Fortunately I was not one of those parents. My kids knew, if someone came to my door telling me they did something, they already were filled with fear.
When my youngest was five years old. he threw a good size rock and broke a windshield. I offeredd to pay for it, but I wanted three estimates. The guy started to get really nasty. Now in Mass, a child under 6 y.o. is a non-person and cannot be held responsible for any acts. I never questioned that my son did the dastardly deed. But according to the car owner I taught him to be a hooligan. I had enough. I walked away and told him to take me to court. He did. The court sided with me due to my son's age. I told the judge what happened. The jerk again adopted the same attitude. He left empty handed.
I never denied what my kids did as long as there was reasonable proof. And they got punished accordingly.
I know jsut what you mean. Sometimes adults can act so much worse than children. But we won't go there. This thread is supposed to be about good, uplifting humor, and I won't hijack it.
There was this father and son who loved fishing. They lived in Tennessey and had fished every lake, pond, and stream in the state. One day, the father turned to his son and said; "Son, we've fished every body of water around, and done every kind of fishing that we could, except for one."
"So what kind of fishing haven't we done, Dad?"
"Well, we've never been ice-fishing."
"Ya know, maybe it's because we never have any ice.
"
"Keep it up, and I might just have to toss you in the lake."
"Ya gotta catch me first, dear
old Dad.
"
"Ok, you win this one. But we've still never been ice fishing."
"So what's up. I don't think the weather's gonna get any colder around here?"
"Well, you've kept you grades up in school, and I talked it over with your Mom, and teacher. They agreed that you could afford to take a week off from school, and we'll take a little trip up North, you know, into Canada, maybe in February."
As could be expected, the boy became excited. He replied; "Really! you're not kidding?"
"Nope, so long as you keep your grades up. Your teacher said that she can send you some schoolwork so that you don't get behind."
"Wow! I'll be ready. You just watch me."
So time went on and February finally came around. One night at the dinner table, without warning, the father said; "Son, pack up a light suitcase, and your fishing gear. We're leaving for Canada in the morning."
Again the boy responded positively, with excitedment in his voice. He said he would be all set by morning.
Morning came, and bloth father and son rose before the sun rose. They kissed Mom goodbye and headed for the garage.
"Let's make sure we have everything we need before we hit the road." said the father. So they checked their list and decided it was time to go.
They made good time and were at the Canadian border before the sun went down. Shortly after they crossed the border, Dad said; "Ya know son, we jsut don't know a lot about this ice fishing thing. Maybe we ought to stop at a bait shop and ask some questions."
"Seems like a good idea to me." remplied the boy.
So they kept driving northward untill they hit the outskirts of a small town they'd passed through. There, they saw a shop that advertised minnows and worms.
"This looks liek a good spot." said the dad.
So they pulled in and stopped to get more information.
The proprietor of the shop explained the sport of ice fishing, and sold them an assortment of minnows, worms, a minnow bucket, and some gear needed to fish through the ice. After they'd paid for everything, and were about to leave, the father turned to the propietor and said; "Oh, and I guess we'll be buying a cou[ple of ice picks too."
So they were sold a few ice picks. Following directions to a good lake, not too far away from the little shop they'd just left, they set about the task of preparing to fish. After about an hour, the dad packed up his son and headed back to the shop. He went in and bought two more ice picks. Again, they headed for the frozen lake.
Two hours later, the father and son got in the car and headed back to the bait shop. Both went in, and the father, with an exasperatied tone, said; Give me every ice pick you got."
The proprietor thought the request was a bit odd. He asked; "So how you boys doing out there? Catching any fish?"
The father exclaimed; "Well ya know, I'm not sure that this ice fishing thing is for us. We've been out on that ice for near onto three hours now, and we haven't even picked a hole big enough to put the boat in the water yet."
You might have to live in the North to really appreciate this joke. But believe me when I say, I'm just poking a little fun. I'd love to go south and hit some of those fly fishing streams one day. But I'd probably be a little tentative walking around the streams and ponds, down there. I mean, you've got gators, water moccasons, copperheads, and boars the size of bears. It's safer up here, no poisonous snakes, insects, spiders, etc. We do have sufficeint biting bugs to pick you up and carry you away though.
Seeeeeeeya; Chief Longwind of the North