Monday, March 30, 2009

Parenting In The New Millennium



Very short story today.

You may remember me saying that we missed Avaroo's birthday party last weekend.

(If you don't recall who Avaroo is, go here.)

Well, yesterday we finally made it to her house. Because of our missing her big party, she got to have another smaller party yesterday. A good time was had by all.

At one point in the proceedings, Avaroo decided that she didn't want to do something; I forget exactly what. It wasn't anything earth-shattering. However, here is what Avaroo's mother said to her:

"If you don't behave, Uncle Jimmy won't write any more blogs about you!"

I have to believe that was the first time in the history of mankind that that particular combination of words was ever uttered. At the very least, I surely know none of our parents ever threatened us with the lack of a blog in order to get us to behave. We were told dreary things about starving children in Korea. I think that if I had been threatened with a lack of publicity, I might be an entirely different man today.

Of course, as soon as I heard Ava's mother make that threat, I said, "I don't know, Victoria. That sounds like a blog right there!"

And so it is.

Soon, with more better stuff.


25 comments:

lime said...

hahahahaha! i have threatened mine with the idea that i WOULD blog about them.

so glad you got the chance to celebrate avaroo's special day with her though, even if it was a little late.

Janet said...

When she gets to be a teenager, that won't be a threat so much as a promise.
Glad you got to celebrate her party, even though it was late. I'm sure she didn't object to having two parties!

Buck said...

We were told dreary things about starving children in Korea.

India, here. One supposes it's Africa now...

But! Whatever works, eh? A "lack of publicity" is probably pretty effective, come to think on it.

Anonymous said...

Africa, Suldog...then as now.

Always used to wonder what some little kid in Africa would make of my crusts. but then, there was a war on.

Verification word is :bolocc. I'm saying nothing.

Suldog said...

Reminds me of my retort to my parents when they told me about the starving children:

"Well, put this in a box and send it to them!"

I don't think that was the response they wanted...

Chris said...

Lime beat me to the punch on this one, but I too threaten my kids with, "If you don't straighten up right now, I'm blogging about your crappy attitude as soon as we get home."

Surprisingly (or maybe not), it's very, very effective.

Karen said...

I was always threatened with being sent to Catholic school. Ha!

Marian Dean said...

What a giggle! Just shows you never know where the clue for a blog is coming from. I was always threatened, my Mum would run off with a black man if I didn't behave.... double wammy these days!
Love Granny

Anonymous said...

That is really funny! And the starving children in Africa were the ones I was always plagued with guilt for. What a great mom, and a fun uncle!

Reasons said...

Oh so you don't accept awards eh? Now there's a challenge... You didn't have to read my rather dreary post the other day, I awarded it to those who did and commented, it was the least I could do!

Did the threat work with Avaroo?

Jazz said...

The perfect blog moment.

Unknown said...

Outstanding! Sounds like a fun time all around :o)

A Woman Of No Importance said...

Really cool, Suldog - If we're respected by, and down with the young 'uns, we've arrived!

Jeni said...

Now there's an idea that maybe its time has come! My kids already know I blog about them and they're too old to threaten that much with the blog. But...Perhaps as Maya becomes more aware of my blog -and as much as she likes being in the limelight too whenever possible, I might just be able to use that as a threat to induce better behavior. Or maybe, "If you don't clean up your toys, you're going to have to read 'x-number' of Grammy's boring blog posts." How's that for a "heavy-heavy" hangs over you deal?

Theresa said...

I'm new to the blog world and my boyfriend suggested you as someone to read. I'm glad he did. You have made me laugh everyday I've read you. Thanks and keep'em coming.

Gennasus said...

I no longer have teenagers at home to embarrass by blogging about them. I tried threatening the dogs.....but I don't think they were really listening.

As for your comment on my cattle, all I can say is 'bullocks'! (I'm not sure that joke works outside the UK....do you have bollocks over there?)

And carrying on that theme, the word showing as I read your comment was 'eunnac'. I approved.

Lisa Johnson said...

Belated Happy Birthday to Avaroo! I love the story of her name. What a cutie! ; )

Hilary said...

Being left out of Suldog's blog is like being left off of Santa's list.

endangered coffee said...

I will have to see what Big Boy EC thinks of this strategy.

Rosaria Williams said...

My goodness, you must have read Willow's blackmail post. Poor child.

Woman in a Window said...

Such weighty threats! Perverse, but then it's your blog. I mean that in a still laughing my ass off from St. Patrick's Day way.

Angie Ledbetter said...

Awwww, you're making the kiddies want to behave! (Wish that worked on teens too.) Love your blog.

Crazed Nitwit said...

China, dude. Kids were starving ALL over China. I used to tell my kids(when they were in junior high)I'd follow to their classes all day in pj's and fuzzy slippers and curlers.......being my kids they thought that sounded somewhat amusing, so I had to threaten to wear a mini dress instead. :)

i beati said...

ha ha and did she reciprocate Avaroo?

Suldog said...

Couple of quick things...

The threat seemed to work, as Avaroo behaved herself from that point onward. Amazing.

Veronica Warning - Your boyfriend obviously has little respect for you, sending you here to read me. I'd dump him immediately, if not sooner.

Gennasus - Do we have bollocks over here? What? Yes, we have bollocks over here, and great big ones, too!

Finally, I find it interesting that there were so many different places with which to threaten us via their starving children. I wonder in, say, China ever used North Americans to threaten their children?