tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30306964.post3391897825741180847..comments2023-12-16T22:38:40.273-08:00Comments on .: A Group of Earnest Womenmenohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18065283682414369608noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30306964.post-83722363856648798922007-04-19T13:55:00.000-07:002007-04-19T13:55:00.000-07:00The board of our PTO used to openly state that we ...The board of our PTO used to openly state that we go out for drinks after meetings. Now we have to say that people are welcome to join us for "snacks." A glass of milk, perhaps. I should start drinking from a flask during meetings. <BR/><BR/>When one of the Earnests gets the stage, I immediately feel like I have ants in my pants (or lizards, or a mole). The worst is when the Earnest missed the previous meeting where we discussed endlessly the subject in which they are interested. Last year was nightmarish with the "no cupcakes or any unhealthy foods at any time in the school" law. Never thought I'd hear the end of it. I wish I had thought to feign a heart attack - can I use that?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30306964.post-71742158723225481532007-04-19T11:20:00.000-07:002007-04-19T11:20:00.000-07:00Oh, seriously.. that sounds like the virginity pac...Oh, seriously.. that sounds like the virginity pact by fathers.. can't remember what it's called.. a load of crap, isn't it. A bandaid-feel-good quasi-pseudo-solution.<BR/><BR/>I would have left, too.SuperP.https://www.blogger.com/profile/06830641369098524799noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30306964.post-81965768788186729802007-04-15T07:58:00.000-07:002007-04-15T07:58:00.000-07:00susanne, no, no one was asked to sign at this time...susanne, no, no one was asked to sign at this time. It's for next year. I just read the meeting minutes (as i crawled out early) and it appears that no conclusion was reached about enacting the pledge.menohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18065283682414369608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30306964.post-46483696480177540262007-04-15T06:25:00.000-07:002007-04-15T06:25:00.000-07:00Sorry, I haven't read all of the above comments, b...Sorry, I haven't read all of the above comments, but I'm curious: Did anybody actually sign the pledge? My guess is that it was postponed.Susannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14220769941216066968noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30306964.post-45573501052867987772007-04-14T14:35:00.000-07:002007-04-14T14:35:00.000-07:00antonia, we do make a big forbidden deal out of al...antonia, we do make a big forbidden deal out of alcohol in this country. I wish there was a more measured approach. Instead we get all hyterical. I have offered Em a bit of wine at home, she's not interested. I kind of wish she would take some just to see what it's like, but there's plenty of time for that. Good idea about the blog. :)<BR/><BR/>d-man, Was the mayor really fakeing it?<BR/><BR/>sanjay, pledges are worth the people they are signed by. Which is sometimes not much.<BR/><BR/>hearts, NICE RANT! I have nothing to add except RIGHT ON!menohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18065283682414369608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30306964.post-68982686333177618892007-04-14T12:48:00.000-07:002007-04-14T12:48:00.000-07:00The only way to effect change is one kid at a tim...The only way to effect change is one kid at a time. Signing a pledge with other addlebrained parents only serves to alleviate guilt that some might have for not talking to their children about real topics. Pretending that kids do not drink or have sexual feelings is ostrich behavior and serves no one.<BR/><BR/>If the parent has built trust with her child over the years, it should be natural to warn against the consequences of unwanted behaviors. Sending kids out into the world of their peers without doing so is irresponsible parentiing, and it is stupid to expect other parents to take up the slack.<BR/><BR/>If you want your child to trust you, you don't spy on him and have a network of other adults doing so. You have to give trust (along with education) to get trust.heartinsanfranciscohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07535397382991383931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30306964.post-22115097989364560692007-04-14T07:09:00.000-07:002007-04-14T07:09:00.000-07:00Meno, I tend to agree that pledges don't mean much...Meno, I tend to agree that pledges don't mean much. I guess all parents have to be vigilant pledge or not. Like you said a sweet but albeit slightly useless idea.karmichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10973922761187532706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30306964.post-35089062084029820132007-04-14T04:59:00.000-07:002007-04-14T04:59:00.000-07:00Ahhh, the good ole fake - a- heart-attack- to- get...Ahhh, the good ole fake - a- heart-attack- to- get- out- of- a-meeting trick.<BR/><BR/>I saw a mayor do that once.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30306964.post-35977579900951138712007-04-14T01:39:00.000-07:002007-04-14T01:39:00.000-07:00The Self-Importance of Being Earnest. Groan.Mrs Ea...The Self-Importance of Being Earnest. Groan.<BR/><BR/>Mrs Earnest wouldn't have had to feign a heart attack if she'd witnessed my upbringing. It would have killed her outright to see the horrors:<BR/><BR/>I was allowed to drink at home from age 5, as permitted by British law. By "drink" I mean watered-down wine with Sunday meals or special meals that guests were invited to.<BR/><BR/>At 15, I came home from school with a nasty cold: my mother introduced me to the Whisky Mac, which is whisky and ginger wine and which swiftly helps you forget you had any sort of cold.<BR/><BR/>My mother knew I would occasionally go out and drink, because teenagers do. She did the sensible thing: she taught me to EAT first or at least have a drink of milk to line my stomach.<BR/><BR/>I'm not trying to paint a picture of an alcoholic household, because it wasn't. It was one in which I learned to drink responsibly and grew up sharing sociable alcoholic drinks with adults. <BR/><BR/>(I once dated the son of a stuffy, earnest, thou-shalt-not type, who strictly forbade alcohol, and all three of his sons grew up to be raging alcoholics.)<BR/><BR/>Blah blah blah. I should get my own blog.Antonia Cornwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12754292976861979028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30306964.post-66946234332721182722007-04-13T20:20:00.000-07:002007-04-13T20:20:00.000-07:00ttq, try as we might, none of us can penetrate the...ttq, try as we might, none of us can penetrate the teenage brain unless it wants to be penetrated. They are among the most creative folks in the world.<BR/><BR/>magie, hi sweetie! i have nothing to add to your tired brain. You have stated it all beautifully. Now, go to bed.<BR/><BR/>em, interesting idea! The two traits are pretty much the same thing.menohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18065283682414369608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30306964.post-20417678320110609802007-04-13T19:49:00.000-07:002007-04-13T19:49:00.000-07:00It does often seem that those who are earnest are ...It does often seem that those who are earnest are also naive. Perhaps those are two traits that are somehow intertwined genetically.Emhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14063254538593495040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30306964.post-9326553005234365222007-04-13T19:01:00.000-07:002007-04-13T19:01:00.000-07:00Ok, I'm tired and a little off tonight so I didn't...Ok, I'm tired and a little off tonight so I didn't read all the comments. If I repeat, please forgive me. Yes they had a valid concern about alcohol and its nice they want to protec their kids. <I>However</I>, the key to this is realizing it happens and teaching their own kids what to do in situations. Knowing where their kids are. Raising their kids with enough self-respect and parent/authority respect to do the right thing and not be afraid to. Then of course, there will be mistakes made at some point, but hey, that's why we're the parents. It's Our Job. Not the other parents at the school. That's a recipe for disaster. I can just hear the screaming fights, the threats of law suits. Ugh ugh ugh.Lynneahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08255266354171825474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30306964.post-43389316730301225782007-04-13T14:45:00.000-07:002007-04-13T14:45:00.000-07:00Teenagers will always find a way to do something i...Teenagers will always find a way to do something if they want to. The more stringent the "rules", the more creative they become.<BR/><BR/>And really would the punishment be any different when they do get caught? Seriously.TTQhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09888187290526881563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30306964.post-45192786858803077222007-04-13T14:15:00.000-07:002007-04-13T14:15:00.000-07:00mrs.chili, i only have to go to one more meeting. ...mrs.chili, i only have to go to one more meeting. Thank the goddess! From now on it's cookies for me too.<BR/><BR/>deb what is it that your husband doesn't agree with? Short of imprisoning her what are you going to do?<BR/><BR/>ortizzle, and i have so little patience with that crap anymore.<BR/><BR/>becky, it is a noble thought. But more noble indeed would be to come up with something effective. <BR/><BR/>sari, you were a problem child? :) I wonder if signing things with the kids does any good.<BR/><BR/>liv, yeah baby!menohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18065283682414369608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30306964.post-24606230916465962972007-04-13T12:56:00.000-07:002007-04-13T12:56:00.000-07:00one word:Exactly.one word:<BR/><BR/>Exactly.Livhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09154719979114564561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30306964.post-89935776798903310962007-04-13T12:49:00.000-07:002007-04-13T12:49:00.000-07:00I didn't read everyone else's comments yet so forg...I didn't read everyone else's comments yet so forgive me if I repeat someon else...BUT:<BR/><BR/>Shouldn't the Earnest Women be working with their OWN children and giving them the facts and "signing their little pacts" with THEM?<BR/><BR/>Good sense starts at home and by good example.<BR/><BR/>Not to say that kids won't drink - I had a hell of a problem and I won't lay that on my parents. But you can't sign a little agreement with the other moms to tattle on your kids for you, that just doesn't seem right to me. Or logical.<BR/><BR/>Of course, my oldest is eight, so I haven't gotten into that territory as a parent yet, it's only from my own experience.sarihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16144333694009700155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30306964.post-72166437772724951802007-04-13T11:07:00.000-07:002007-04-13T11:07:00.000-07:00you're right... A pledge that parents sign wont re...you're right... A pledge that parents sign wont really make a difference. <BR/><BR/>its kinda noble that the 'earnest women' want to see the problem taken care of... but there really isnt an easy solution.Becky Lhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17918151489899109424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30306964.post-79526890279614164402007-04-13T10:53:00.000-07:002007-04-13T10:53:00.000-07:00Your conclusion is so true. The bullshit of the co...Your conclusion is so true. The bullshit of the corporate world is creeping into everything these days. <BR/><BR/>If they are really serious about the alcohol thing, why not ask each individual parent to make a pledge to him/herself to set limits and curfews, demand accountability, make that phone call themselves, be aware of where the hell their kids are and really care about it. If each person were as vigilant as possible, there would be no need to "form a coalition" which, for all the reasons listed above, would fall apart before the last signature was on paper.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30306964.post-86383884807866239772007-04-13T09:51:00.000-07:002007-04-13T09:51:00.000-07:00I have a sixteen year old that drinks. I don't li...I have a sixteen year old that drinks. I don't like it and I've told her that. I've always taught her how to drink responsibilty and how to protect herself. Also warned her about drinking and sex. At this point it's about risk reduction. My husband doesn't agree but what can you do? <BR/><BR/>She's going to do it, no matter what we say.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30306964.post-61823555544187115662007-04-13T08:36:00.000-07:002007-04-13T08:36:00.000-07:00As if signing a pledge is going to make people bet...As if signing a pledge is going to make people better parents. Puh-lease! This is just a pretty, Hello Kitty Band-Aid on a HUGE problem, and no little piece of paper is going to fix it. <BR/><BR/>The Earnest Ladies are doing two things - one, they're trying to impose their values and morals on others (which I do not support) and two, they're trying to feel like they're actually DOING something to help (which I can understand).<BR/><BR/>This is precisely why I don't volunteer for the PTA. I'll bake cookies and cupcakes for you all year long, but DON"T ask me to deal with Earnest Ladies...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30306964.post-62123509549773062212007-04-13T08:16:00.000-07:002007-04-13T08:16:00.000-07:00moi, yes, you are right. The kids are really resp...moi, yes, you are right. The kids are really responsible in ther end.<BR/><BR/>qt, oh, and it went on and on too. I think the Earnest Women were sincerely puzzled as to why there were objections.<BR/><BR/>biodtl, i agree with that. I wonder too if a parent who didn't already understand about knowing where your kid is, will be educated by anything.<BR/><BR/>bob, i know, It's easy for me to poke fun at because of the impractibility of it all, but i really find it sweet too. As you say, there WILL be mistakes.<BR/><BR/>de, either it's a liability, or it doesn't mean a thing. That law sounds crazy! How to enforce that? Home raids?<BR/><BR/>marsha, good point. Some of the parents at this meeting sounded offended.<BR/><BR/>lucia, i am always the treasurer. :) I do presentations pretty well, when i was in practice, but i don't love them. Good luck to you!<BR/><BR/>chani, and i am surprised that no one in the group of Earnest Women thought that it was a dumb idea. I had not heard these things called accountabilty exercises. Thanks for the new vocabulary.<BR/><BR/>joan, it's a little teeny tiny bandaid that they can slap on the problem and say "there, i did something".menohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18065283682414369608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30306964.post-28622706617593772242007-04-13T07:52:00.000-07:002007-04-13T07:52:00.000-07:00Okay...this women doesn't sound "earnest"...she an...Okay...this women doesn't sound "earnest"...she and her group sound like desperate parents trying to find some way (misguided as it is) to prevent a serious teen problem. Of course it won't work...no one can follow their children 24/7...and signing a pledge certainly does nothing except make them feel like they've taken some action.Joanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05589769742639537861noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30306964.post-52307892974149022472007-04-13T07:28:00.000-07:002007-04-13T07:28:00.000-07:00It's a dumb idea for the very reasons you stated. ...It's a dumb idea for the very reasons you stated. It doesn't address the important issues and gives a rather surface solution to something that might actually take some serious consideration. <BR/><BR/>I'm sure she meant well but.. well... I'm not impressed. Accountability exercises simply don't work. <BR/><BR/><BR/>Peace, <BR/><BR/>~Chanithailandchanihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10171731740204067889noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30306964.post-26875939932894846212007-04-13T07:10:00.000-07:002007-04-13T07:10:00.000-07:00Ditto, ditto, ditto to the above. Yep, I hear ya,...Ditto, ditto, ditto to the above. Yep, I hear ya, take the job in which you don't have to interact with people.<BR/><BR/>Meanwhile, I'm a nervous headachy wreck this morning (but no one will ever know) because I have to be "on" all day doing presentations and stuff. The only alternative seems to be to suck at it, and I'm not willing to do that, so, dog and pony shows.Luciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05295553538430945014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30306964.post-67964708678860252642007-04-13T06:14:00.000-07:002007-04-13T06:14:00.000-07:00This seems like more of an attempt to impose a spe...This seems like more of an attempt to impose a specific parenting style onto other parents than an attempt to keep their own kids out of trouble. Like they don't trust the parents of all the other kids at school so they want to make sure those parents are made aware of how to parent.Marshamlowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00604324969370405697noreply@blogger.com