From March 31, 2005 ~~~
"I Wish The Word Grounded Was Never Invented!!"
Those were the words my daughter muttered on her way to bed -- at 11:00!!!
She had kept putting off doing an assignment all week that is due tomorrow, therefore the late night. And while I was trying to help her AND do her hair at the same time I got a little bit of attitude. The attitude didn't improve after a warning, but got worse, therefore the grounding. Now that the hair is done, the assignment complete and in the backpack, and frayed nerves have been smoothed somewhat, regret has set in. Suddenly someone remembers what she's going to be missing out on tomorrow evening if she is grounded. And now she wishes the word had never been invented.
I don't ever remember being grounded when I was a kid. I can remember being spanked, made to stand in the corner, or denied some treat, but I don't think my parents were ever aware of the term "grounded". I was born in 1966, the youngest of seven children, to parents in their forties. I honestly don't think "grounded" was in their vocabulary. And if I had ever been grounded, what would I have been grounded from? Reading? That's all I ever did. We didn't have video games back then. No computer. We lived out in the country, so it wasn't as if neighborhood kids would be knocking on the door to see if we could come out to play. I guess in my teens I could have been grounded off the phone. Come to think of it that would have been really bad! Or denied going to a friend's house, having a friend over, or using the car. Yes, I guess there were a few things I could have been grounded from. But I never was. I was a good girl. No drinking, smoking, partying, running around, breaking curfews or sneaking out! Wow, I must have been boring. I don't think being boring has scarred me, however!
These kids of ours have so many things we didn't have, and so many opportunities that weren't open to us, that I actually feel guilty when I DO have to take something away from them. And I really shouldn't because it isn't going to hurt them in the long run. It is going to make them more appreciative of the things they have. Yeah, that's right. So, here's to the person who "invented" the word "grounded"! All hail!! Long live groundings!
5 comments:
Cute entry. No groundings at our house either. Not much to ground us from either. Maybe from sitting in front of the barber shop on Sunday and waving at strangers when one happened to drive by which wasn't often. lol Kids now days couldn't stand our life but we didn't know we were missing anything. lol Paula
Good entry! I don't ever remember being grounded either although I should have been now that I think back! I grounded my daughter for the first time ever after she turned 18, LOL!! Martha :-)
I enjoyed both the older entries about daughter. Didn't know you back in March 2005, so they are new to me! ;o) - Barbara
no grounding here! A switch was what I got.
OH yes... I find myself uttering those words quite often. "If you don't stop the back talk/mean looks/disrespect/fightingwithyoursister, you'll be GROUNDED!!" I threaten it a couple times, and then they know my limits and usually settle down. Unfortunately, my girls are somewhat addicted to Disney channel (i figure, it's better than MTV) and PC, so I find grounding from all screens affective. Then I don't have to feel bad about keeping them from doing something I'd rather them not be doing anyway!!
Thanks for your comments in my journal! Michelle
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