"No worries, apparently a lot of kids are that way." by Parents of Goofy Children Support Group / LJWorld.com

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No worries, apparently a lot of kids are that way.

I often wonder if other kids are as scatterbrained and as seemingly incompetent as my kid when it comes to little everyday tasks. But, when I get the opportunity to discuss this with other parents I often end up feeling better knowing that it is somewhat normal behavior. Sometimes it is not a discussion but an observation that makes me feel like I’m not in this alone. For example the last time that I was at my kid’s school the staff had all of the lost and found items spread out in the lunchroom, knowing that parents would be there and could get the lost stuff back. I was surprised to see that not one but two pairs of underwear had been lost. This made me feel pretty good because as far as I know my son has yet to loose his undies at school. Parents of truly goofy kids need a support group so that we know that everything will be OK. Somehow, someday, somewhere our kids will be able to effectively wipe their own rear ends, and manage other life skills. Life skills such as:

Tying their own shoes, rather than just “wearing them that way”

Taking a shower and while in the shower washing themselves.

Brushing their teeth rather than wetting the tooth brush, picking up and then putting down the toothpaste and then lying about having brushed their teeth. (The process does actually involve the teeth in some way.)

Zipping their pants, assuming they haven’t accidentally positioned the fly in the back, which makes this even more difficult.

Getting a piece of paper from the school into the book bag, on the bus, through the yard, into the house and then back out of the bag again without something terrible happening to it in the interim. (You should see the school pictures I got from my son. It’s a $18 wad-o-trash!)

Asking when they are going to get dinner ten minutes after finishing dinner.

Not leaving coats, shirts, hats, gloves, eyeglasses, lunch money, retainers, shoes and just about anything else they have with them where ever it is they leave these things. How do you loose a shoe? How on earth do you not notice you aren’t wearing your shoe? Particularly if it is just one shoe!

This is the week of Thanksgiving and I would be remiss to go on this way without giving thanks for my healthy, happy, bright (?) and wonderful kids. Quirks and all, I love them and am thankful everyday to be blessed in such a way. Moms and Dads stay strong and try not to pull your neck muscles out of place as you shake your head and think “Just what is that kid thinking?” So, now I would like to hear from others about the utterly goofy things your kids have done. I’m also curious if young boys are more prone to this than girls. Just curious…goofy son? Or goofy daughter?

By monkey_c

November 25, 2009

Parents of Goofy Children Support Group

Discussion

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25 November 2009
at 8:22 p.m.

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denak (Anonymous) says…

I laughed through this whole thing. My son is almost 18 and everything you wrote about I have often times wondered about. I really did think my son was some alien from another planet at times. It still scares me to think he is going to be on his own in a few years.

As for the gender question, honestly I would have to say that boys are more prone to be goofy. Seriously, over the years, I have just given up on some things. I no longer expect them to keep track of their gloves, hats, bookbags, clothing. I know, not more than 2 months into school or winter, some boy is going to come home without his hat or gloves. And the weird thing is that they won't tell me. It absolutely does not enter their minds to say to me, “Mom(or Dena) I lost my gloves.” Simple enough but no,they won't say a word until one day when I notice they are not wearing their gloves and ask them “hon where are your gloves?” Their reply “I don't know” “What do you mean you don't know. When was the last time you had them? Their reply, “I don't know” “Did you lose them at school?” His reply, “I don't know” About that time in the conversation, I want to kill them so now I just buy two of everything.
The one caveat to this is their Pokemon or Magic cards or any other card game. The same child who can not remember where he put his bookbag, will know exactly where every single one of his cards are and if one is missing, he will know it. As him where his lunch money is forget it but his Bulbaseaur card is and he is on it.

Anyway, I love boys.I think they are great but sometimes I really do fear for the fate of humanity. :)

Dena
27 November 2009
at 12:56 p.m.

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denak (Anonymous) says…

“…..Lousy, pitiful, pathetic parenting….”

Ahhh, Marion, you messed up the alliteration. You should have just said, “Pitiful, pathetic parenting.” The “lousy” messes up the flow and takes away from what would have surely been a profound, intellectually stimulating message.

Oh well, I guess we will just have to wait for another time when we can all benefit from your vast knowledge of child rearing.

In the meantime, I have to go find a glove.

Dena
27 November 2009
at 1:05 p.m.

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jonas_opines (Anonymous) says…

dena, it was just projection, no need to worry about it.
29 November 2009
at 11:23 p.m.

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Multidisciplinary (Anonymous) says…

We had a daughter in kindergarten that for some crazy reason, would be sitting in her booster seat at the dinner table and just fall over sideways. Probably 5 nights a week, no matter what we would do or say, she would end up on the floor. She was a great girl, playful, yet delicate thing,and we couldn't explain it.

There was a first intro night for kindergarten parents early in the school year, in the library at Deerfield.
We walked in, and they had a large flip tablet with hand written things about kids that age written on it. Typical things to expect.

Right there, near the top of the list.

“Falls out of chair sideways.”

My husband and I nearly doubled over to the floor in tears laughing, he in his business suit, me in a dress, hose, the whole works.
It was classic.

Here we had had been getting after her, for something that really wasn't her fault at all. Just one of those goofy grow out of oops things the older one hadn't experienced. The older one hadn't had a booster seat at home that I recall, I think that made it worse. the extra height and where her feet set on the chair made it easier for her to topple as she pivoted about. Whoops!
1 December 2009
at 11:55 a.m.

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monkey_c (Anonymous) says…

I bet Marion's parents worked hard to instill good manner's and respect.
My theory is that sometimes it is not lousy, pitiful, pathetic parenting but rather one stinking rotten apple.
This is not the case with MY kids, but perhaps it can explain Marion.