to break the rules or not to break the rules....

Springfield_Rocks
Springfield_Rocks Posts: 289
in Chit-Chat
hmmmm, here is something to discuss....

My son (8 years old) was telling my husband and I about the ramp he was trying to build for his bike etc out of the construction garbage next door. He was asking hubby to help drill some pieces together...

We proceeded to tell him how playing with scraps is dangerous, being on another property is not allowed, leaving ramps on the grass is bad for the grass... etc. etc...

Son: ok fine....Can I go play XBox?
Me: Sure ......................................I look at hubby.........................!!!!!!!! WHAT ARE WE DOING????

I said I want to raise a man who knows how to use a drill!!!

So we talked about it, called our son from the Xbox and told him he could go out and play and build his ramp, and YES he can use the scraps. We just told him to not linger on the construction property and to be careful as he can get hurt playing on ramps and sent him on his way.

What would you do? Parenting is so hard.... teach rules, protect etc etc, but come on! the kid needs to live a little!!!!

Replies

  • kennie2
    kennie2 Posts: 1,170 Member
    yeah. its definitely better than sitting on the xbox all day
    we always used to climb over the fence to this warehouse bit to collect berries/flowers/wood
  • Cr01502
    Cr01502 Posts: 3,614 Member
    I'm not a parent but playing outside > Xbox any day of the week.

    Kids do need to live a little.
  • Lrdoflamancha
    Lrdoflamancha Posts: 1,280 Member
    I think he should ask for the scraps. If the site foreman is ok with him taking them then oh heck yes. Kids need to get outside. I agree show him how to drill.
  • DalekBrittany
    DalekBrittany Posts: 1,748 Member
    Scraps are pretty much trash, so why the hell not? It is much better than being inside on xbox...I say, good call.
  • MallorieGreiner
    MallorieGreiner Posts: 135 Member
    I'm not a parent but playing outside > Xbox any day of the week.

    Kids do need to live a little.

    ^^This.
  • Elicur
    Elicur Posts: 78 Member
    Umm... there's other things he can do outside, is there not?
    Also, supervision = required.
  • jackedphilosopher
    jackedphilosopher Posts: 31
    I think a big part of being a kid is exploring and being creative. This sounds like an awesome idea and I don't think you are in the wrong at all for letting him pursue it. I did things like that all the time as a kid!
  • DalekBrittany
    DalekBrittany Posts: 1,748 Member
    lol there always has to be that one person chime in...
  • MelsAuntie
    MelsAuntie Posts: 2,833 Member
    I'm not a parent, but when I was a kid we built forts back in the woods, played outside all the time, built tire swings over a creek, swung on ropes from the hayloft, never wore a bike helmet or pads, and we had a great time. I would have raised my kids like that if I had chosen to have any. NOT sitting on their *kitten* in front of electronic media.
  • DalekBrittany
    DalekBrittany Posts: 1,748 Member
    I'm not a parent, but when I was a kid we built forts back in the woods, played outside all the time, built tire swings over a creek, swung on ropes from the hayloft, never wore a bike helmet or pads, and we had a great time. I would have raised my kids like that if I had chosen to have any. NOT sitting on their *kitten* in front of electronic media.

    Yepp, pretty much this :) Well said.

    When I was a kid our neighbors were having their drive done (with new dirt, not asphalt) and our parents gave them permission to put the dirt in part of our yard so long as we could go play on them (we were in middle school/early high school years, so we knew better than to eat it lol) We made quite the impressive fort out of one of the piles. Took us days to do...and then less than 15 to tear it back down >:)
  • amandapye78
    amandapye78 Posts: 820 Member
    My husband used to work in construction and they used to give scraps to neighborhood kids that were hanging around the site. I would let him, but I would go outside to check on him every once in a while ( but I do that anyway to all of my kids).
  • Phoenix212
    Phoenix212 Posts: 54 Member
    I love this. There need to be more parents like you today
  • Springfield_Rocks
    Springfield_Rocks Posts: 289
    LOL!! Thanks for the comments! He had fun playing outside. Hubby was cleaning the garage too so the worry worts can rest easy.... ;-)
  • Mads1997
    Mads1997 Posts: 1,494 Member
    hmmmm, here is something to discuss....

    My son (8 years old) was telling my husband and I about the ramp he was trying to build for his bike etc out of the construction garbage next door. He was asking hubby to help drill some pieces together...

    We proceeded to tell him how playing with scraps is dangerous, being on another property is not allowed, leaving ramps on the grass is bad for the grass... etc. etc...

    Son: ok fine....Can I go play XBox?
    Me: Sure ......................................I look at hubby.........................!!!!!!!! WHAT ARE WE DOING????

    I said I want to raise a man who knows how to use a drill!!!

    So we talked about it, called our son from the Xbox and told him he could go out and play and build his ramp, and YES he can use the scraps. We just told him to not linger on the construction property and to be careful as he can get hurt playing on ramps and sent him on his way.

    What would you do? Parenting is so hard.... teach rules, protect etc etc, but come on! the kid needs to live a little!!!!

    I think you did the right thing. Kids these days don't play enough outside. This is what has created the obesity problems we see today. kids are wrapped in cotton wool and told to play inside.

    I know the times have changed from when I was young but we were never inside as kids we were outside and told to be home before dark.

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