Choooose your battles...

The syntax of which, you will notice, matches "Heeeere's your sign." And there's a reason.

Go read this then come back and sit down. Because I said so.

If that were my child, he would be marching his smart-ass self up the steps to that police station, wearing a coat and tie and shoes he shined HIMSELF. And he would apologize to that policeman until the front of that policeman's shirt was GLISTENING with spittle from the word, "Sorry."

THE KID WAS BREAKING THE LAW. Not sort of. Not kind of. The kid was skateboarding in a place where it was illegal to skateboard, he KNEW this, and when he got caught? Not only did he smart off to the authorities (and they ARE the authorities, whether you like it or not) but then his MAMA got on national television and defended him. (Oh, the shame...the pure shame of somebody's MAMA puttin' up with that kind of carryin' on.) And you know what she said? Her words were, "If I talked to someone like that cop talked to my son, in my workplace, I'd be out of a job."

Guess what, lady? Has it occurred to you that at some time in the foreseeable future, that smart mouth KID of yours is going to have to have a job? And if you know of a place where he can pop off his ignorant mouth like that and function in society? Let me know about it. I'd be REEEEAALL interested to see how that works out for you.

Choose your battles...it's what makes the world go 'round. I was raising kids when the first wave of "self esteem" hype hit the parenting front. Theory was, all you had to do to raise happy, successful kids was make them think they were important. Turns out? Self esteem has to be earned from accomplishments...no one else can build it for you. And all those kids who sat around watching Smurfs while their parents told them how great they were? They grew up with, and I quote, an "unrealistic sense of expectation." As in: I'm great. Hand it to me.

I don't think so.

You want to "express your individuality?" You want to "talk about your rights?" Earn 'em. If you're so damn worried about standing out from the crowd, go paint a masterpiece. Write a Great American Novel. Feed the homeless, volunteer at a nursing home, pick up trash on the side of the road.

Just DO NOT break the law, and then whine because the cop didn't buy you ice cream.

Because I SAID SO.

Having said this, no. I am not advocating police brutality. I am advocating common sense, common decency and respect for the laws that are in place for a reason. Skateboarding on a busy walkway is DANGEROUS. To other people. And your right to swing your fist ends where my nose begins.

Comments

wineandroasts said…
Again, I accidentally deleted Dory and Comet Girl's brilliant comments.

Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa.
Unknown said…
Dory cried.

I can see why the mother would be upset, because it is my place to discipline my kid. That being said, it IS her place to make sure her kid knows that he has to listen to the cops. She's mad because she got shown up on national TV for not parenting her kid well. If you don't like it, work harder. That's what I do.

Go Officer Riviari... Ravioli... Serpico... whatever.
Melissa said…
I so totally agree with you. I am so sick of parents doing stuff like that. It drives me insane! Amen sister!
Country Girl said…
If the mother HAD ever disciplined her kid, it would never have occurred to the child to #1 flagrantly break the law, and #2 sass the law enforcement officer who was taking up the slack the mother left. That kid knew from Word Go...his mom wasn't going to do shit. Look at her...she's not back from the plastic surgeon's office yet...she doesn't have time for that kid. Policing your kids takes up a LOT of time...it's a lot easier to let them screw up and then blame someone else.
Anonymous said…
Wow. I am in shock. I did not see the mother on national TV, but this cop has a real anger problem. I would not like to run into him. Ever.