me using my time to discuss strategies to help my son's behavior and academics, I spent my session defending myself, and not very well I think. I just don't think I sounded believable enough. I didn't sell it.

As to the untrue statements -

1. My son is responsible for helping me clean the common areas of the house (living room, dining room, kitchen; etc.) He does not clean my bedroom or bathroom. He has no outdoor yard work.

2. I do try helping him with homework. He will come to me and say he does not know how to do something, but when I try to teach him how, he complains that I am doing it wrong. If he does not know how to do it, how does he know I am doing it wrong?

3. I questioned him about the friends issue after therapy, as he has a lot of friends and had just slept over one of their houses a few days ago. He told me that it doesn't count if adults are present. So, I guess I will have to inform his friends' parents that they will need to get a hotel room for the night, next time my son sleeps over, or it won't count.

4. Dinner. I always try to cook food that he will eat. He used to enjoy my cooking. One time, a couple of years ago, I overcooked a chicken dinner. It was kind of dried out. Well, he has never been able to let go of this. I have cooked many perfect dinners since, but apparently that one overcooked meal has had serious lasting side effects on my poor child. So, I'm in a bit of a conundrum. If I cook for him, he won't eat it. If I don't cook for him, I am neglecting him.

The point of this post would be the same as my other one. My son has once again used his truly diabolical skills to sway another adult over to the dark side, where I am the world's worst parent.

All I want is for him to focus a little more in school. Why does he play with my sanity as if it is play-doh?

OMG - you do it wrong too?!?! DS13 is getting into the basics of algebra. I love math but especially algebra and trig (yep, I'm a geek currently working with numbers in an accounting dept. job) so this is right up my alley. I, too, was teaching it "wrong". WTH? Has something changed with numbers since I was learning algebra while fending off the dinosaurs 25 years ago? I did ask him how he knew I was teaching him "wrong" if he didn't know how to do it in the first place - he just shrugged and said his teacher did it differently but couldn't say how she did it. AARRRGHH!

Oh, I'm right there with you. My son has himself convinced that I'm overprotective. He tries to convince anyone and everyone of this and he does a pretty good job. Until they talk with me and start poking around, that is. I believe his ultimate diabollical plan is to have me subjected to a parent reconditioning center so that I understand what a good idea it is to allow him to: consume vast quantities of soda, sugar, and snacks right up until 11 pm nightly (his bedtime is 9); play any and all Xbox games regardless of rating (I'm horrible in that I don't allow too many rated M games yet); wear a hoodie no matter what the weather (c'mon it's a balmy 19 degrees out there - he doesn't need to wear a coat! ); skip school; never, ever do his homework; go to a friend's house or have a friend over to our house without a parent present; etc, etc. Of course, until he succeeds in having me involuntarily committed to such a program, I will continue to be "overprotective" and proud of it!

 

[Wall-E1]

what a good idea it is to allow him to: consume vast quantities of soda, sugar, and snacks right up until 11 pm nightly (his bedtime is 9)

Same here, except I'm lucky if I can get him to bed before I lose consciousness each night, which usually occurs near midnight. How much later he is awake after that is anyone's guess..

play any and all Xbox games regardless of rating (I'm horrible in that I don't allow too many rated M games yet)

I also censor his games, not so much to protect his impressionable young mind, but because I get a certain perverse pleasure out of seeing the disappointment in his face when I cut down his hopes and dreams of playing these games.

wear a hoodie no matter what the weather (c'mon it's a balmy 19 degrees out there

Same here, except that most of the year it is 100 degrees out. But my son thinks he looks so cool, like an "8 Mile Eminem". So, he sweats off about eight pounds a day, all in the name of fashion.

never, ever do his homework

Homework is degrading for a super genius, so he will not lose his dignity by doing the work of the general masses.

 

[MsMulan]

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for letting me know that I am not alone. My DD13 has the teenage thing bad!!! We are sitting up very late tonight trying to get homework which was due awhile ago finished so she does not fail the 8th grade.

There are times when I feel just sitting down and crying. You all let me know my DD is not the only one acting like she has lost her mind and is taking me along for the ride.

The laugh I had tonight made up for a lot of the stress of late! Now back to homework!

 

[Wall-E1]

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for letting me know that I am not alone. My DD13 has the teenage thing bad!!! We are sitting up very late tonight trying to get homework which was due awhile ago finished so she does not fail the 8th grade.

There are times when I feel just sitting down and crying. You all let me know my DD is not the only one acting like she has lost her mind and is taking me along for the ride.

The laugh I had tonight made up for a lot of the stress of late! Now back to homework!

That's why we're here. If we support one another, hopefully we will survive our personal nightmares(teenagers) with our sanity intact. We must stand together as one against this formidable enemy. Remember, we are only as strong as our weakest link. Be brave and remember that we are bigger than them(well maybe not bigger, but smarter)((well maybe not smarter, but stronger))(((well maybe not stronger, but......oh dear god! We can't stop them!!!)))

 

[ksumn1]

I also censor his games, not so much to protect his impressionable young mind, but because I get a certain perverse pleasure out of seeing the disappointment in his face when I cut down his hopes and dreams of playing these games.

Well, I'll demonstrate again what bad parents we are. My 6 and 11 yr old DD's favorit Ps3 game is Call of Duty. The one before the newest one.My 6 yr old likes to "kill some Naazee zombie butt"

I did try to stop them from playing at 1st becasue there's so much blood and guts but I figure it's a war game, so it's my patriotic duty as an American to teach them about our brave men and women in unifrom. And to honor them every day by playing a game that chronicles (not very accurately) war battles that didn't really happen such as Nazi zombie attacks. God bless America!!

 

[cheermom1]

Yep I think all parents at one time or another have done something that is considered bad parenting...one time when I was 16 I came home from school (I was a cocky teen) and told my dad I was going out and not to wait up for me as I didn't know when I would be home. (yes I know) he threw his boot at me as that was what he was doing when I came home. lucky for me or unlucky which ever way you want to look at it, I ducked and and it went right out the window busting it all too pieces..needless to say I didn't go anywhere for a very long time. LOL I look back on that now and I laugh b/c I really deserved for that boot to hit me with my mouth and attitude...

Now I have a 16 dd just like me oh boy

she has been caught twice sneaking out by the police (lucky this is a small town and they all know me) they even called my bro LOL anyway she got the better of me with her mouth and attitude one night and I lost it on her (hit her once) later she told me that she thanks me for kicking her in the butt that night and she was very sorry for what she had done (wow) of course that didn't last that long

just to clarify I didn't punch her I slapped her ..I wish I hadn't though...

anyway you guys are not alone in the bad parenting as I am in that category as well...LOL

 

[disney_mommy]

I, too, was teaching it "wrong". WTH? Has something changed with numbers since I was learning algebra while fending off the dinosaurs 25 years ago? I did ask him how he knew I was teaching him "wrong" if he didn't know how to do it in the first place - he just shrugged and said his teacher did it differently but couldn't say how she did it. AARRRGHH!

Been there. It's very frustrating not to be able to help him. When I try, he just ignores me because I'm not doing it the same way his teacher does.

Be brave and remember that we are bigger than them(well maybe not bigger, but smarter)((well maybe not smarter, but stronger))(((well maybe not stronger, but......oh dear god! We can't stop them!!!)))

I did try to stop them from playing at 1st becasue there's so much blood and guts but I figure it's a war game, so it's my patriotic duty as an American to teach them about our brave men and women in unifrom. And to honor them every day by playing a game that chronicles (not very accurately) war battles that didn't really happen such as Nazi zombie attacks. God bless America!!

 

[It'sWDW4me]

Homework is degrading for a super genius, so he will not lose his dignity by doing the work of the general masses.

Classwork is also below my son. Yep, my super genius is maintaining his dignity right on into summer school if not right back into a repeat of 7th grade!!!

And, see, that's what gets me - he is smart. He should be in honors classes. Super genius.

 

[MizTink]

That's why we're here. If we support one another, hopefully we will survive our personal nightmares(teenagers) with our sanity intact. We must stand together as one against this formidable enemy. Remember, we are only as strong as our weakest link. Be brave and remember that we are bigger than them(well maybe not bigger, but smarter)((well maybe not smarter, but stronger))(((well maybe not stronger, but......oh dear god! We can't stop them!!!)))

we are OLDER.....that's it. nothing more!
that's the one and only thing that they can't change or take away! but they CAN use it against us.....