Friday, June 15, 2007

Random Thoughts about Parenting

On the drive home my mind was wandering, as it often does while driving from beginning to end of Youngs Rd, and I had an interesting thought about parenting. Since Father's Day is Sunday I'll share with you this thought.

Back in the day your parents would always ask where you were going, who's house you were going to etc. Initially I thought, "damn the man, I don't want you to know where I am at all times! Where's the privacy!" And then my mind drifted to the practical reasons they want to know where you are. In the pre-cell phone era it was useful to know where your child was so you could get a hold of them if you needed to. This is a useful thing if there was an emergency, or just to let the child know if the parents were going somewhere themselves. Now that everyone and their mother (Ed Note: What a fitting turn of phrase) has a cell phone you don't need to know where someone is to get a hold of them.

Another reason parents want to know where their kids are is so they know they're not getting into trouble. Now parents, generally, aren't that naive. They know that if their kids are going to be getting into trouble they're going to be lying about where they're going anyway. Which made me wonder exactly why my parents always want to know where I'm going (I'm 21 now, but living at home for the summer) and I think I've got the real reason.

The real reason our parents always ask where we're going isn't so they know where we are all the time in a Big Brother sort of way, but because they want to live vicariously through us (Ed Note: Really it's what parents do best). They want to know what your plans are for Friday night because their plans for Friday night are probably to sit around at home and watch reruns of whatever's on television. They want to find out how many parties you're going to and what kind of drugs you're taking so they can imagine that they're your age again going to those parties and doing those drugs.

So sons and daughters reading this blog, I ask a favor of you. The next time your parents ask you what you're doing or where you're going. Tell them the truth, and be as vivid in your details as possible, because really, your parents live a boring life at home and you'd be a good child if you just gave them a little bit to be nostalgic about. (Ed Note: Nussy disappoints his father every night he doesn't hook up with a girl at a party or bring home an 'overnight guest')

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

or you could have parents like mine, who try to one-up you on the plans you share with them:

"I'm going to Chris's for beerpong and debauchery."
"Psh, I'll be at Gabriel's Gate. I'm taking a taxi."

Anonymous said...

but mikey! mom comes home wasted a lot lately when they go to westwood functions and out to dinner! i told her to come party with me at college. she said no. i think it might be bc she's afraid i could drink her under the table.