Captains Log

I'm sure there is an argument to be made that the things I'm about to discuss are self-imposed. Afterall I did raise the kid so any of the behaviors he may have are my own making. Some of that may be true, but anyone who is a parent knows that sometimes a decision is made out of convenience or laziness, not always because it's the right thing to do in the moment. Sometimes things just happen without us noticing and then precedent is set. And YES, if you are a parent it is like being a lawyer and precedent can be set!

My son graduated from high school about a month ago. We are very proud of him, but furhter than that he finished with certifications for collision repair and was able to join the workforce as skilled labor. He has a job in collision repair and seems to like it. He has a set schedule, full time, and the such. The downside is that he shot himself in the foot with pay. They asked him during the interview what he wanted and his response was "I dunno man, $13 an hour?". Which in his defense is more than he has ever made, but is very low for the work he is doing.

This brings us to a problem he is going through. Katie looked at his debit card habits and noticed that he was spending money at Sheetz almost every day. When asked he stated he was buying drinks and snacks every day. Additionally he is buying drinks and food at Dairy Queen, the closest restaurant to where he works, almost every day as well.

Katie would make him lunch everyday if I would allow her, but I had to draw the line. He's an adult working full time, he does no other chores around the house except his own laundry. He is not going to have his Mommy make him lunch too. Maybe I'm being too harsh, I dunno, but I feel like doing these kinds of things is how you coddle your child and they never mature into a man. Or they never become truly independent. I know he's only 18, but when I was his age I had my own apartment and never looked back.

In an effort to help him we decided to take him to Costco and Sams Club so he could buy a whole weeks, or more worth of food. This should prevent him from spending more money than he needs to and keeps him from buying junk he doesn't need. I explained to him, he is buying an energy drink from Sheetz daily for $3.50 - $4 a piece. A case of 24 energy drinks is $40 and should last him all month and literally saves him $40.

All that went relatively fine, the part I have a problem is when we left the house he was sitting in the back of the truck with headphones in. Not talking. When we got to the store he kept his headphones in. Not talking. We were shopping for food for him specifically and every time I asked him a question he had to take his headphones out. Like DUDE WTF. Take them out! Then he acted like he didn't want to be there and we were inconveniencing him. He's lucky Katie is as forgiving and loving as she is because I would have went home over the headphone thing alone.

The headphones is a generational issue for his generation. I'm sure we have all been in public and seen a kid with those things in, even when working a customer facing job acting like it's 100% normal to ignore half of what is going on. The other thing is, when he got a little older and wanted to listen to his music in headphones on road trips and things you think nothing of it. It's not a big deal and every one is a little happier that way. Unfortunately it sets the precedent though and here we are where he has the damned things in all the time and we let it slide because it all started on a road trip.