A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The Banter Hall KIDS! I've Just Turned Grey!

My son just gave me a terrible fright! Fortunately, he is quite alright. But oh man, for the past hour I've been at my wits end!

I got home from dialysis at 4:45 and Maxi wasn't here. Normally, he is sitting on the porch waiting for me with his friends all gathered around. Since it was raining, I thought maybe he was just waiting indoors. Nope. No Maxi. No backpack! No message on my phone!

He has a concert tonight and I knew he was going to make plans to go with one of the other band families but I hadn't spoken with him since 7 this morning and didn't know whom he'd asked or what the plans were.

I tried to access that phone number feature on my TV screen but I couldn't find the right remote button to make it come up. The friends whose numbers I have handy are not in the band. Of course they are not!

I searched through my entire Gmail inbox and trash looking for a memo the assistant principal had sent in mid-May because it had the band leader's cell phone number in it. It is not to be found! And of course the band director isn't home because he is getting ready for the concert!

So I called another mom who usually knows all sorts of things about the school that regular people don't know. She gave me an alternate phone to the principal's office. He was there! He went down to the band room and found Maxi just walking in the door with his buddy Kyle. They'd gone to Kyle's house to have supper and wait til it was time to leave for the concert. Nobody even thought to call Mom!!!

So he gets on the phone sounding VERY surprised I'm even concerned and then started giving me attitude! I wanted to bend his ear for a good long while because we have discussed his responsibility to keep me informed of his whereabouts before. But nope, the kid got off the phone as fast as he could hang up the receiver.

I'm glad he is okay but now I want to half-throttle the boy! When you have an EX as cantankerous as mine is, it doesn't take much to trigger the fearful imagination!

Merme *hair as white as snow, I swear*

Oh Merme.
You do have the teen attitude starting already, wish I could tell you it would get better..... but no it probably won't... doesn't sound like our Maxi to not act responsibly but with the teens they often just stop thinking ... it is hard but do just stress that Mom needs to know his whereabouts when he is doing out of the normal things.... hard I know.
Nana

OH, My, merme---Nana is right--and likley it is just beginning---

I am ever so glad he is ok though.--perhaps it is just a misunderstanding--and I remember my girls did not like to spend too long on the phone with me either when their friends were around----

ah teen years-----


BTW:---I have this 1 grey streak-----

summed up so well, "oh the teen years"

but there is a certain cache is gray, there really is

Oh you guys make me laugh!


Merme

Glad he is o.k. but I'd deal with him 'well' when he gets home. DD used to pull stunts like that...until we started taking away her favorite privledges. So sorry you had to go through the panic Merme.

Been thru that too Merme,, we, that have kids beyond the teen years have all felt that panic worry moment,, then when you finally find them your so relieved all is okay,, then you get angry for having made you go thru all those emotions because of lack of common courtesy My kids used to pull that on me,, one day I told my neighbor I planned to reverse it on the kids,. I told them after school, to meet me at the house we were going to do something,, a little different tonight "Might" be fun I told my neighbor when she saw the girls come home to wait a few minutes and then go over and ask for me,, * she actually was to stay with them untill I got home) the plan was for them to wait and wait and wait and wait on me,, they ended up calling my job , my friends, my Mother's house , my second job looking for me,, I made them wait 3 hours,, on me. When I showed up they were upset with worry, asked me why didn't I call,, etc, I asked them "what's the big deal,, you knew I'd come home,," Boyyyyyy they didn't like that answer, (<-- Repeated one of their lines) came back to hit them in the behind.. I think I only had a problem with them not calling once or twice after that lesson,, They felt what I had felt so many times,, and just couldn't understand the worry until they had to hold it in their own hands

Gee diane, where were you about 8 years ago??/ I could have used THAT lesson for sure---you sure did good---

I guess we all have had a handful. Mine graduates on the 18th then she will be getting a taste of what the 'real world' is like.

I must agree, Diane wins the award for best pay back

At breakfast this morning, Maxi told me "I should have called you yesterday. I'm sorry, Mommy!"

He asked me how much trouble he is in?

And I said "ALOT!"

He said "Ok. How long am I grounded for?"

I said "One week from going to Kyle's house. Three days from going to Dom's. You stick around the complex until Monday."

He said "That's fair. Starting today?"

Yes, Maxi, starting today.

I think he will call me next time!


Merme *trying to blend the grey with the blonde*

it is good maxi faced up to what he did and expected to be punished.--it shows that you are consistant with yout 'policies' and that maxi understands them.---he jsut had a slip up but this will help him remember, huh??/

good luck in blending the grey--

doesn't it just make you so proud when your kids appologize for things on their own?

Yes, it does, Cricket; it really truly does.


Especially since he's been a little impatient with the entire world of late and not very tolerant of other's shortcomings.... or his own!

Merme *proud Mama*

...that's one fine boy you're raising Merme and one lucky girl will get herself a great husband out of the deal.

Now that's the Maxi we love.... bet he is better about it now--- sure hard being the Mom to a boy.... or a girl for that matter but boys seem to try harder at the driving us up the wall ... least mine did...
Tell him I am glad he owned up to it and accepted the consequences,,,half the battle right there....
Nana