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Kathryn Mayer • Writing Out Loud

I write stuff down. writer • humorist • activist

Guilt Free Cell Phone Smashing

February 17, 2012 by Kate Mayer 8 Comments

I would never, ever shoot my kids laptop. Not in a million years, because we’re more of a wood splitting family in these here parts. We make the kids split wood and pick up dog crap as discipline. And when we’re really mad? We have an maul and sledgehammer and ain’t afraid to use it.

Didn’t want to talk about the gun toting dad who shot up his angry teenager daughter’s laptop over her irate parent bashing post. Because I tend to shun popular culture.

But the disgust shown by perfect parents commenting, counseling, tweeting, facebooking and bereaving over this ‘horrendous dad’s violent abuse, humiliating response, and uncontrolled anger’ at his daughter got me rethinking my stance on gun control.

(That’s a joke. I think guns should be regulated. For everybody. Yep, rip that Constitutional amendment from your cold dead body, I do.) 

But I think parents of elementary school age kids who think they know exactly how to deal with eye-rolling, moody, hormonal raging teenagers with a kinder, gentler approach are in fact themselves sadly misinformed, and have a rude pubescent awakening about to hit them upside their do-gooder head.

I love teenagers. I love mine, yours, and those struggling to find their way, those already changing the world, and my heart breaks for those without anyone to love them. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to sign up for an ass whup from any of their moody selves and let them get away with it.

Pushing the limits and raging against the machine is a teenager’s job: it’s what they do. And it’s our job to let them know exactly what’s acceptable, and what is not. When we fail to do so, we create little monsters who grow up to be entitled, self-centered brats. Is that someone you want to hire? Work for? Marry your kid? Parent your grandchildren? Educate, doctor, construct, delegate, finance, legislate your future?

Didn’t think so.

I think that dad showed incredible restraint, calmness, and control illustrating his disgust in his kid’s Facebook rant. Clearly, not his first walk in the park of teenage misery. He done good. He coulda done without the firearm, but that’s how his family rolls.

I’m here to tell you my scientifically proven case study is exactly one: I have one down, three to go, and I’m well aware this childrearing ain’t for sissies, and you better have your A game ready to roll by the time they hit middle school.

And here’s the proof: before all this hoopla about the “over reacting violent dad,” our very own Kid#1 posted this exact on my FB page.

I hope someday, the aforementioned “bad dad” gets a similar post as well:


Liar, Liar Pants on Fire
Lucky Charms, Slushies & Soccer

Comments

  1. Andrea says

    February 17, 2012 at 8:49 pm

    Aw! I love those precious and few moments where there is some appreciation from our kids that we want better than for them to be complete selfless jerks! I also know I need to fasten my seat belt a little tighter because at 11 and 14–the ride here is just beginning! Can I put you on speed dial?!

    Reply
    • Kathy (p/t writer, f/t mom) says

      February 18, 2012 at 5:30 pm

      Hang tough Andrea! Never forget they’re still little kids inside all that gruff exterior!

      Reply
  2. Cathy Roche, LMFT says

    February 18, 2012 at 1:02 pm

    you rock!

    Reply
    • Kathy (p/t writer, f/t mom) says

      February 18, 2012 at 5:30 pm

      thx kind lady!

      Reply
  3. vbjenn says

    February 18, 2012 at 2:25 pm

    It really is awesome when they grow up and can look back at themselves… You done good!

    Reply
    • Kathy (p/t writer, f/t mom) says

      February 18, 2012 at 5:31 pm

      1 down, three to go. Jury is still deliberating! 🙂 xo

      Reply
  4. vanita says

    February 23, 2012 at 1:12 am

    i’ve been staying away from that topic too. i let people go ahead and tweet whatever and scroll pass. i won’t comment. not because i’ve done it myslef, but because i know what teenagers are like (ball of unstable emotion) and the fact that sometimes, they forget there are limits. when my teens get on my bad side, they are doing their chores, my chores and losing their tech and friend privileges. we went through a period where it was happening almost everyday. two teen girls ya know. but it’s been calm the past 8 months and i thank god for that every day. lol

    Reply
  5. amycara says

    February 28, 2012 at 2:08 am

    Awesome post! Kudos to gun toting dad!!

    Reply

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About Kathryn Mayer

Kathryn Mayer

An irreverent storyteller with a foul mouth and big heart, Kathryn Mayer (aka Kathy and/or Kate) is a writer, humorist, and activist writing out loud with humor and grace about little life moments with big ripples, including the space between parenting and aging parents, social issues, angsty reflections of midlife, and, sigh, gun humpers. Still. Sometimes a big deal, sometimes not Mayer is a national award-winning columnist, according to the National Society of Newspaper Columnists, and her essays have been recognized as Voice of the Year … Read More Here...

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