Christina M. Currie: Hide and, well …
Christina M. Currie's Touch of Spice column appears Fridays in the Craig Daily Press. E-mail her at director@craig-chamber.com Enlarge photo
August 15, 2008
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Christina M. Currie
Christina M. Currie's Touch of Spice column appears Fridays in the Craig Daily Press. E-mail her at director@craig-chamber.com
Craig — It’s been quite the interesting week.
My nearly 7-year-old and 8-year-old daughters, and their friends, are beginning to experiment with the concept of, “it’s better to apologize than to ask for permission.”
Either they don’t think far enough ahead to consider consequences, or they’re wagering the consequences will be worth it.
It’s worse in a group. I think Katie would realize that some actions aren’t worth the recourse, but when you get two, three and four kids together, they seem to think that (1) the more kids, the fewer the consequences, (2) there will be no consequences because they can just push the blame to someone else, or (3) their idea is just so clever that they will either get away with it or be rewarded for creative thinking.
The scenario went like this:
Katie and Nikki and their co-conspirators … I mean, friends … Ashley and Tyler, decided that having a sleepover at Ashley and Tyler’s house was something their parents would eagerly endorse. So, when Ashley and Tyler’s mom arrived at the baby-sitter’s house to collect her children, my children snuck into the back of her vehicle.
They hid well and managed to make not a sound. Ashley and Tyler kept surprisingly quiet, too. They traveled across town, made a stop so Ashley could change clothes, and then headed back into town for her soccer game.
Ashley’s mom guesses that my girls were hiding in her car for nearly an hour before Tyler ratted them out.
And she was mortified.
She couldn’t help thinking about what would have happened if she’d have locked them in the car on that hot day.
I couldn’t help thinking about how she would have felt if she’d gotten pulled over and was issued tickets for seatbelt violations for two children she didn’t even know she had.
It seems like the kids had their night fairly well planned. They’d stow away, pop out when they arrived, and then call me and I’d bring them clothes.
Piece of cake.
Or not.
They started off being grounded. No treats. No participating in the fair’s pig/chicken/bunny chase (oooh, that one hurt). No smiling, laughing or merry-making for a week.
I came close to caving when Katie snuck out of her room to pass me a note.
“Dear mom, I am very, very, very sorry for what do happened today. I promise it will never happen again. I love you mom, Love Katie.”
She drew a little heart on the note, too.
Seriously, how do you resist?
I stayed strong and told her that, while I appreciated that she understood what she did was wrong, that doesn’t mean she still wasn’t going to get in trouble. She just might not get in as much trouble.
I’m a good mom. I explained well. My kids totally understood why they couldn’t just go places without asking permission.
Not.
A few days later, I went looking for the girls. They weren’t in their rooms (like you’re supposed to be when you’re grounded). They weren’t in the yard. I found them down the street with their shoes off and their pants rolled up, splashing through a huge puddle at the end of a neighbor’s driveway.
Why? Why did they do that? Didn’t they hear a word I said? Weren’t they listening?
Perhaps. But it seemed they mostly learned that saying “sorry” was easier than hearing “no.”
I’m going to have to up my game on the consequences end.
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15 August 2008 at 10:56 a.m.
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misterkindbuds (Anonymous) says…
If my dog is missing for 15 minutes … I go look for it.
Those poor, poor children,
One week, they are on a leash chasing deer, the next week, they attempt to escape the trailer park and are apprehended.
“Dear mom, I am very, very, very sorry for what do happened today. I promise it will never happen again. I love you mom, Love Katie.”
“What do happened today.” I think there should be a (sic) next to that if that's how it was spelt (sic).
I guess the apple doesn't fall that far from the tree.
Wake-and-bake folks! It's chilly out there.
15 August 2008 at 2:03 p.m.
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Patrick (Anonymous) says…
You are very, very disturbed. A master debater in all his glory.
15 August 2008 at 2:03 p.m.
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speech_geek (Anonymous) says…
I've been reading your comments and i'm guessing you're from steamboat by the term of Craigites. Plus with adding peace love and dope it makes a little sense to say you're hippyish. so i figured i'd tell you yes Craig sucks in most ways but this town does have its perks. So what? We have flaws, like all towns but its no reason to bash us for. If you dont like Currie thats fine but dont insult the intelligence of our town as a whole.
15 August 2008 at 2:10 p.m.
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Patrick (Anonymous) says…
Hay, MKB's. Call the paper and ask for Jennifer Grubbs. I turned in an editorial on court house security. If you want, you have my permision to get it today so you can offer a counter opinion.
15 August 2008 at 2:54 p.m.
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Patrick (Anonymous) says…
MKB, You brag about your ability to write.
Let's have a math test.
How many years in jail do you get for a 1 and a half ounces of marijuana?
15 August 2008 at 4:23 p.m.
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Patrick (Anonymous) says…
MKB, You're so high half the time you don't even know you have a dog. Because you got high, because you got high
15 August 2008 at 6:33 p.m.
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grannyrett (Anonymous) says…
I tried hiding in my grandparents car once, so I could go home with them. Didn't work. I got caught. I must have been about 4 years old.
15 August 2008 at 7:27 p.m.
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lonelyone (Anonymous) says…
grannyr, that made me chuckle. Patrick, you seem to be writing to yourself. MKB doesn't seem to be inclined to write back to you at this point in time!?!?!?
15 August 2008 at 7:44 p.m.
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Patrick (Anonymous) says…
I think he is off getting high.
15 August 2008 at 10:21 p.m.
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grannyrett (Anonymous) says…
Maybe if you ignore him, he'll go away.
15 August 2008 at 11:17 p.m.
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Patrick (Anonymous) says…
I know Granny. But it's like an itch. I can't help make fun of him. It's sooooo easy. I believe it only takes about 3 question to a liberal pot head to get something real funny out of them. They loose control and twist off with the craziest comments. It's like poking a pig in the nose with a stick, the pig will just keep coming and being lead. It just fasinates me all to heck.
I may need an intervention to help me stop.
16 August 2008 at 9:18 a.m.
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lonelyone (Anonymous) says…
You know Patrick, I think if I remember right the first time you wrote something we or many of us thought you were off your rocker too!! And now look at you, just one of the “family”!!!!
I kind of wonder if MKB doesn't write this stuff and then sit back laughing his fool head off while the rest of us get going on what he's written. He's probably thinking here we go again and this is just so easy to get these nuts in a tither!!! ;o)
16 August 2008 at 10:04 a.m.
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misterkindbuds (Anonymous) says…
hehehehe
16 August 2008 at 11:07 a.m.
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Craig_gal (Anonymous) says…
ha ha ha ha, I think lonely found the stick. great job
16 August 2008 at 11:16 a.m.
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Patrick (Anonymous) says…
Yep, but it is fun.
20 August 2008 at 10:20 a.m.
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misterkindbuds (Anonymous) says…
Hey nuts!
It's almost Friday!!!!!!!!!!!
20 August 2008 at 1:12 p.m.
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lonelyone (Anonymous) says…
who you callin' a nut?? ;o)
20 August 2008 at 9:41 p.m.
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50cal (Anonymous) says…
he's talking to himself lonely, friggen wednesday. middle not end of week.