May I rant for just a moment
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| Mon, 08-13-2007 - 8:31pm |
on how stoopid my kid is???? Naw, I know, he's not *really* stupid, but sometimes, I gotta wonder where in the heck he parked his brain, cos I'm telling you, it is NOT where he can actually USE it.
The other night, he was spending the night with a friend. Well, apparently (according to my son, but any thing he says at the moment is suspect) they got into an argument so he and another boy left. Well, apparently there was a party going on in a town nearly 50 miles from here. Yep. 50 miles. Guess who decides to go??? Yep. Well, to make a very long story short, he got stopped by a cop for his license plate light being out. Ok, no biggie. BUT, his little *buddy* that was with him has cigarettes laying in the seat beside him. And, it's 2:30 in the morning! He is only 16. He cannot be out and about driving after midnight. sheesh. Well, he got written up for MIP/tobacco (which he *could* lose his license--but probably not) and for violating a license restriction (which I have NO idea what the penalty will be for that). We go see the judge on Wednesday to find out his fate. With the two violations, I will be surprised if they don't suspend his license for a while. Not that it matters a whole lot, he's pretty much restricted by me right now. The only thing I will hate if they suspend his license, is he wont' be able to go to work anywhere to pay off these fines.
I'm figuring it will run me up to $500 before it's all said and done. I hope I'm wrong. At least I hope it's not any more than that.
stoopid kid.

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It will run WHO that much? If he can't get to his job to pay for the fines, maybe he could work it off in extra chores around the house. Got any projects you need done? Painting, yard work, the grass always needs mowing, dishes need to be done. I'd make him work it off, keep a running tab of what he owes and what he has worked off. Unless of course he can come up with the actual money.
Kristie
Well, I say "me" because I have to fork out the dough first and wait for him to pay me back. And believe you me, I have been racking my brain trying to come up with "extra" chores for him to do. Problem is, he does most of that simply as being a member of the household. And I refuse to take those chores he already does as payment towards this. So, I gotta come up with extra. I do remember someone here saying something about washing windows. That's a definite possiblity. But, my little house, wouldn't take him more than a couple hours to do. At minimum wage, that won't go very far towards his bill. Speaking of....for all of y'all that use chores for payment...how do you figure the $$$? Minimum wage? Just an arbitrary number according to the difficulty of the chore? I've doled out a few extra chores in my life, but never to work off actual money, ya know? hmmm... I *do* like the idea of painting--the outside of the house is looking a little ratty. I wonder how good he is at putting up sheet-rock...I've got an entire room that has to be redone. Of course, those things, although they need doing, will cost me even *more* money at the outset.
Got any other ideas on chores? (oh, and cleaning the garage is one of his usual duties, so that's out. :( ) I've even thought about community service as a way to pay part of this off, but in order to do that, he has to be able to drive--there is *nothing* here in the way of community service. Even our local judge bemoans the fact that there is nothing here for community service for the kids to do.
I'm hoping his dad has lots and lots of work that needs to be done out at *his* house so ds16 can work out there for cash.
Thanks for the ideas Kristie. I'll keep thinking on "projects"...
Bummer. I can recall quite a number of times when my otherwise normally sane and sensible kids had brain blips and did something so totally stupid, I couldn't believe they were the same kids. Unfortunately I think that goes along with the whole idea of teenagers. They can do some really dumb things.
As for paying the money back, I can recall this one girl that lived around here a few years ago. She was quite interesting looking (and I am making NO judgements here)....and I used to see her working at the local pizza place. She would either walk to work, or ride a bike to work, and since I saw her in varying distances from the pizza place, I assume she didn't live real close to it. My point is....she didn't have a car, but she did have a job. Is there any place closeby that you could suggest your DS go and apply? Walking to work, or riding a bike to work would get him there, and he'd be making some money. Just a thought.
Nancy
well as far as community service ideas -- he could do yard work for any neighbors (elderly neighbors?) in the area (and walk to their houses) mowing lawns, raking leaves, weeding their gardens, washing cars, etc etc. Pet walking? Yard work for you of course. I'm sure that you'll come up with more ideas. LOL you could make him have a koolaid stand like my younger kids do when they need some extra cash!! I know that if I made my own 17 yr old do that she'd never speak to me again.
Hang in there!
Just what I was going to suggest crazydaisie!
LOL I can just see my kid sitting out in my front yard with a koolaid stand!!! He hasn't done that since he was about 6! Gosh, he would just DIE!! LOL
Seriously, I like the idea of having him do something around town for other folk. We've got several elderly folk around who probably need something done. Surely we can find *something*. If it were fall already, I could have him raking leaves all over town. :) And if it comes to that (and it may) he will probably be needing to do stuff when fall does roll around. And that's something that he *won't* need to be able to drive.
Thanks for the idea!
> > to clean pig pens < <
omg, Rose...we have a no-kill shelter that is only a few miles from the house and they are always looking for volunteers to help clean cages and wash out pens, etc. Why didn't I think of that!??! He could spend the next several Saturdays helping out there.
Sometimes I am just a little slow on the up-take, ya know?? ;)
Thanks! And thanks *everyone*. I got some great ideas from y'all. (But then, I knew I would!)
I don't know that I wonder *how* it works, I sometimes wonder IF it works. LOL I guess I should be thankful that it wasn't any worse, as in at least he wasn't drinking or had alcohol in the truck. *that* thought gives me the shivers.
I know he has talked *extensively* to his brother about all this (Ds20 told me some, but I know he didn't tell me all). Ds20 told him to just buck up and take his scolding (my words, D used a little more "colorful" language) and whatever punishment I dole out like a man. He screwed up, he knows it, so just go on with it. He told him it's not like he's going to jail or anything so it's not the end of the world. Oh, and to quit screwing up. LOL gotta love big brothers!
(oh, and I won't be able to make chat tomorrow....Wonder why?? Actually, I'll be in a meeting thru lunch and then as soon as it's over, we'll be shagging it over to see the judge.)