This is a short blog, but it was something I had to get off my chest…OK, so I dropped of my daughter at school this morning, and I witnessed something that just bugged the crap out of me. Actually, I was stupefied. I almost wanted to say something to the parents involved, but I figured I’d just get laughed at, or some righteous schlep would report me to the principal or the police; so, I just drove off in bewilderment….
There I was, about ten cars back in the line to drop off kids at the front of the school. The average length of a car is about 16’4” per www.wiki.answers.com. So, I was about 163.33’ away from the 20’ sidewalk leading up to the front door of the school (that’s about the length of three semi trailers). The cars inched up, about every 2-3 minutes, working their way towards the red carpet and the paparazzi. I felt like a limo driver at the Academy Awards. I was about ready to get out and start looking for famous people from whom I could get autographs. I’m not sure little Bobby or Mary’s signature will fetch much on eBay. Anyway, the caravan of spoiled little brats moved at a snails pace towards Mecca, and the parents looked like drones awaiting their temporary freedom from their prison of adolescent damnation. After we advanced a couple car lengths towards the drop off point, I asked my daughter what she thought of what was going on, and if she thought it was weird. I asked her if she cared getting out and walking, instead of being dropped of directly in front of the sidewalk. She shrugged her shoulders and said, “I don’t care, by the time we get up there, I could already be in my class.” I simply smiled and said nothing.
My daughter has it right. Take a fricken walk…get off the couch…put down the remote and the game controls…turn off the Xbox…Out of the mouth of babes came true enlightenment…WALK, IT WON’T KILL YOU!!!
So, after my little rant you may be asking, “What’s your point?” Besides the fact that kids need to stop living like little wussy panty-wastes, parents need to step up and set an example. Oh, and another somewhat related observation I witnessed two weeks ago – a girl, walking through the parking lot of the school, in full protective gear; a helmet, and knee and elbow pads (the hard plastic kind). She looked like she was going to the “Tony Hawk School of Dumb-ass Kids who Don’t Have Coordination and Might Kill Themselves Riding a Skateboard.” I think parents need to get over their ill-conceived notion that their child is above actually “working out and getting in shape” or that, God forbid, the child might actually fall down and have to get back up and keep going. Parents, ever since the “soccer Mom Revolution” of the late 90s, have been coddling and conceding to their children’s every whim and desire to the detriment of society as a whole. Parents are raising children with false expectations of life. Parents need to teach children that not everyone wins all the time. Parents need to teach their children that there these things called books, and they can experience many wonderful journeys and experiences by reading. Parents need to teach their children about how it was before video games and television. We just experienced a power outage for a few days due to a severe wind storm, and you would think the neighborhood kids were going to end up in therapy for life, based on their boredom levels. It’s just sad.
So parents, get off the couch, put down the laptop, turn off the television, get out the First Aid kit (for the inevitable cuts and scrapes of life), teach your kids how to actually “live” life outside the protective bubble you have blown for them. Before it’s too late, teach them that they won’t get a trophy for everything they do. Teach them that the only reason we keep score at a game is to see who WINS and who LOSES. Teach them that walking 166.33’ won’t be the end of the world. In fact, they might burn off the calories from the sugar-laden breakfast they had earlier in the morning.
And one last thing parents, if you REALLY want to lead by example, get out and do some walking. If you remember correctly, OUR parents had to walk 3 miles to school, uphill both ways, in the snow…
Or so they say…
sarcasticscribe
3 Comments
September 27, 2008 at 7:36 pm
i loved the lazy children………. i have made my kids go check the mailbox.. then i lock doors and tell them there is a water hose if they are thirsty.. (this is only when they have cobwebs attatched from their head to the couch)…..
October 8, 2008 at 8:49 am
“And one last thing parents, if you REALLY want to lead by example, get out and do some walking. If you remember correctly, OUR parents had to walk 3 miles to school, uphill both ways, in the snow…”
How true. *smile* Parents need to raise children up in righteousness. There are many good books out there about raising and teaching children. I have no kids (no wife) but still read books about raising kids as I’m being prepared.
Teach with love and mildness. Learn and help you kids learn. Teach and help them teach others. Talk with your kids and get to know them better. We are all different.
Good Day,
GOD Be With You All…………………..
October 13, 2008 at 9:49 am
Frankly I’m quite surprised – with the price of petrol these days I have worked out it would cost me a buck every time I take my daughter to school if I drive. So we use the bike. She is only seven so I have a “spokey joe” which she can piggy back onto my bike. We enjoy it more then driving anyway! (Usually!)