"You won't."

Pablo2079 · Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2007 8:53 am Post subject: "You won't."

(Not sure where this belongs, so I thought I'd put it in here.)

Here's the story:

My son and his girlfriend were at the house last night. His girlfriend talks A LOT (big surprise). Anyway, my wife and I are listening to this onslaught of inane information and my son is trying to look interested.

Picking up mid-conversation....

Son's GF: "My Mom is like so old, I mean like mid-life."

me: "uh huh" (wife and I look at each other and roll our eyes)

Son's GF: "Like 44. That is so old. Half of 88. I mean, like I don't want to live till 88. Like.... uggg."

me: "You won't"

All the air left the room and all were looking at me like I said something that was completely insane. I didn't get into why I said it, just left the room.

HAHAHA makes me chuckle just thinking about it this morning. I've done a pretty good job of not mentioning peak to family and friends for more than a year now. Then suddenly, it just came out of my mouth without any thought.

Ayoob · Expert Joined: Jul 15, 2004 Posts: 1038

I remember when parents used to try to make it easier for their kids. They built up things to pass down to their children.

Let me guess, you're a selfish asshole baby boomer, aren't you.

Pablo2079 · Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2007 9:21 am Post subject: Re: "You won't."

No ... genX... thirty something.

Let me guess, you're a lazy GenY?

***** Sorry, that was uncalled for.....

I don't understand what you're trying to say. As for "leaving something for your kids" and all that, I work hard for my family. Unfortunately, I don't believe that will be enough in the face of everything that's going to come... sooner than later. You might call me a doomer, but I don't expect to live to see 65. I expect future generations will be much worse off than that. Hopefully I'm wrong.

benzoil · Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2007 10:19 am Post subject: Re: "You won't."

Pablo-
You bring up an interesting point. My oldest daughter is in college right now. Wonderful person, smart girl, but not PO-aware. My wife and I have debated telling her, but haven't yet. Thus, in addition to the usual intergenerational barriers to communication, you now have a fundamental difference about what the next 50 years will be like.
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kevincarter · Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2007 10:25 am Post subject: Re: "You won't."

aflurry · Intermediate Crude Joined: Mar 28, 2005 Posts: 806

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Gideon · Light Sweet Crude Joined: Aug 29, 2006 Posts: 1144

Montequest is a certified asshole.
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aflurry · Intermediate Crude Joined: Mar 28, 2005 Posts: 806

What i'm just curious about is the comments pinning parental prickishness on any particular generation or span of time.

Pablo2079 · Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2007 12:00 pm Post subject: Re: "You won't."

Interesting take on this Gideon.

a) I wouldn't take it upon myself to tell my son who he can and can't date.

b) The original post was more written in a more "humorous" tone than it probably should have been. However, I still stand behind what I wrote. She does talk a lot, and it isn't surprising that she does. She admits it. Also, the rolling of the eyes between my wife and I was in regards to the take on 44 as being ancient. It's something that most teens seem to agree upong, their parents are old.

I could go on, but maybe we are pricks. Never thought of us that way, but you could be right.

Your other point about sharing "critical info". I have spoken with my wife, son, parents, grandparents and friends about this subject. Most figure we're too far gone to worry about it, or science will save us. I'm not going to treat this like religion though and try to convert them at every opportunity. I've let them know what I think, brought all sorts of information to their attention and have come to the conclusion that a large percentage of people don't want to hear this sort of material.

Have a good one.

Baldwin · Intermediate Crude Joined: Feb 05, 2007 Posts: 552

benzoil · Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2007 12:14 pm Post subject: Re: "You won't."

Jeez Gideon. Got anything nice to say? I post the shorthand version of an issue since I'd prefer not to go into a myriad of personal details and you rip me a new one? Get bent.

My daughter has a 3.89 GPA. Not stupid. I'm sure she'd get it. There are other reasons for not talking about it with her. Have I been a good parent? Better than most, but not perfect.

Thanks also for implying that she's a whore. That was very relevant to the discussion, which, I believe, started out as talking about the fact that sometimes - just maybe - 20 year olds think different things are important than 40 year olds.

I'm glad you can talk about anything with your kids. If you talk to them the same way you posted here, I'm sure they'll get a lot out of it. Not.
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Pablo2079 · Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2007 12:18 pm Post subject: Re: "You won't."

Baldwin -

I think your mixing me (the OP) up with Benzoil. If not, I'm not sure where I have any "cloak and dagger" action going on.

My son isn't in college yet, but we have already committed to taking on the debt for him and not having him saddled with the student loans.

Anyway, like I said before.... I originally was focusing on saying "you won't" when my son's girlfriend was talking about not wanting to live to be over 88. As for the way I told the story, I was just trying to set the stage (a teen talking about her old parents).

As for the "us against them" attitudes. I think that's a pretty common theme between parents and kids. Parents set up boundaries and kids test them. As long as Parents explain why and don't use the "BECAUSE I SAID SO" blanket answer, kids are receptive.

Gideon · Light Sweet Crude Joined: Aug 29, 2006 Posts: 1144

Montequest is a certified asshole.
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