While Skye and I were cleaning out the garage on Saturday we found two gift cards for our favorite ice cream establishment. We convinced the boys to go on a family bike ride by waving the gift cards in front of them. It was easier than we thought.
We made it there without any complaints or wipe-outs like the last time and the time before that. We actually made it to our destination instead of one of us riding back alone, getting the minivan and shoving all the bikes in amongst whining and complaining about what a bad idea this was.
I know I shouldn’t model that sort of behavior but I hate when my vision of the perfect family bike ride gets ruined because a pothole jumped out in front of one of the kids. They fall. There’s road rash and blood and pain and wincing. Plus I nearly faint seeing their patella through the gash in their knee.
We’re sitting on the stone wall of the patio out front, unharmed, eating our ice cream and commenting on the cars going by. I don’t know if the same person kept driving by or if beat up cars pieced together from parts cars — no two parts cars of the same color — is the latest teen ride trend.
I said, “Hey, James, what kind of car do you think you’ll be driving when you’re 16?”
“I don’t know,” he said, shocked at the thought of that being right around the corner. He thought about it some more. “They don’t have a very big parking lot at the high school. I’d have to park so far from the school I might as well walk. Maybe I won’t need a car until I have a job.”
Vincent, our nine-year old patted his brother on the shoulder and said, “You’ll need a car before that. First you have to collect chics. Then you have to start a life.”
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Love your perspective Amy…I bet you spend alot of time laughing!
HaHA @Collecting chics! I bet he is a card!
btw! You have an award waiting for you on my
site! Please come and accept it Thanks!:)
Amy
Sounds like James is a good kid. You should take him on the road to teach others how to be responsible. Good for you!
This is so funny. Oh my goodness boys! I’m from NY so my kids may just have to get chics and a job and a life before they drive. Sorry kiddos!
hysterical!
Amy
Keep him locked up. He’s clearly a playboy in the making.
Derbhile
Not surprisingly, you have cool kids Amy.
You know, almost every outing we plan seems to get ruined, too. I have these grand designs and then something always goes wrong. I’m glad I’m not the only one, and I’m also glad to hear that sometimes things really can go well. Plus, ice cream! Who doesn’t love that?
And that’s some truly sage wisdom from your 9-year-old. I’m glad you wrote that down to share with some of the ‘chics’ one day.
LOL sounds like something my kids would say.
First you have to collect hot chics then you start a life….LOL
nice.
So glad you captured that conversation! Classic~
Uh, can I borrow your son when my kids are teenagers?? He seems to have a good head on his shoulders (thanks to you, obviously!).
Your 9-yr old son totally cracked me up with his comment. That’s one kid who probably already knows exactly what kind of car he wants!
Can James have a chat with my son? He’s even seen the chaos at the high school but would never dream of breaking free of the “norm.” We are one year away from his temporary license. Already he’s told me clown car stories about getting the percussion row of the marching band from point A to point B.