The Boy Teacher and the Father Student #61; deciding What is Wrong or Right

Many times we just muddle through and people will suggest by word or body language that if we don’t stand for their cause we fail. Others, suggest that we have no spine and yet others laugh at us. We are quite simply those who love above right and wrong or right and left or right about it.

Apathy is the opposite of love and we promise you that the last time we did not care is beyond our recollection. We love to care. Caring is like an addiction. Perhaps caring should be moderation from being a type of dependency on others emotions. (you figure out what we call that in nomenclature of shrinks). Not thinking is sloth and sloth is a deadly sin. So often we hear to just have faith. That is sloth. That is the worst type of atrophy leading to apathy.

You may not give faith without knowledge of to whom you give it. So studying and understanding is critical to anyone of faith.

B: One more game of chess, I beat you in the long game.

F: I gave that one up to you so you would feel good.

B: Liar, liar pants on fire what do I get for beating you?

F: I hate to lose so I hate you and you may just get a swift kick in the butt for rubbing it in.

B: But I should get a treat for winning.

F: Your treat is that I do not get all upset and revoke every possible privilege you have. But with your attitude that may change.

B: You can’t do that just because I beat you by your own stupid move.

F: See that!? You are pulling the tail of the tiger and I am one mean tiger.

B: This is not fair I beat you fair and square so I should be boss of what I get.

F: So let me get this straight; you beat me in one chess match so now you can drive the car if you want to and pay the bills and clean up and cook up? Besides that your shirt is inside out, who tells you that?

B: But I should get something for beating the “tiger”. And not eaten. Hihihi

F: True Dat but the Tiger still decides. Ten more minutes on your game stuff online.

B: Twenty more.

F: Fifteen is my final offer, take it or leave it and go study.

Our layout is sometimes equal and in my dotage sometimes I must yield. Everything from soccer to the above game of chess to bike riding. He is beginning to surpass me at times. This begets a push on my part to keep at it.

Deciding What is Wrong or Right.

“Now here is a game that I will win but if you beat me you get a full extra hour on your IPad over two days.”

F: Is it right for a father to kiss a son?

B: No way that is gross!

F: But you know I kiss your forehead every night as you go to sleep.

B: That is different, you told me it is to check my temperature.

F: I win, it is a kiss, in your head you assumed a kiss on the lips.

F: Is it ever right to yell at someone?

B: No, that is like bullying.

F: Yesterday I yelled at you that a car was coming as you road your bike. So wrong again.

F: Is it ever right to disobey your parent’s direct order?

B: Never ever.

F: That would be wrong. When you are forty and I need help at over eighty.

F: Is it ever right to discriminate against a person?

B: No, it never right to discriminate against anyone.

F: Wrong. Number two definition about judgement. Is it good to discriminate about that bully Kamari? Be careful putting ordinary definitions. We use language discretionary. Context defines a word. But I give you that one. Fair enough?

B: Is it right to smash someone in their face?

F: Yes and it is called boxing.

B: Is it right to call people by dirty names?

F: No that is wrong.

B: Is it wrong to cheat in games?

F: Yes it is wrong.

B: Are you fat?

F: Fat is the right word. I am not obese or morbidly obese. Maybe we could use overweight.

B: Am I fat?

F: No, you have some fat. We are not skinny here, we are healthy. Our doctors want us to curb our intake to make us skinny. But not really they just want us to not get more. “fatness to extreme” is really really bad for you.

B: Do I eat too much? You say that sometimes.

F: Yes you do. For your size and age you eat too much. But for your age and group you exercise a whole lot. You are joining the team this year. You will hang out more than you play. Here you play more than hang out. So these kids actually do not get as much exercise as you. Simple math.

F: This was just a game. You know it is more complicated right?

B: Yep, I think I won.

The boy is in a 4 hour 3 days a week “summer” camp. You cannot really play dodge ball without a group of kids. Learning guitar is more fun with a group. Arts and crafts is better with someone who knows what they are doing. And not to worry that gives us a solid ten of being together. Yesterday was a good bike ride and backyard golf and soccer.

Hey let’s talk about “screen” time. Millions of adults, (wow that is probably a billion adults) work on a screen at least half of an 8 hour day. That is very interesting. Perhaps those that are best at screen time are the best at work. That is almost scary. If there are 7.5 billion of us, perhaps the number is closer to 1.5 billion?

So limit your child’s screen time, instead of promote more? Clearly for a person to be successful at mid-level jobs they have to do real well with screen time.

Call me crazy but that is crazy. Yet is true. So what is a dad to do about setting up screen time parameters? Another article.

F: Gabe sweep and clean up the front walkway area.

B: Alright! How much time do I get for it?

F: How about none if you don’t do it snappy with a smile on your face.

B: See my smile. It will be spick and spam. But if I do it real well real fast I get double.

F: You push me boy, always trying to bargain a better deal. Ok you get 1.5 time but you have to clock both. You time your chore and then you quit your time on your own.

B: OK.

F: I am ignoring you but you know I am paying attention in the left side of my brain and will inspect and set my mental timer.

B: Ha! You always let me go longer.

F: Wait a second, that is interactive time not sit and stare time. See if Israel is playing online, I like that kid. Not so much his older cousin.

B: Ah!

F: I will be watching and what is with all that violence anyway?

B: Dad you do know it is made up and not real.

F: Don’t say that, it is wrong. Like a cartoon is a real cartoon your games are real games. Love you boy.