On Fri, 26 Dec 2008 14:03:37 -0500, "Evelyn"
gmail.com>
wrote:
>
>
>
>"JackPineSavage"
privacy.net> wrote in message
>news:6rkg7qF252veU1@mid.individual.net...>>>
>>> "SordoT"
prolefeed.org> wrote in message
>>> news:6rkag6F23s7mU1@mid.individual.net...>>>> On Thu, 25 Dec 2008 19:00:37 -0800 (PST), mg
yahoo.com> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>On Dec 25, 3:04 pm, Jim10...@
gmail.com wrote:
>>>>>> On Thu, 25 Dec 2008 13:55:35 -0600, High Miles <2Blue...@
comcast.net>
>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>mg wrote:
>>>>>>>> I'm sitting here watching the snow fall. It's been coming down
>>>>>>>> since
>>>>>>>> yesterday evening. I would estimate we've got an accumulated total
>>>>>>>> of
>>>>>>>> maybe 15 inches so far this year in my neighborhood. I believe
>>>>>>>> these
>>>>>>>> are the biggest snow storms since the early 1980s. When I first got
>>>>>>>> my
>>>>>>>> monster snow blower, I used to do the whole neighborhood, including
>>>>>>>> a
>>>>>>>> lot of very steep driveways. Now I don't do that anymore. Can you
>>>>>>>> guess why? Here's a multiple-choice quiz:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> 1. I'm lazy
>>>>>>>> 2. Gas is to expensive
>>>>>>>> 3. I'm a sadist
>>>>>>>> 4. I don't have the time
>>>>>>>> 5. I want to teach people the importance of self-reliance.
>>>>>>>> 6. Most of my neighbors are Republicans.
>>>>>>>> 7. The possibility of damage to my snowblower.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> If you guessed number 7, you're right. I've hit about everything
>>>>>>>> you
>>>>>>>> can imagine over the years including children's metal toys and
>>>>>>>> newspapers. So, now I don't do it anymore. I guess it's true what
>>>>>>>> they
>>>>>>>> say: no good deed goes unpunished. When you consider I can do in a
>>>>>>>> couple minutes what it might take a person a hour to do by hand,
>>>>>>>> it's
>>>>>>>> really a shame.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Those were all splendid reasons, and you've clearly been an overly
>>>>>>>good
>>>>>>>neighbor long enough.
>>>>>>>If you break a leg and your snow blower dies next year, will they
>>>>>>>rush
>>>>>>>to your aid, and clean your drive ?
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Dorothy
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I think at some point one gets burned out. I cut neighbor widow's
>>>>>> grass for several years and refused payment. I did not need money and
>>>>>> suspected finances may have been issue for her. Also, there were
>>>>>> times when I ran out of gas (me - not the mower) by time I go to back
>>>>>> yard and I'd put it off till next time.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I had to get a bigger mower as my little one died with the extra work
>>>>>> and bigger one made it much easier.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> But, finally, I felt like me doing it was expected and I never got
>>>>>> much positive feedback. Wife was on my ass all the time I was doing
>>>>>> it too as she did not want me overdoing such work.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Finally, after about three years, I quit. Her worthless son, who had
>>>>>> lived on street for years doing drugs and such could not even pick up
>>>>>> the limbs to help which added to my loss of interest. There was bit
>>>>>> more to quitting it, but one does not like just being used.
>>>>>
>>>>>One would think they would bring over some cookies or something once
>>>>>in awhile, but they don't. They could get one helluva lot of work out
>>>>>of me for a few cookies. For a whole cake or pie, I would probably
>>>>>snow blow their yard for a couple of years.
>>>>>
>>>>>I had a boy once who got divorced, moved back home and I sent him back
>>>>>to (technical) school for 2 years and then he stayed a couple years
>>>>>after that. In those 4 years, I tried to teach him two things: turn
>>>>>off the porch light when you come home at night and bring in the
>>>>>newspaper. I never had any luck with either one.
>>>>
>>>> Sounds like he has a genetic deficiency.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Not necessarily, sounds like he wasn't adamant enough about those items.
>>
>> Which is likely as a result of a genetic deficiency (lack of parental
>> spine).
>
>
>Not always. Some people are almost too nice with their kids. Others are
>too mean. It is hard to find the right balance.
>--
It is impossible to be assured what will work.
All kids challenge the hell out of parents and sometimes the right
thing said strikes the kid and sends them off on rebellious streak. At
other times, it seems sober counsel and they value it.
All we can do is love them and do our best. We get what we invested
in suddenly in front of us. I am very lucky but there were some Bill
Cosby moments with both of them.
