Once upon a time Wednesday is about things from the past. There are many stories in my head that I want to share with my girls. The trip to Ellis Island, thank you very much Liberty Mutual, this summer made me realize that I had to get these stories documented. History is extremely important and fun! Play along if you want!
Once upon a time, my parents went out to dinner and left my friend Melissa and me in charge of my brother and sister. It was summer in Ogunquit and our neighborhood was a hotbed of kid activity. Being around 14, the rule was no kids in the house that didn't live there. We all played outside until dark and then we went inside and just happened to bring in 2 boys with us. We figured we would just watch tv and then send the boys home.
My parents drove into the driveway and we panicked! We sent the boys out the back door thinking my parents would not be the wiser. Well, these teenage boys just happened to be about 6 feet tall and could easily be seen through the window.
We didn't get the wrath of my parents. We got the silent treatment and sent to our room. What felt like hours later, my dad came in and told us how disappointed he was in us. The ultimate punishment: disappointing my dad. That's all it took: "the look" and "the tone". Needless to say, nothing like this ever happened again and I can still see the look on his face and hear the tone of disappointment.
I got home from a meeting tonight and the car lights shown into the family room where I could see 2 girls on the couch. It made me think of that night long ago and it scared me to think that my girls are almost the same age as I was. I guess I have to start practicing "the look" and "the tone" and hope that I never have to use it.
10 comments:
I love this post, Sue. Will you please link it up on Saturday? I know a lot of people can relate to "the look" AND the boys!haha
My friend and I snuck boys into her upstairs bedroom. When her mom came up, we hid them in the closet, but it had those doors with slats and she saw a set of eyes between the slats. Busted! LOL
So yeah....practice that look!
Disappointment is a strong tool, one I think many parents totally overlook.
Don't you wish you could still feel so invincible now on behalf of your kids? I have never mastered the look and opted for the scream instead. FYI, it's not working so well.
PS I love this series of memories you're writing.
Oh, dear, I remember that night! It's funny now when I think back to it. Not then though! :)
My oldest girls are 17 and 15, so...uh-huh...we're planning on planting lots and lots of rose bushes, around the house, this summer ;)
Love it....been there done that! Nothing is worse than THE LOOK! too funny!
Huh.....this seems familiar! I do remember this evening and have oft thought of it throughout the years. I can still feel the sting of the words, "I am disappointed in you..."...
I just remembered some of my CRAZY antics. Holy crap.
Visiting from the Sampling!
Oh, I only hope I can cultivate the look too!
Great post!
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