The day my mother decided she had had enough of my not tidying my room. I was due to go out with my pal and two girls; yes I think it was a date. They had arrived at my front door and I was all dressed in my best and ready to go. As we walked down the front path my bedroom window opened and all my dirty clothes were flying. There for all to see my underwear hanging from the rose bushes.
Then there were the mornings I used to waken and look at the time. I would lie there and think to myself, “If she does not call me soon and tell me it is time to get up I am going to be late.” There is a crazy logic in there somewhere.
Reminds me of the story of the son who did not want to go to school. I apologise if you have heard it before but it does make me laugh.
A mother repeatedly called upstairs for her son to get up, get dressed and get ready for school. It was a familiar routine, especially at exam time.
"I feel sick," said the voice from the bedroom.
"You are not sick. Get up and get ready," called the mother, walking up the stairs and hovering outside the bedroom door.
"I hate school and I'm not going," said the voice from the bedroom, "I'm always getting things wrong, making mistakes and getting told off. Nobody likes me, and I've got no friends. And we have too many tests and they are too confusing. It's all just pointless, and I'm not going to school ever again."
"I'm sorry, but you are going to school," said the mother through the door, continuing encouragingly, "Really, mistakes are how we learn and develop. And please try not to take criticism so personally. And I can't believe that nobody likes you - you have lots of friends at school. And yes, all those tests can be confusing, but we are all tested in many ways throughout our lives, so all of this experience at school is useful for life in general. Besides, you have to go, you are the headteacher."
It is never too old to learn. We all have to come to terms with reality at some time or other.
This blog is linked to my other where I discuss the artwork Megan
Great stories, Ralph. I am especially chuckling at the skivvies in the rose bush image!
ReplyDeleteAh, the "joys" of parenting! lol Brings back a memory of my daughters who would continually argue with each other in the mornings and inevitably one or both would slam their bedroom door, trying their hardest to "out-slam" each other. After a few of such arguments I came to a solution....if they don't have doors, they cannot slam them. I removed the doors while they were at school and VOILA`, they learned very quickly how to get along lol :)
ReplyDeleteGood Morning Ralph, I am alive and well and it will be a great day! Thank you for begining my day with a hearty laugh! I remember days like that when I was a teacher!Time changes with age, now I am thankful to get up, get out of bed and be able to do things, but I am missing my youthful enthusiasm.
ReplyDeleteJust discovered that I can post comments again. This picture is one that means a lot............ Oh to be young again!!!
ReplyDeletea poem for Ralph
ReplyDeletemy mother threw my underpants
out in the shrubs, among the plants
and there for everyone to see,
my underwear, in yonder tree
the next time she says clean your room
I will do so, with a broom