Day 12,440

These posts are as scrambled as my thoughts. Jumping all over the place. Thank you to the whole 2 people who read these. I’m sorry my word vomit got everywhere.

If you don’t like offensive words, click the “X” in the upper righthand corner of your screen. It will remove everything deemed offensive from your screen.

Now for my day..

I woke up this morning to text message from Lorelai’s mom. Apparently, she was bad this morning so I’m not allowed to let her use a tablet or watch TV.

When I picked up Lorelai from her program today her teacher said she had a perfect day. She even got gummies to eat as a treat for being so good. But alas, because of something she did 5 hours prior, I have to punish her. I think it’s retarded that I have to punish her for something she did so long ago, and has since redeemed herself.

After I’m done writing this well be going outside so she can play out there. The last few weeks I’ve let her just be the kid I was. Over summer vacation, I wasn’t going to a summer program, or grounded (until I got to high school), I didn’t have plans. I sat around all summer and watched TV, and occasionally hung out with friends. Because as a kid, they’re going from the moment they wake up to the moment they go to bed. That’s not how it should be. They are kids. Let them be kids. Why the fuck does everything have to be so structured nowadays? She’s not an adult, so she shouldn’t be forced to do all these things. Let her be a fucking kid. Thank God for YouTube Kids, and Netflix. Seeing as how all the decent cartoons aren’t on TV anymore, that’s all kids really have nowadays.

Even during the school year, I let Lorelai do pretty much whatever she wants. OBVIOUSLY within reason, I’m not an animal. I get her off the bus and we talk about how her day went. Then we get home and do homework (if there is any). Then she pretty much does whatever. I don’t have a structure in place for her to do things. This isn’t the military. We eat dinner AROUND the same time, on the weekends she goes to bed whenever I think she should. Sometimes she’s in bed by 8:15, Sometimes she’s in bed at 10:30. Sometimes she decides she’s tired enough to tell me she’s ready. She’s got free range of the house, because I’ve taught her what she can and can’t touch. As long as the requirements are done she’s a free kid. Eat, do homework, don’t backtalk, be good at school. I don’t understand why parents are so rigid.

My mother was the same way. I’m not sure when I stopped walking to school with other people. But as far back as I can remember I was a latch-key kid. Mom worked 6a-6pm everyday so she could provide for me. My sperm donor (father) is a piece of shit. He wasn’t there financially so she had to do it. IT was probably 3rd grade by the time I was walking to school by myself. She’d wake me up when she did and I’d go over to the cab office across the street. Then I’d walk from there. No big deal. Afterschool I’d either go to a friend’s house, or go home alone. I’d get home and watch TV. Or play a video game. Then I’d feed myself something for snack and mom would get home.

Jesus, I feel old. When did I become such an old man that I rant about letting kids be kids. Keep talking about the “old days” like they were actually a long time ago. Not quite like my mother, but they were long enough. I keep telling Lorelai that when my mother was a kid, the whole world was in black and white. Just like in the movies.

OK. I think I’m done throwing up now. Lorelai and I will head outside. After her mother picks her up, I’ll get ready for work and go. I don’t really feel like going, but I have to. I have bills and I’m an adult. Plus, they might actually do my review today. We’ll see.

Until tomorrow…

)
Christopher Jalbert

Written by

I'm 34. I work, I sleep, I game, I have a wife @RogueCrocus, I spend time with my 7 year old daughter @LorelaiJalbert. That's my life.