Scantlings

My mother got a call recently from the daughter of my 1st or 2nd grade teacher, I would have been 6 at the time. She had recently passed away and among her belongings they found a tardy note written by my mother that the teacher had seen fit to keep all of these years.

Several people here have met Lola-Jane, so without further comment:

And how do you remember that day?

That note is wonderful. A view into a different time.... thanks!

High maintenance son Rob??

That note is a treasure.

I recall my daughter having a similar session with Margie at dinner when she was about the same age. Among other things, she didn't like the cup her milk was in. Margie poured the milk on her head, much to the delight of her brothers.

Orestes & Kim,

As I recall that day the egg was Ostrich, uncooked, much larger than my head. I was expected to somehow unhinge my lower jaw to swallow it. The vitamin was even larger, coated with Cod Liver and 30 wt Motor Oil, to "make it slide down".

As those who have met me will attest, I'm a sweet natured person (my email insult to Tim Ford earlier today notwithstanding), whose only fault is to have been dominated and controlled by women for my entire life so far.

As I am inclined to forgive and forget, Lola & I get along quite well these days, just Tuesday I paid a $10,000 tax bill for her. Still, she never has apologized for that morning.

Rob McAlpine wrote:Orestes & Kim,

As I recall that day the egg was Ostrich, uncooked, much larger than my head. I was expected to somehow unhinge my lower jaw to swallow it. The vitamin was even larger, coated with Cod Liver and 30 wt Motor Oil, to "make it slide down".

As those who have met me will attest, I'm a sweet natured person (my email insult to Tim Ford earlier today notwithstanding), whose only fault is to have been dominated and controlled by women for my entire life so far.

As I am inclined to forgive and forget, Lola & I get along quite well these days, just Tuesday I paid a $10,000 tax bill for her. Still, she never has apologized for that morning.

You should be very thankful that that didn't show up a dozen years ago or your son would have had the ultimate "get out of jail free card."

oddly, that sounds a lot like a note that I could write pretty much any morning after negotiating with our three year old to get her out the door and on the way to school.

This morning the first fight was about the pink shorts that she wore yesterday, that she absolutely had to wear again today, but couldn't because mom put them in the washer last night and they weren't dry yet. (we settled on some light blue ones) Then it was the color of the socks (had to be pink, but settled on some light blue ones that matched the pants). Then she just couldn't keep feeding herself cheerios, and needed me to feed her, immediately. Then when I finally got her out the door, she was upset that a truck was parked in front of our house because she didn't know how to drive it. (but somehow knows how to drive my explorer...)

you were 6 huh?

My wife's attitude was, "It's your job to get her ready in the morning and any problems are on you. She's just a little tiny kid, you're a grown man, and you dote on her. Now can you handle this or not?"

Andy, whoever coined, "the terrible twos" had never seen a three year-old.

Yup, three is way worse than two. Even so, she is a really sweet little kid. She just has her moments when she is tired, hungry, or both. Mornings are the best time of day with her, unless you want her to do something that she doesn't want to do and you are on a time crunch, in which case they can be painful.

But yes, I am a grown man and she is a little tiny kid. I can handle it.

Slick470 wrote:Yup, three is way worse than two. Even so, she is a really sweet little kid. She just has her moments when she is tired, hungry, or both. Mornings are the best time of day with her, unless you want her to do something that she doesn't want to do and you are on a time crunch, in which case they can be painful.

But yes, I am a grown man and she is a little tiny kid. I can handle it.

Wait 20 years. She'll be a buaetiful and engaging young woman and you'll still be wrapped around her finger.

Of course, once you get past the toddler stage you will have to survive puberty, adult stupidity before you finally grow up enough for her to accept you as an intelligent adult......and you'll love her for it.

LarryHoward wrote:

Slick470 wrote:Yup, three is way worse than two. Even so, she is a really sweet little kid. She just has her moments when she is tired, hungry, or both. Mornings are the best time of day with her, unless you want her to do something that she doesn't want to do and you are on a time crunch, in which case they can be painful.

But yes, I am a grown man and she is a little tiny kid. I can handle it.

Wait 20 years. She'll be a buaetiful and engaging young woman and you'll still be wrapped around her finger.

Of course, once you get past the toddler stage you will have to survive puberty, adult stupidity before you finally grow up enough for her to accept you as an intelligent adult......and you'll love her for it.

Oh, they never stop being a pain in the ass...I hope.

Now that we're into grand daughter 2.0 I have to confirm that there is NOTHING better than kids!!

Both of the M&Ms know I'll do anything for them. (Madison & Mekenzie) And I will. Exactly as I'm supposed to. Of course they have to do things for me, like find the chocolate eggs I hid and help me untangle lines and important stuff like that.

LarryHoward wrote:

Slick470 wrote:Yup, three is way worse than two. Even so, she is a really sweet little kid. She just has her moments when she is tired, hungry, or both. Mornings are the best time of day with her, unless you want her to do something that she doesn't want to do and you are on a time crunch, in which case they can be painful.

But yes, I am a grown man and she is a little tiny kid. I can handle it.

Wait 20 years. She'll be a buaetiful and engaging young woman and you'll still be wrapped around her finger.

Of course, once you get past the toddler stage you will have to survive puberty, adult stupidity before you finally grow up enough for her to accept you as an intelligent adult......and you'll love her for it.

Bob: The most terrifying day of your life is the day the first one is born.
Charlotte: Nobody ever tells you that.
Bob: Your life, as you know it... is gone. Never to return. But they learn how to walk, and they learn how to talk... and you want to be with them. And they turn out to be the most delightful people you will ever meet in your life.

So true...

Didn't like the movie, but I liked that quote

My daughter has two kids now and she is feeling the struggle of "for 2 years you try and get them to walk and talk, and for the next 16 you tell them to sit down and shut up". I remember when she was young one of the best pieces of advice I got was "if you want to see how you are doing, watch your children around other people" She was a delight to others though often tested her parents. Her kids are the same- friendly open courteous and eager to please and understand, though they can give daughter and husband fits.

Slick470 wrote:oddly, that sounds a lot like a note that I could write pretty much any morning after negotiating with our three year old to get her out the door and on the way to school.

This morning the first fight was about the pink shorts that she wore yesterday, that she absolutely had to wear again today, but couldn't because mom put them in the washer last night and they weren't dry yet. (we settled on some light blue ones) Then it was the color of the socks (had to be pink, but settled on some light blue ones that matched the pants). Then she just couldn't keep feeding herself cheerios, and needed me to feed her, immediately. Then when I finally got her out the door, she was upset that a truck was parked in front of our house because she didn't know how to drive it. (but somehow knows how to drive my explorer...)

you were 6 huh?

Sounds just like my mornings. Miss Amelia the three year old can be very trying to say the least!

Tucky wrote:My daughter has two kids now and she is feeling the struggle of "for 2 years you try and get them to walk and talk, and for the next 16 you tell them to sit down and shut up". I remember when she was young one of the best pieces of advice I got was "if you want to see how you are doing, watch your children around other people" She was a delight to others though often tested her parents. Her kids are the same- friendly open courteous and eager to please and understand, though they can give daughter and husband fits.

Tucky, I will forever remember when my father tossed me overboard 1/2 way to Catalina one summer when I was about 13 years old. I had been mouthing off and telling how to sail and generally being a big Pain In The Ass. He just picked me up and tossed me over the side. The water was COLD! My Mom and he had a heated discussion about how long I could tread water, but he wouldn't let me aboard until I could hardly talk I was so cold. That same weekend a number of YC members commented on what a charming kid I was. Little did they know. Eventually, Dad and I became great pals, after I was about 28 and realized my old man was one hell of a great guy. But there was over a decade in there that neither of us wanted to talk about much. Now, I miss him every single god damned day! BV

I think it takes until our late 20's or so before our parents become people to us. I read a great line years ago - When we're 16 we can't believe how ignorant our parents are and by the time we're 20 we can't believe how much they've learned in the last 4 years.

SloopJonB wrote:I think it takes until our late 20's or so before our parents become people to us. I read a great line years ago - When we're 16 we can't believe how ignorant our parents are and by the time we're 20 we can't believe how much they've learned in the last 4 years.

Mark Twain

Anomaly wrote:

SloopJonB wrote:I think it takes until our late 20's or so before our parents become people to us. I read a great line years ago - When we're 16 we can't believe how ignorant our parents are and by the time we're 20 we can't believe how much they've learned in the last 4 years.

Mark Twain

Absolutely. I saw it in my oldest daughter, now 35. She was working her first job in Tampa shortly after finishing her Masters. I had business there and stayed in Ybor City. She came by after she got off work, we had a drink at the hotel and walked to dinner at a great Cubano restaurant. I'll always remember that evening because it was the first time we sat together as equal adults with a glass of wine and easy conversation.

My second set of kids are now reaching that age at 22 and 20. It's a great time to be a parent but you have to live through adolescence and puberty to get there.

My brother is my best friend, and it took a lot of work to get us there as our parents did not raise us to get along, but that is another story. My daughter is the relationship I cherish the most- I remember asking if it was alright if I got divorced from her mother, and getting her blessing:-). I get along very well with my former wife in part because we both know our daughter wants it that way.

The great joy for me in my grandchildren has not been the "have fun and then give them back" bit, but rather taking my cue from my daughter and husband to help raise them the way their parent's want. Profound joy.

I've been telling our daughter "my biological clock is ticking and I want grandchildren NOW!"

Of course, I'd sort of like her to get married, first.

Rob McAlpine wrote:Of course, I'd sort of like her to get married, first.

Picky, picky, picky...

Rob McAlpine wrote:I've been telling our daughter "my biological clock is ticking and I want grandchildren NOW!"

Of course, I'd sort of like her to get married, first.

A fella can overlook marriage in the interests of getting grandchildren

BeauV wrote:

Rob McAlpine wrote:I've been telling our daughter "my biological clock is ticking and I want grandchildren NOW!"

Of course, I'd sort of like her to get married, first.

A fella can overlook marriage in the interests of getting grandchildren

My father said that to us explicitly when it looked to him as though we were shilly-shallying and I certainly won't raise any legalistic concerns when the time is right.

Orestes Munn wrote:

BeauV wrote:

Rob McAlpine wrote:I've been telling our daughter "my biological clock is ticking and I want grandchildren NOW!"

Of course, I'd sort of like her to get married, first.

A fella can overlook marriage in the interests of getting grandchildren

My father said that to us explicitly when it looked to him as though we were shilly-shallying and I certainly won't raise any legalistic concerns when the time is right.

Yeah, but what did her father say? My FIL was very clear on exactly what was expected.