<p>Missy - I am almost certain you could never been compared to a toad. Aint going to happen. </p>
<p>But speaking of stereotypes… when I was younger, the nook was definitely a far more casual place than it is today. I still stick to the casual, as do most people who’ve been coming for generations. But there are some that have this place slightly confused with a more New York City/Hamptons vibe - of which this place is not. But I will be honest to say I am so glad D2 is not here this summer. First of all, she seems to be having the time of her life in NZ… and if I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again… both H&I are trying very hard to not let our bias show when we agree she has a real eye for photography. But I digress - nothing new there.</p>
<p>Here’s the thing… When we were kids, drinking age was 18. But even when legal, if I came home drunk or past curfew (usually one and the same to be honest), there were consequences. I also admit that I probably dabbled starting around the summer I turned 16. But then too, I was always one who drank less than it may have appeared as I just enjoy a party plain and simple. But I was never much of a rule lover to begin with, and definitely made my share of youthful mistakes. Anyone who knew me then would agree that it was not a straight and narrow course that I followed. </p>
<p>HOWEVER - I respected my elders, would have been in as much trouble if caught in a nefaroius circumstance by a friend of my mom’s as I would have been if it was my mother herself. It was very much a “it takes a village” kind of place. But there have been some incidences this summer with other kids whose parent’s main concern seems to be legal or employment ramifications vs any kind of personal accountability. This is not to say they are bad parents, but I just don’t understand that in lieu of real ramifications, there are none. No groundings, no house arrests, etc. It’s like if they don’t get caught by the nook police (think campus security with limited powers), it’s OK! It’s as if the bar has been lowered and the expectations right along with it. Gossip of a kid getting in trouble is repeated (like a game of telephone) is the norm vs when I was a kid they’d go directly to your parent AND they’d do something about it.</p>
<p>last night I was told about a parent who basically chastised the cop who brought her 15 year old daughter home drunk vs thanking him for bringing her home and then grounding her butt! Am I really that old or are younger parents just that stupid to think teaching their kids a disrespect for authority is a good thing? </p>
<p>I am fully supportive of a decreasing peripheral vision… where the eyes you had in the back of your head when your kids were young are now looking straight ahead towards the horizon (and a much bigger picture). But if one of my kids sticks something right up under my nose, it was/is my job to bust them! To not do so is abdicating the responsibility of being a parent and the real JOB of raising compassionate and accountable kids. The bar was set high for all of us when I was a kid. I screwed up royally on occasion. But I can’t imagine I’d be as “OK” as I am today had my parents not lowered the boom when I flagrantly misbehaved. The adage, as long as you live in my house, or I pay your tuition or whatever it was… actually worked! I just don’t understand what benefit there is to lowering expectations unless they really believe their kids aren’t up to the task, or they simply don’t care enough about who they become as adults to do anything different. And to be really honest, the response of, “Well, I did it and I turned out just fine” is complete bunk. The world is a very different place. Legal trouble is very real and sticks like glue. The stakes, dare I say, seem bigger.</p>
<p>I did not walk up hill both ways to school. I definitely recognize I’ve been granted a entitled life by many standards. I am not, nor have I ever been, a goodie two shoes type personality. Perfection is never expected. It wasn’t for me and it isn’t for my own kids. In fact, sometimes a little rule bending makes for a more interesting life! I get it. But there are limits and blatant rudeness from nook kids is simply unacceptable. And honestly, the bar should be higher for the kids here based on the fact that they ARE privileged, and they do have opportunities other families can’t even imagine!! We wonder why the world is full of greed and corruption, and white collar crime. Get a backbone, parents. How about just starting with a curfew instead of allowing them to check in the front door and sneak out the back!</p>
<p>Some parents are asking for more Nook laws and codes of conduct for specific employees, especially anything to do with jobs that oversee/mentor youth. My take on this is why should the gov’t (nook or otherwise on up the food chain) do your job as a parent??? These expectations were inferred and implied when I was a kid. It just was. And there wasn’t a need for firing kids because frankly, they knew their parents would kill them! And just because it’s too much trouble to ground your kid, or it’s hard when they push back when you attempt hamper their fun or even if you just want to be your kids best friend, the behavior is dismissed as “age appropriate”? I don’t get it.</p>
<p>Im actually thinking of writing an editorial for the Nook Press. Bad idea?</p>
<p>Like I said… I am just glad D2 at 20 isn’t here this summer. And she fully agrees based on what’s she’s been hearing halfway around the world!!</p>
so handholding does not appear to become me!</p>
I don’t know why they don’t teach them in training to tell when someone doesn’t really want to talk. Even feigning sleep doesn’t reliably shut some of them up. Maybe taking a kindle would help ;)</p>