<p>Rick Tyler’s stories are just hysterical. Of course, I read second period to mean Second Empire! :)</p>
<p>All these stories are hysterical! We really do need a “parents of boys” support group.</p>
<p>Rick Tyler, has your S noticed that both CalTech and Olin are in cities? Screws up the logic doesn’t it. Maybe he could apply to Rose-Hulman, it’s in the middle of a cornfield. </p>
<p>The history comment is a classic. But in a sea of great comments the one that gets me every time is the away at camp one. Really, really LOL!</p>
<p>Oh, S has reported that he loves his winter coat. It’s very comfortable.</p>
<p>What happens with these kids? My oldest is totally clueless. I love him dearly, but am afraid he needs someone organized to take care of him longer term. It can’t be his parents, and am not sure if another woman would be capable and/or willing. He would have to literally run into her. Thank god my youngest has organization skills. It is hard to let them go and let them fail. I keep thinking it has to be my fault somehow, or perhaps it’s just a personality thing. We’ll see.</p>
<p>And I totally read Rick Tyler’s to be second period of school - Eureka! I’m starting to uderstand the boys.</p>
<p>I have enjoyed your stories and shared your laughter. Growing up, I always thought I’d have many sons. One of my regular babysitting jobs was with a family who had six boys. I loved it! Alas, I ended up (happily, of course!) with a houseful of girls and the only boys I get to experience are the ones who arrive attached to one of them, either by friendship or romance. 
</p>
<p>I do have a ‘boy’ story about one of my brothers, though, which I’ll share. It happened 35+ years ago so I guess some things never change. We were going out for a special dinner at a fancy restaurant in Atlantic City one summer night. It was an extended family get-together and my mom was stressing about it going well, and everyone looking good and behaving even better! My surly teenaged brother didn’t want to go but, after much grumbling, made himself look semi-presentable and went out to wait in the car for the rest of us. When we were about halfway to AC, about an hour’s ride away, another sibling shouted out to my mom that <em>surly brother</em> had NO shoes on. He’d forgotten to put shoes on! I honestly thought my mother would stop the car and leave him by the side of the road. Instead, we stopped at one of those abundant beach supply stores near the restaurant and she bought him a pair of flipflops. It’s (obviously) one of those family stories which we all love to repeat to his children. :)</p>
<p>These posts are just absolutely hysterical. I love reading them, they’re so funny, and of course, it helps to know that one is not alone! </p>
<p>No sons, but, daughter engages me in this brain pretzel twist last night:</p>
<p>“Mom, I’m going to bed, good night, I love you, oh, do you have a book I can read?”</p>
<p>“I just gave you a book last night…”</p>
<p>“What book did you give me?”</p>
<p>“I don’t remember - you asked for a book, I gave you whatever was on top of my stack…”</p>
<p>“Well where is it?”</p>
<p>“How should I know - you took it to your room…”</p>
<p>“Well, I can’t find it…”</p>
<p>“Well, I don’t know what to tell you. I gave you a book - it’s probably lost in your room some where - try on top of your desk…”</p>
<p>“Mom, I cannot find any new book, there’s no book on my desk, and there’s nothing under my covers or on the floor around my bed…”</p>
<p>“Well - I don’t know what to tell you. I’ve already given you all the books I’ve finished reading. Here - tell you what - here’s House of Leaves. I’m not finished with it, but, I’m not going to finish any time soon, so, you can read it.”</p>
<p>“No, I don’t want a HARD book. I want an EASY book”. </p>
<p>“Well, then, I don’t know what to tell you…I don’t have any more books. I have the Devil in the White City but I’m reading it…”</p>
<p>Silence for a while, then she comes back to the living room, holding up Ian McEwan’s “Atonement”, and, incredibly, asks, “Mom, have I read THIS book yet?”</p>
<p>“You’re kidding, right? How in heaven or hell could I possibly know if you’ve read that book or not?”</p>
<p>“Well, is this the book that’s about Saturday?”</p>
<p>“Um, no. “Saturday” is a completely different book, by the same author, that you just completed reading last week, which I happen to remember, because we were at the beach together when you were finishing it.”</p>
<p>“Well, do you remember if I said that I liked it - was it a good book?”</p>
<p>And so on…I cannot remember how it ended - I think I gave her Grisham’s Innocent Man, which she rejected, because it’s in hardback and she wanted a book for reading in bed, which means it has to be paperback. Or something.</p>
<p>Here’s a conversation that someone I may or may not know ;), may or may not have recently had:</p>
<p>Friend: Do you have his number?</p>
<p>S archetype: Yeah, I do but it’s in my phone book in my cell. I think I left it in the basement. One sec, let me go get it (S archetype proceeds to search the basement).</p>
<p>Friend: Um… aren’t you using your cell phone right now…to talk to ME?!</p>
<p>Friend of mine is a cheerleading coach. Her team decided to give candy to each player signifying something about her personality.</p>
<p>One girl received “Airheads” and replied that she didn’t “get it”. Then went on to tell about being an “alcoholic” in church that past Sunday–meant acolyte. She recounted tripping on her robe, spilling the collection plate, and catching her heavily hair sprayed bangs on fire with her candle.</p>
<p>She then paused and said “Oh, I get it now.”</p>
<p>Latetoschool-----Oh the stories we could share! I don’t dare ever ask my two boys where my purse (shoes, cell phone, etc.) might be for fear of the answer which will undoubtedly be “PUT IT IN A PREDICABLE PLACE NEXT TIME MOM”. Funny how they have the mantra memorized but the suggested behavior is lost on them!!!</p>
<p>Gee, a couple of you took my stories! My son also forgot that his little brother was at camp and had been there for over a week. He asked where he was at dinner one night.</p>
<p>And missing shoes - Two years ago we went on a cruise at Christmas time to the western carribbean departing from New Orleans. The night before you arrive in port you are supposed to pack and put all your bags in front your door. That means you figure out just what you need to wear the next day but pack everything else. My son packed everything including all his shoes. He walked off the ship barefoot and couldn’t put anything on until we found our pile of bags. Even then he couldn’t find his sneakers and flew home to Philadelphia airport in sandals. It was about 30 degrees outside.</p>
<p>kathiep- I’m not sure but you might have just trumped my story about the time DS played an entire soccer practice wearing one cleat and one Converse Chuck Taylor tennis shoe. DS gives the coach good material for a roast at soccer gatherings. Last nights banquet was no exception.</p>
<p>LOL. Sometime in the last year mine called from the airport:</p>
<p>“Mom, the agent here at the counter says I’m not on the flight.”</p>
<p>“What do you mean, you’re not on the flight - you bought your tickets, right?”</p>
<p>“Yeah, I booked everything online…”</p>
<p>“So how can you not be on the flight - I don’t understand…”</p>
<p>“The agent, she says there’s no reservation under my name…”</p>
<p>“How can that be…I don’t understand…what’s the flight number…do you have your reservation confirmation with you…”</p>
<p>“No, I packed it in my book bag somewhere…”</p>
<p>“That makes no sense…why would you do that…let me look in my email, maybe you forwarded it to me…what airline…”</p>
<p>“The lady says the flight is full and they cannot get me on it anyway…”</p>
<p>“That’s not helpful, especially if you already booked the flight and have a seat reserved…”</p>
<p>“Well she says I’m not on it…”</p>
<p>“Well, that doesn’t work for me, I gave you money to buy a plane ticket, you booked it, now you’re telling me you’re not on the flight…I don’t understand…what airline is this???”</p>
<p>“Delta…”</p>
<p>“Oh, look, I found your reservation, you forwarded it to my email - no wonder, you booked your flight on American…WHY ARE YOU AT THE DELTA TICKET COUNTER???”</p>
<p>It’s a really, really good thing they’re so hopelessly adorable and cute…</p>
<p>Glad to know my ids aren’t the only ones with challenging kids (& sometimes spouses).<br>
One of my 1st unsolicited calls from S was as follows:</p>
<p>S: Mom, I’m at the credit union. What is our secret word?
Mom: Huh?
S: You remember, when we were at the credit union & set up a secret word so that no one else could access our joint account. I think we chose dad’s middle name.
Mom: Oh yeah, that’s right. Dad’s middle name is ---------.
S: OK, thanks.
Mom: Did you write that somewhere safe so you’ll know it in the future?
S: No, I can always call you. You’ll remember it, won’t you?
Mom: Might be a good idea to write it down somewhere safe, just in case.
S: OK. By the way, what’s my PIN number?
Mom: Your PIN is ---------.
S: OK, thanks!</p>
<p>Son was looking over some of these stories and announced that I have nothing to write about him. However . . .</p>
<p>Convinced High School Senior Son to fill out an application to Purdue, his grandfather’s alma mater. And it has no essays. Says right there on the web site that it should take 20 minutes to fill it out. He goes down to the basement with Sister, laptop and the cartoon channel. Two hours later, he hasn’t finished the application because he’s stuck.</p>
<p>Next day, back down to the basement with Sister, laptop and cartoon channel. Two more hours and it’s still not finished. He’s stuck. </p>
<p>Informed he that he was coming upstairs and loading the application on to the main family computer so I can see what is going on. Mumble, mumble, complain, complain. Loads the application so he can show me the hard part. It says “List the college you previously attended.” </p>
<p>So I scroll up to the top of the page where it says: Purdue University Graduate School Application.</p>
<p>Oh Peggy, too funny! You can’t make these stories up!</p>
<p>Several years ago, my son decided to take a solo drive across country. He resisted my efforts to help him find interesting places to visit and things to see - “you always overplan everything, Mom” says son, and “I want to be spontanious”. He does concede that it’s a good idea to make reservations at the youth hostels he will stay in, since it’s the busy summer season.<br>
First night he calls on the cell phone “um, I can’t find the place”. I ask if he has the phone number. No, nor does he have the address or a map. I get online and guide him there via mapquest.<br>
Next day, the same thing.<br>
And the next.<br>
This wouldn’t make quite such a good family story, except son is GIS major.</p>
<p>Several years ago, my son decided to take a solo drive across country. He resisted my efforts to help him find interesting places to visit and things to see - “you always overplan everything, Mom” says son, and “I want to be spontanious”.<br>
He does concede that it’s a good idea to make reservations at the youth hostels he will stay in, since it’s the busy summer season.<br>
First night he calls on the cell phone “um, I can’t find the place”. I ask if he has the phone number.
No, nor does he have the address or a map. I get online and guide him there via mapquest.<br>
Next day, the same thing.<br>
And the next.<br>
When he reaches the Bay Area, he doesn’t have his sister’s address or a map to her house. Has her phone number but she isn’t answering (it’s 8AM on a Sunday, he woke early after camping on the beach)
This wouldn’t make quite such a good family story, except son was GIS major.</p>
<p>I have a brother story, too.</p>
<p>Little bit of background… when we were in marching band together, the band director repeatedly had to tell him, “B**, start off on your OTHER left foot”. Fast forward to college years when I had to take the family station wagon for the weekend when parents were away. Dad had told me check the oil before leaving and add a quart if needed. Clueless me opened the hood and had to go inside (no cell phones or even cordless phones in the dark ages) to call my car nut brother at college to ask him where the dip stick is and where to add oil. He said - reach in with your left hand, first handle you come to. So I checked and added a quart of oil. A week later, Dad is hollering at me because the oil is low and I should have added a quart. “But Dad, I did!” Turns out that I should have reached in with my right hand. Turns out that I added oil to the power steering fluid. Turns out that the garage had never heard of anyone doing that before.</p>
<p>Last summer he had me proof read directions to our family summer cottage before the big family reunion. He had them turning left when they should have been turning right. “Thanks, sis! That’s why I asked you to proof this.” Helpful guy that he is, he decided to print extra sets of the directions to leave at the hotel desk in case anyone left home without them. Of course, he printed the first set, not the corrected set. We had two irate uncles very lost, taking the scenic route. </p>
<p>My brother now? He’s a surgeon. Good thing he has residents or nurses who write on the appropriate body parts before he begins in the OR.</p>
<p>what is so funny is that when these boys grow and become daddies and hubbies, it is much the same</p>
<p>with my H, we have the confusion of THIS WEEKEND and NEXT WEEKEND, next weekend to him is THIS WEEKEND, so needless to say…argghhh</p>
<p>and if I try and explain to him the girls various social and school events, he get so confused, I have resorted to post it notes reminding him of upcoming events</p>