In from my Granddaughter

[Betty Hiner]

Totally NON flyfishing related, but too funny not to pass on.

I took my just turned 8 year old granddaughter shopping for school supplies yesterday. All went well (da*n specific list that must be complied), till we got to the shoes. She found, and instantly fell in love with, a pair of what we used to call tennis shoes; cute things, graphics on the side, neon green bottoms, sparkely things here and there. $50.00! Yep, $50.00 for a little kids shoes!! I told her I was sorry, that I just couldn't afford shoes that cost that much, especially as she'd be outgrowing them in hours. How 'bout these cute plain ones for $27.00? Melt down. Tears. Pouts. How could Grandma be so mean?!? Then the ultimate ... "If you're not going to buy me these shoes, you can just take me to a foster home and drop me off, because I know you just don't love me". Smitten out on the floor!! Did she get the shoes? Nope. Foster home? Nah. The greatest part of grandparenting? Returning them to their parents!!

[ohiotuber]

Betty,
You're just plain MEAN!! But I agree with you! LOL
Mike

[backwoods]

i dont know abough mean. shoes for me thouse one that were cheep
would not work . had kangaroos they held up to kids abuse.
then i moved on the better one. cheep shoes sore feet
cheep shoes last a week. i learned that if u take care thay last.
50 bucks is cheep shoes here now.

[Gnu Bee Flyer]

I love the part where you give them lots of sweets , run them ragged till they are almost beyond control then you anounce loudly to their parents. Well poor old Grampa's tired, I'm going to bed . Leaving said parents to handle their wired for sound kids. Grandparenting is the best revenge!

When I became a single parent my kids were just starting high school. I made the mistake of giving in and buying a $250.00 winter coat that my daughter "just had to have" . The first day back to school after Christmas holidays She returned home with a different coat. Upon questioning her I learned that all the girls traded coats. The one she came home with was a $40.00 coat. In about an hour or so all the mothers phoned around and undid the switch much to the girls dismay. It took a while but I finally got the hang of saying no and meaning it.

[backwoods]

that really really funny hw did outher mom now cost of coat lucky to give it back

[DShock]

Betty,
You did the right thing! You grow up to be a better adult when your not spoiled!
Doug

[flyandtie]

yep, did the right thing.
shoes are expensive!, my pair of skate shoes that i just got for school(that starts soon! )were 80.00.

[Betty Hiner]

OMG!!! Don't tell her about the skate shoes!! That's what she wanted, and asked every clerk in the store if they had them!! She's 8 years old, and goes to a parochial school! They have such strict guidelines, even the shoes have to meet certain restrictions! She couldn't have even worn the shoes she wanted to school, and I wasn't going to pay $50.00 for her to tromp around after the horses and pig. (can you say, "phew"?) It was the "just drop me at a foster home, because I know you just don't love me", that really got to me. What a hoot!! You want to box their ears, but that's hard to do when you're laughing so hard!!!

[Joe Valencic]

With 4 brothers, my parents PRAYED that we would ask to go to a foster home just to reduce the food and clothing bill. A new coat for me was one my older brother outgrew. Waste not, want not. When we did get something NEW it was a real treat, and we appreciated it. (There I go showing my age again.) I've carried those values thru my entire life, and did not spoil our kids even though we could have.

Joe

[bdesavage]

Betty,
Your day brought back memories. When Heather was 9ish she is now 30) we were living in Southern California and the "Big" thing was "Vans" Tennis shoes about $50 a pop compared to "Converse" at $25 or "House" brand $10, she had a fit and Jeans Mom told us we were "Cruel" for making Heather wear the house brand (However Betty(Jean's Mom) didn't offer to buy them for her). Now the Mother of 4 kids we hear the complaint "You won't believe what Andres,Correen,Davey, or Juanita got to have".
Our only comment is "PAYBACKS Kiddo".
Bill