Slick's boot camp needed

**hadassahchana**[$] · #1 04-08-2007, 12:20 PM

I'm ready to tear out my hair. Wanna buy me some ice cream?

Ever since we went to Florida last year, #4 has begged to be allowed to have his head shaved. He was completely enchanted by Brian's look, and he pleaded with me to let him have it shaved even while we were still in Florida. I refused. I have a reputation to maintain, after all, and I wouldn't be the World's Meanest Mom if I caved at every request.

Yesterday, I came upstairs carrying a basket of laundry and heard,"Don't tell mama. Please don't tell mama?"

I hate when they talk like that. It disturbs my digestion. And my sleep. I rushed into the room to investigate. And found #3 holding my shaver, and #4 hopping mad. Apparently, #3 had wandered into the bathroom to discover #4 fixing to fire up my shaver and shave himself bald.

But wait. It gets worse. If he'd shaved himself, I would have been really angry with him. As it stands now, though, I'm furious, and am ready to lock him in his room. Actually, I'm ready to send him to somewhere in New York, to live with someone else's children.

The kids kept asking him why he wanted to shave his head. At first, he told them he still wanted to look like Brian. #1 noticed that he said "still", which of course meant that he also had another reason. #4 is all about ulterior motives. However, after #1 held him upside down by his nasty little feet long enough, #4 finally caved. That it took almost 15 minutes tells you it was bad.

#3 came scampering downstairs to fill me in on the gory details. "#1 is still holding him upside down, and he still won't tell us!" he'd say, then run back upstairs. I just waited.

Finally, #3 appeared again, this time with a triumphant look on his face.

"Guess why he wanted to shave his head?" he said.

Sigh.

"He wanted to shave his head so people would give him stuff, like ice cream and candy."

"How would that work?" I asked.

"He told us that if he was bald, then he could tell people that he had cancer and was undergoing chemo. Then, people would give him candy and stuff. And toys. And maybe a ride on a horse."

"That's bad."

#3 agreed. "Really, really bad, mama."

I would like to send his sorry self to Texas, but I have this feeling that Slick would move before I could fold #4 up into a packing box. So, I am hoping to find a way for him to volunteer at Children's Hospital over in Detroit. I don't know if they allow other kids to volunteer, but I think that seeing actual cancer kids would do #4 a world of good. Any other suggestions will be cheerfully considered.

**theworm**[$] · #2 04-08-2007, 02:00 PM

Oh #4! That's bad! That's really really bad!
Where did he get that in his head??? I haven't heard any stories on the news lately.

**hadassahchana**[$] · #3 04-08-2007, 02:23 PM

I have absolutely no idea. I really am ticked at him. When we were down there, he really did want to do it because of Brian, but this new scheme is very recent. I'ms ure I'll find out where it came from, but

*emeleel* · #4 04-08-2007, 03:07 PM

Oh. Dear. The volunteering idea sounds really good, if you can find somewhere to do it at his age - which you already acknowledged is iffy. But you're a great mom, and you'll figure this one out, too!

**lynnzop**[$] · #5 04-08-2007, 03:12 PM

Okay, I am the bad one because I am giggling. Yes, he's very, very naughty. And should be Punished.

Maybe you let him watch Desperate Housewives...the episode where Lynette lets everyone come to the conclusion that one of her boys is ill so they can get into a day care?

**Prepoia**[$] · #6 04-08-2007, 05:11 PM

I'm not giggling. Adults that have bright ideas like that get into big trouble and others question their morals. He's just a kid but I can't think of a way to teach the moral behind it. Your idea is a good one but I'm not sure how to carry it out. I do think that if you help him see the "big" picture of the scheme (which is something quite difficult for kids to do) he'll learn though. Kids do and think of the darndest things sometimes

**slick4591**[$] · #7 04-08-2007, 09:37 PM

You can send him to me and we'll get his head shaved. Only warn him that Tracy won't let me have ice cream or candy, so he won't be getting any here. Oh, is he tall enough to run a dish machine?

**pippadaisy**[$] · #8 04-08-2007, 10:31 PM

I've got a start for you:

CaringBridge - Be There ~ Helping friends and family stay in touch and informed

This is a little boy Buster's age whose mom was on our breastfeeding with reflux list until cancer took a higher priority. Maybe he'd like to read through all the things Liam's been through in the past 14 months to see what gets your head bald?

**briansdad**[$] · #9 04-09-2007, 08:14 AM

its not slick's boot camp, just a post from an aforementioned "evil genius" but here goes.

Have I mentioned my cousin? The one who was widowed when her three precocious boys were 10,6 and 6? The cousin who's eldest was 15 when he was diagnosed with cancer (brain tumor, baldness, etc)? The one who had to discuss not only death, but also possible lifetime sterilization and subsequent saving of his sperm with her 15 yr old?
Well, the cancer SURVIVOR is now in his 30s. He works as a peer counselor for oncology patients, both adult and child. Has lectured extensively to health care workers (doctors, nurses etc). He has been doing this for about 20 yrs now. He has also been featured in Prevention magazine.
Oh, and did I mention he lives about 20 minutes from Cindy?
I called him last night, "give Cindy my cell number. I not only have lots of people to help, but they can even come with me when it is appropriate."

Expect my call tonight .
Chip

*emeleel* · #10 04-09-2007, 09:55 AM

Wow, how great is EA!

Just about anything anybody needs, somebody either knows someone or is close to what is needed.

**hadassahchana**[$] · #11 04-09-2007, 11:02 AM

Chip, that is so great! Thank you.

mtbat · #12 04-09-2007, 11:25 PM

that is awsome Chip

Slick, if you are opening up a boot camp I have a smart mouthed not quite 13 year old who tried to ditch school last week, got caught and taken back in a cop car- I'd like to send you.

**hadassahchana**[$] · #13 04-10-2007, 12:06 AM

Yikes!

**Prepoia**[$] · #14 04-10-2007, 12:11 AM

Quote:

mtbat said

that is awsome Chip

Slick, if you are opening up a boot camp I have a smart mouthed not quite 13 year old who tried to ditch school last week, got caught and taken back in a cop car- I'd like to send you.

I'd be willing to bet that THAT got his/her attention! I LOVE natural consequences because they teach best in instances such as this one. I remember that my daughter tried to skip school once, got caught, and the school gave her a day's suspension. So, because she didn't go to school, she got the next friggin day off too. Big consequence!

Of course, I made sure she didn't enjoy it but still..........

mtbat · #15 04-10-2007, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Prepoia said

I'd be willing to bet that THAT got his/her attention! I LOVE natural consequences because they teach best in instances such as this one. I remember that my daughter tried to skip school once, got caught, and the school gave her a day's suspension. So, because she didn't go to school, she got the next friggin day off too. Big consequence!

Of course, I made sure she didn't enjoy it but still..........

The dean of students called me, told me what happened and told me she'd have in school suspension the next day and told me "if we suspended them they'd be getting what they wanted-a day off from school" Then she asked if I wanted to talk to my dd, then after I had a little chat with dd, the dean told me "thank you for your support"

at ISS my daughter learned that-if you ditch even ONE period, it gets noticed and even if you get home, your parents get a phone call and you end up in ISS. BUSTED. I hope it never happens again.