Just caught my son playing hookey...

[MikeA57]

Came home this afternoon from the hospital (see my other thread "A Big Scare") to freshen up before going to work and found a strange pickup truck in my driveway. It appeared to be one of my son's friend's truck. Figuring that I had some teenage boys having a party in my house when they should have been at school, I snuck in the back door as opposed to the garage like normal. It was empty. Then I thought about checking the workshop to see if the 4 wheelers were in there.

They weren't.

So I took a picture of the truck in the driveway and of the empty bays in the workshop. Then I called the school. I was standing out by my truck and I heard 4 wheelers coming out from the woods in the back of the subdivision. As they came around the bend back there they spotted my truck in the driveway and screeched to a stop, then turned around and hightailed it back into the woods.

I then called the school and checked with the attendance office to see if my son was in school.

He wasn't.

So I took the 2 pictures and sent him 2 texts, "You're grounded #1" and "You're grounded #2. Then I sent a "You're grounded #3, I called the school and you're not there." text.

I then called a buddy of mine just down the street that was home today and asked him to watch my house. I head on it to work, and he calls me a few minutes later and tells me a 2nd pickup truck just pulled into the drive. As we're talking, he tells me that they're backing out. I ask him to walk out to the street and stop them and ask who they are and what they are doing. He calls me back again and tells me that my son was in one of the trucks. He told him, "You're busted." My son replied, "I know". My friend then told him to go ahead on go back home and wait, his Dad would be home later to deal with him.

It would almost be funny if I didn't have my wife in the hospital to deal with. I don't need this crap right now. . .

 

[EE_Bota]

Man I'm sorry to hear that. If there is anything, anything at all your wife needs done, I have a suggestion of someone you already know who is close by who would be more than happy to do that work.

Edit: No matter how dirty the work, or no matter how boring the work, just ask, and I really do mean that.

 

[D7E]

Sounds like a normal teenager to me . A good kick in the ***

 

[bullbreaker]

Raised 4 boys. Caught one doing same thing (skipping) playing Romeo with some girl. Sounds like normal teens too me also. What I don't tolerate are lies. If caught and they are truthful thats a positive thing. Good plateform to work off and continue on.
As they got older 16,19,23,27(all boys) I quit kicking butts, now I just take-em out of the WILL that hurts them more !

BTW I use to skip myself but we can't ever let them know that. Hope everything works out well for your wife !

Boone

 

[dmccarty]

What EE_Bota said...

With the wifey in the hospital, work needs to be done around the house, clothes washed, floors cleaned, bathroom's cleaned, dishes washed, etc. Did momma want to paint a room? How about the house?

I would be chewing his fanny over cutting school but more so when his momma is in the hospital. The word disappointed would be used...

On the other hand, sounds like somewhat normal teenager stuff, but as Deputy Barney Fife would say, "Nip IT! Nip IT! Nip IT! Nip it in the bud!" :laughing::laughing::laughing:

Later,
Dan

 

[MikeA57]

Oh, I agree, it's normal teenage stuff. Normally, he's a VERY good kid and he makes me proud almost daily. I think he thought he could get away with it this time and not get caught. I figure that more chores will be added to his home time especially while I'm dealing with my wife, but I've about decided that his Christmas will be curtailed a good bit too. And, he won't be hanging out with that bud for awhile. Sad thing is that boy's folks are out of town this week and the grandparents are keeping them.

 

[EE_Bota]

Normally, he's a VERY good kid and he makes me proud almost daily.

That's really good to hear. It sounds like you did a great job with him.

 

[dusty3030]

I see you are in North Mississippi.
I am 20 miles from downtown Memphis over in Arkansas.
I have horses.
I am a former Marine Sgt.

I have a whole lot of white rail fence could use white washing! A whole lot of manure needs shoveling. Gutters need cleaning. I would pay top dollar for his hard work to either yourself or the charity of your choice!

 

[2LaneCruzer]

That's really good to hear. It sounds like you did a great job with him.

A bunch of us guys skipped to go to a girl's softball game; the Superintendent told us if we wanted to graduate, we would have to memorize the Article I of the U.S. Constitution. We all did and we NEVER forgot the lesson. Maybe your son's school will be imbued with a similar wisdom.

 

[tungularafishcamp]

Just be glad you caught him and he was "only" out 4 wheelin with his friends. He is just doin his job which is pushing the boundaries we set for them. It is unfortunate timing and he sounds like a great kid and will realize that and probably make up for it in spades to help out with your wifes illness. Good luck with both!

 

[MikeA57]

I see you are in North Mississippi.
I am 20 miles from downtown Memphis over in Arkansas.
I have horses.
I am a former Marine Sgt.

I have a whole lot of white rail fence could use white washing! A whole lot of manure needs shoveling. Gutters need cleaning. I would pay top dollar for his hard work to either yourself or the charity of your choice!

Hmmmm, inta-restinK!

I think I'm going to get the names of the other boys, talk to their parents and see what we can come up with collectively. Of course, I've got to get my wife better first.

 

[dusty3030]

Hmmmm, inta-restinK!

I think I'm going to get the names of the other boys, talk to their parents and see what we can come up with collectively. Of course, I've got to get my wife better first.

I hear that.
I never skipped much, too easy to get caught small town, small school
My senior year in the spring time fish were biting at Horseshoe Lake. Myself and two others skipped to take advantage. We were fishing in the cyprus trees when lo and behold who did we bump into but the Coach who was also in charge of running down truant lads like ourselves. Seemed he called in sick that day too. He made a pact with us that exists to this day, we never told and neither did he!

 

[Bird]

I hear that.
I never skipped much, too easy to get caught small town, small school
My senior year in the spring time fish were biting at Horseshoe Lake. Myself and two others skipped to take advantage. We were fishing in the cyprus trees when lo and behold who did we bump into but the Coach who was also in charge of running down truant lads like ourselves. Seemed he called in sick that day too. He made a pact with us that exists to this day, we never told and neither did he!

That's pretty good.:laughing: One pretty Spring morning during my senior year, I got to school early one morning and a fishing buddy was there early, too, so we decided to just go crappie fishing instead of staying for school. Probably no one would have known if I hadn't taken home such a nice stringer of crappie.:laughing: Dad never said a thing about it, but Mother was terribly upset.

 

[Redbug]

Mike,

Your son is lucky to have a dad that cares, (even though the son does not realize that...at his age), and the dad is lucky the son is not into pot and drugs...just 4 wheelers and the woods, (and that's better than messing with girls, too).

 

[hawkeye08]

Amen to the 4 wheeling... Parents that care enough to do something about it and be actual parents seems rare these days.. Consistent, fair punishment is expected.. Wish I was close by to lend a hand with whatever you needed.

 

[/pine]

Considering the circumstances with their mother in the hospital I find it irresponsible...

As far as skipping school...my mom never condoned it but she realized it was going to happen so she supplied me with written excuses minus a date (to be added when needed) to keep on hand that I could use to prevent unexcused absences...and the consequences...

 

[chad22]

Sounds like a normal teenager to me . A good kick in the ***

:laughing: Sure does. I used to skip school a lot as a teenager.

Used to skip school when I was in Elementary as well. I'd walk towards the school and as soon as my mom wasn't watching me anymore, I'd sneak off to the park. Got my butt busted with dads belt a few times for that.

I also used to act like I was sick and couldn't go to school. Sometimes that worked sometimes it didn't. lol (Got my butt busted at times for that as well.)

I started skipping school after the first day of Kindergarten. I skipped school every year at least 13 times a year until I was out of elementary. (The School had the cops out looking for me a lot too) Sometimes they found me and drug me back to school.

A few times they hauled me off to the Juvenile Detention Center. I gave my parents a lot of h e l l when I was a kid and teen.

Thanks mom and dad for not giving me up for adoption. :thumbsup: :laughing: :cool2:

Love you mom and dad.

Oh and also remember telling my mom and dad I hated them when I got into trouble. (You know? Those I hate you days)

When I'd say that, my dad and mom would say, I love you even more. lol

Then after I said I hated them, and calmed down, I'd give them a hug and tell them I love them. They'd say. I know you do. I love you too.

Chad

 

[brain55]

I've got nothing, I was a truant. Of the 5 yrs I was enrolled in HS I attended about 2 1/2 of it. Fortunately my parents never gave up, they wouldn't let them kick me out or send me to continuation school. My counselor and parents worked harder to get me my diploma than I did. When I left for trade school after summer school that last year I had no idea if I had even graduated. I hope for you, your son, and your wife's sake this doesn't become a habitual thing.

 

[dmccarty]

I hear that.
I never skipped much, too easy to get caught small town, small school
My senior year in the spring time fish were biting at Horseshoe Lake. Myself and two others skipped to take advantage. We were fishing in the cyprus trees when lo and behold who did we bump into but the Coach who was also in charge of running down truant lads like ourselves. Seemed he called in sick that day too. He made a pact with us that exists to this day, we never told and neither did he!

Until now! :laughing::laughing::laughing:

Better watch out! The principal will be out looking for you now!

I had a drafting teacher who also owned a farm on which he and his family grew tobacco. He would hire Juniors and Seniors to help with that awful tobacco. I was working for him one Saturday when he told us a story. He was about to go out on a Friday night and his father had told him to not stay out too late because they had quite a bit of chores to do on Saturday. Of course, the Young Teacher To Be, stayed out real late and got home at the wee hours in the morning. Young Teacher To Be has just fallen asleep when his father woke him up to start the work day. :laughing::laughing::laughing:

Young Teacher To Be was most miserable and tired but the lesson was learned. :laughing::laughing::laughing:

My kids will get upset at me when they get in trouble and pull the "I hate you!" line on me. I will say something like, "Well I guess I am doing my job then." or "I know you do, but when you turn 20, you might start to figure out how nice I really was to you." :laughing::laughing::laughing: They really HATE it when I say stuff like that! They expect a completely different reaction. :thumbsup:

Later,
Dan

 

[zzvyb6]

You might want to reconsider all of this. Here is a young 'man' who may still be discovering how life works and what it feels like to have new emotions. If his Mom is sick and could be in danger, he is trying to figure out what all that means in terms of feelings for her, what life would be without her, what you would be like without her and a host of other new concepts. Maybe he wants to hear what his friends have to say about it, since parents tend to lecture their kids, not direct them.

Just a thought. If you think this is bad behavior, you probably are now just seeing the tip of the iceberg. If fact there could be a lot more going on and with your distraction(s), you may not be seeing a boy raise himself instead of with constant parental advise and direction and expectation.