I can remember growing up in a family that tried to show me love and respect.  My parents went through classes to help them get along with the children of the family.  I remember my parents reading the assigned parts of the book as the week went on.  Putting into practice suggestions that  the book gave them to deal with and hopefully make a miserable situation better.  On one of those rare weeks that they could actually put into work what the book said- it honestly might have worked halfway if I would have gave it a chance.

        What the book told them to do when one of your children has a fit in a store.  To walk away from them!  Well, I guess the parent is suppose to say “Rob, (or whatever the child’s name is),  I am going down the aisle to wait for you.  You can calm down and than follow me.” 

          My parents actually did that to me when I decided I wanted something.  I heard my parents start the lecture about waiting for me and the volume of my crying went up.  Which meant their volume had to go up ,so I could hear them over me.  By the end of them saying to calm down-another customer walked by and said “I think both of you need a time out.  At least time apart.”  Another voice piped up with “Shut up!  You are giving my wife a headache and it ain’t even our bedtime!”

           Don’t get me wrong ,but I love my parents.  As a kid I loved to see what buttons and how far I can push them .   Believe me when I say that is just being a normal child.  I can remember a field trip I took with my sister to a farm and we went through a youth center in our home town.  Got the usual lecture before I left.  You know the one about listening to whoever is in charge and to be a good kid.  Yea, like that is going to happen!

          Got on the bus and rode out to the farm.  Was really enjoying myself.  Thoughts of actually being good drifted through my little mind  Got off the bus and got a tour of the animal cages such as pigs, cows, chicken, and even turkeys.  My mind by this time is bored to death and thoughts of being good flew out of the window ,so to speak!

         Started to look around for something to do when the leader goes over by this chute to explain how the grain is loaded on trucks.  He say whoever simply pulls the rope and the grains come out of this chute to land in the truck.  As simple as that.  An idea is hatching.  When the leader is not looking over I go to pull the rope thinking I would only get a couple pounds of grain that would land on the ground around my feet.  Down the rope comes and out comes the grain.  Never stopping and I started to think it never would. 

         I let go of the rope to look around at the other people standing around me-at all the wasted grain and than I noticed that everyone is covered with dust.  In their hair, eyes, nose, and mouth.  I am in big, big trouble.    The other people got to splash water in their hair and on their face.   Me-they took a hose which had nothing ,but cold water hitting me full force.   My sister is mad and embarrassed of me-she just had that look on her face.   I couldn’t blame her.

        Dripping wet I heard back on the bus and you can see the anger on my mother’s face when she hears what happened.  Needless, to say I am not allowed to go on anymore field trips with the youth group.