I have become my grandfather!

chrisinhouston · 08-30-2013, 08:50 AM

Well school started back this week here in the Houston area. My one family of 5 grand children who now live nearby all started back. Lane is in middle school and would normally catch the bus but he is playing on the football team so his dad drops him for practice at 6:30 in the morning before he heads off to work. My daughter in law takes Emily (4 1/2) to daycare and she heads to work. That leaves the other 3 to finish breakfast and get out the door. They can walk to school as it is only 4 blocks away. The parents asked if I would mind coming by for the first week and escorting them to make sure all went well. So I arrive a bit early.... Kirstyn (10), Brian (8) and Sarah (6) are on the couch watching Sponge Bob Square Pants.

We head out the door at 7:20 and walk to the school. I wave goodbye and they run inside. I come back at 3:15 and wait in the shade of a pinetree as it is 97 degrees or so, I wear a broad brimmed straw hat. They come running out and we walk home and talk about the day. I quiz them, "did you learn anything? Did you get sent to the principle's office? Were there any good fights? How bad was the lunch?" They laugh.

And I remembered my own grandfather coming to meet me as I exited Flower Hill Elementary school back when I was in first grade, I guess it was 1962. He was British and always walked with a walking stick. He wore a straw hat on the sunny days. He asked me funny questions.

I guess I have become my grandfather.

Sundae · 08-30-2013, 09:09 AM

Your Grandad sounds as cool then as you are now.
We know you're actually a fittie, but the children love you because you're Grandad.

I lived so close to school aged 5-12 that I was almost never met.
Except the one time Nanny turned up unexpectedly and I ran right past her in a world of my own. Got home to major recriminations and ended up getting such a pasting I cried crocodile tears (apparently) so hard I was sick. Not scarred by that at all.

I think it's influenced one of my greatest desires though.
I always, always, always want to be met at the end of a journey.
And I can count the amount of times it's happened on two hands. Bear in mind I'm 41 and most of the ten were racked up when I was a teen.

Airport, train station, coach station, bus stop.
Please.
Won't someone, once, be waiting for me?

I envy your grandchildren Chris.
They have many, many years with you yet, but they will treasure these memories of you.

glatt · 08-30-2013, 09:32 AM

"Any good fights?"

Times sure change.

I was just telling my kids yesterday about when I was a freshman in high school, and how one of the seniors who sat at the other end of our lunch table was playing mumbletypeg* one day. I think we were able to sit at the same table as him because nobody else would, and it was the easiest place to get an empty seat.

*(I always thought that game was called mumbletypeg, but when I checked the spelling just now, mumbletypeg is a different knife game. The knife game this guy was playing was where you stab the point of the knife into the table between your various fingers as quickly as you can. Five finger fillet, the internet calls it. This guy had a big pocket knife he was using. )

Lamplighter · 08-30-2013, 09:50 AM

Quote:

...I guess I have become my grandfather.

I notice that more and more every time I get a hair cut.

Flint · 08-30-2013, 09:59 AM

chrisinhouston · 08-30-2013, 10:00 AM

I should add a postscript that I spoke with my daughter in law this morning who told me that the 6 year old Sarah who has just started 1st grade got 2 red marks this week in her conduct folder. On Wednesday a level 3 red mark for talking when she was not supposed to and yesterday a level 5 infraction (the worst) for talking again and turning her back on the teacher while she was teaching. Way to go Sarah! For that infraction she will have to eat her lunch today sitting in solitary at lunchroom table with a teacher that the other kids claim is a Zombie and never smiles.

Guess I should start checking her conduct folder on the way home.

Big Sarge · 08-30-2013, 10:51 AM

The Zombie table?? My how things have changed. We all feared the electric paddling machine the principal kept in his office closet. I know he had one because the fifth graders told us.

Sundae · 08-30-2013, 11:20 AM

Gosh Chris, that sounds way harsh for a tiny.
Although I know if we'd had the same rules when I was working in school the same three or four children would have been on the Zombie table every single damned day.

And I remember from being at school myself that that was also true. Some children just can't stop the chat. But they're never in the low ability group for anything.

Gravdigr · 08-30-2013, 11:26 AM

"level 3 red mark...level 5 infraction"...in first grade.

Somebody's power tripping.

Perry Winkle · 08-30-2013, 12:29 PM

We were only ever threatened with being sent to the principal's office. The next level of discipline was a note to the parents. After that, a phone call.

I don't recall having any truly problem kids in class that ever went beyond that.

chrisinhouston · 08-30-2013, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Sarge

We all feared the electric paddling machine the principal kept in his office closet. I know he had one because the fifth graders told us.

My older siblings all did some time in Catholic parochial schools back in the late 50's and my brother used to tell me how the nuns were always threatening to put him in the spanking machine or staple his lips shut. They routinely pulled hair and hit him with a yard stick.

it · 09-01-2013, 04:29 PM

damn, flint beat me too it...

well, if it's any consolation, i am pretty sure kids born today are going to grow to have a concept of "ancients" which is going to include anyone born in the last century indiscriminately, old geezers who remember a time before the internet, when we presumably twitted using carrier pigeons.

Lamplighter · 09-01-2013, 05:26 PM

Well, the young people using smart phones felt that way about those who grew up before TV.

And those young people who watched TV felt that way about those
who grew up before radio.

And those young people....

chrisinhouston · 09-10-2013, 09:48 AM

I surprised the Gkids this morning and showed up to walk them to school, they were excited that I did that as I had not last week. We sat and watched Animal Planet until Kirstyn's iPod alarm went off at 7:20 telling them it was time to go (she is 10 and in charge of them for the walk to school).

It was drizzling lightly so I took a big umbrella and as we approached the school there was a bright rainbow that looked like it went down right into the back of the building. I told Sarah (age 6) it meant it would be a lucky day and everything would be good in her class and a repeat of yesterday when she got a green mark which basically means "Ok, no warnings". She turned to cross the road and and then looked back and ran up to me and gave me a hug and a kiss and thanked me for coming for the walk.

Made my day!

glatt · 09-10-2013, 10:19 AM

That's awesome!

08-30-2013, 08:50 AM	#1
chrisinhouston Professor Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Houston TX Posts: 1,857	I have become my grandfather! Well school started back this week here in the Houston area. My one family of 5 grand children who now live nearby all started back. Lane is in middle school and would normally catch the bus but he is playing on the football team so his dad drops him for practice at 6:30 in the morning before he heads off to work. My daughter in law takes Emily (4 1/2) to daycare and she heads to work. That leaves the other 3 to finish breakfast and get out the door. They can walk to school as it is only 4 blocks away. The parents asked if I would mind coming by for the first week and escorting them to make sure all went well. So I arrive a bit early.... Kirstyn (10), Brian (8) and Sarah (6) are on the couch watching Sponge Bob Square Pants. We head out the door at 7:20 and walk to the school. I wave goodbye and they run inside. I come back at 3:15 and wait in the shade of a pinetree as it is 97 degrees or so, I wear a broad brimmed straw hat. They come running out and we walk home and talk about the day. I quiz them, "did you learn anything? Did you get sent to the principle's office? Were there any good fights? How bad was the lunch?" They laugh. And I remembered my own grandfather coming to meet me as I exited Flower Hill Elementary school back when I was in first grade, I guess it was 1962. He was British and always walked with a walking stick. He wore a straw hat on the sunny days. He asked me funny questions. I guess I have become my grandfather.

08-30-2013, 09:09 AM	#2
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	Your Grandad sounds as cool then as you are now. We know you're actually a fittie, but the children love you because you're Grandad. I lived so close to school aged 5-12 that I was almost never met. Except the one time Nanny turned up unexpectedly and I ran right past her in a world of my own. Got home to major recriminations and ended up getting such a pasting I cried crocodile tears (apparently) so hard I was sick. Not scarred by that at all. I think it's influenced one of my greatest desires though. I always, always, always want to be met at the end of a journey. And I can count the amount of times it's happened on two hands. Bear in mind I'm 41 and most of the ten were racked up when I was a teen. Airport, train station, coach station, bus stop. Please. Won't someone, once, be waiting for me? I envy your grandchildren Chris. They have many, many years with you yet, but they will treasure these memories of you. __________________ Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac

08-30-2013, 09:59 AM	#5
Flint Snowflake Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Dystopia Posts: 13,136	__________________ **************** There's a level of facility that everyone needs to accomplish, and from there it's a matter of deciding for yourself how important ultra-facility is to your expression. ... I found, like Joseph Campbell said, if you just follow whatever gives you a little joy or excitement or awe, then you're on the right track. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terry Bozzio**

08-30-2013, 10:51 AM	#7
Big Sarge Werepandas - lurking in your shadows Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: In the Deep South Posts: 3,408	The Zombie table?? My how things have changed. We all feared the electric paddling machine the principal kept in his office closet. I know he had one because the fifth graders told us. __________________ Give a man a match, & he'll be warm for 20 seconds. But toss that man a white phosphorus grenade and he'll be warm for the rest of his life.

08-30-2013, 11:20 AM	#8
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	Gosh Chris, that sounds way harsh for a tiny. Although I know if we'd had the same rules when I was working in school the same three or four children would have been on the Zombie table every single damned day. And I remember from being at school myself that that was also true. Some children just can't stop the chat. But they're never in the low ability group for anything. __________________ Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac

08-30-2013, 09:32 AM	#3
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	"Any good fights?" Times sure change. I was just telling my kids yesterday about when I was a freshman in high school, and how one of the seniors who sat at the other end of our lunch table was playing mumbletypeg* one day. I think we were able to sit at the same table as him because nobody else would, and it was the easiest place to get an empty seat. *(I always thought that game was called mumbletypeg, but when I checked the spelling just now, mumbletypeg is a different knife game. The knife game this guy was playing was where you stab the point of the knife into the table between your various fingers as quickly as you can. Five finger fillet, the internet calls it. This guy had a big pocket knife he was using. )

08-30-2013, 10:00 AM	#6
chrisinhouston Professor Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Houston TX Posts: 1,857	I should add a postscript that I spoke with my daughter in law this morning who told me that the 6 year old Sarah who has just started 1st grade got 2 red marks this week in her conduct folder. On Wednesday a level 3 red mark for talking when she was not supposed to and yesterday a level 5 infraction (the worst) for talking again and turning her back on the teacher while she was teaching. Way to go Sarah! For that infraction she will have to eat her lunch today sitting in solitary at lunchroom table with a teacher that the other kids claim is a Zombie and never smiles. Guess I should start checking her conduct folder on the way home.

08-30-2013, 11:26 AM	#9
Gravdigr The Un-Tuckian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: South Central...KY that is Posts: 39,517	"level 3 red mark...level 5 infraction"...in first grade. Somebody's power tripping. __________________ These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, EPA, FBI, DEA, CDC, or FDIC. These statements are not intended to diagnose, cause, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If you feel you have been harmed/offended by, or, disagree with any of the above statements or images, please feel free to fuck right off.

08-30-2013, 12:29 PM	#10
Perry Winkle Esnohplad Semaj Ton Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: A little south of sanity Posts: 2,259	We were only ever threatened with being sent to the principal's office. The next level of discipline was a note to the parents. After that, a phone call. I don't recall having any truly problem kids in class that ever went beyond that.

09-01-2013, 04:29 PM	#12
it Banned Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 772	damn, flint beat me too it... well, if it's any consolation, i am pretty sure kids born today are going to grow to have a concept of "ancients" which is going to include anyone born in the last century indiscriminately, old geezers who remember a time before the internet, when we presumably twitted using carrier pigeons.

09-01-2013, 05:26 PM	#13
Lamplighter Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Bottom lands of the Missoula floods Posts: 6,402	Well, the young people using smart phones felt that way about those who grew up before TV. And those young people who watched TV felt that way about those who grew up before radio. And those young people....

09-10-2013, 09:48 AM	#14
chrisinhouston Professor Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Houston TX Posts: 1,857	I surprised the Gkids this morning and showed up to walk them to school, they were excited that I did that as I had not last week. We sat and watched Animal Planet until Kirstyn's iPod alarm went off at 7:20 telling them it was time to go (she is 10 and in charge of them for the walk to school). It was drizzling lightly so I took a big umbrella and as we approached the school there was a bright rainbow that looked like it went down right into the back of the building. I told Sarah (age 6) it meant it would be a lucky day and everything would be good in her class and a repeat of yesterday when she got a green mark which basically means "Ok, no warnings". She turned to cross the road and and then looked back and ran up to me and gave me a hug and a kiss and thanked me for coming for the walk. Made my day!

09-10-2013, 10:19 AM	#15
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	That's awesome!

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)