frye@cuuxa.UUCP (frye) (09/17/85)
I had a ladyfriend who had two kids. The larger of the two was in his "terrible two's". He got into everything. We got into a lot of arguements about the kids. (She moved in with me.) I was seen a couple times whacking one on the bottom for pull- ing on a lamp cord or trying to climb the curtains. I got the point across though. "Oh, your bottom hurts, Timmy? Well, I want you to know that the lamp that hits your head hurts even worse. I guess you won't yank on the cord anymore, will you. If it hits you hard enough, we might not have a Timmy around to love anymore." Yeah we got in a lot of arguements. She didn't want me to have any say in how her kids behaved. But, it's my apartment and the kids aren't gonna tear it up. She was right though, I shouldn't get after her kids when they didn't mind me. I should get on her like ugly on an ape. She didn't like that idea either. Just goes to show, ya can't please some people. Can't please me, I don't like watching the kids pulling the knobs off the stereo. Can't please her, she doesn't like seeing me pull the kids off the stereo. It was real funny, I'd get along with the kids just fine. then she'd come home and they'd start getting into things. Its real funny, I'd wrestle with those kids and we'd beat on each other. I'd whack their bottoms harder wrestling with 'em than I would if I were mad (afraid the ol' temper would get in the way and I'd really hurt 'em). Everything was cheerful 'til I acted angry. Then, one whack on the bottom, I tell 'em to leave (whatever) alone and go play with their toys. But, I didn't want to stifle any curiousity. After a few weeks, I had the older of the two educated to the point where I could trust him to change cassettes and well, sorta play DJ with the stereo. (Just always had this idea that, all in good time, kids can learn to use a lot of things without wrecking them.) He quickly learned that he could find Sesame Street on the tv. Shame of it all was that "the little one" was just learning to walk when I got fed up with their mother (she would always wake up in the morning wanting to commit a little "herbacide") and I can't understand how anyone can raise two kids and smoke that crap at the same time. She did not smoke as much of it when I first met her. But, before you go saying that I may have been a part of the cause, I'll state that she really didn't have the money to buy much of it before she moved in with me. Her friends and parents told me she always had a problem with the stuff. That was part of the reason she and her husband separated. (Yeah, he didn't like it either.) Maybe she was right. Maybe she could get all skyed up and still raise two kids but, not in my house she couldn't... She finally did quit the weed. She and her hasband got back to- gether pretty quick after that. (Yeah, he did take her back.) The kids are in school and doing pretty good. Oh, another thing I consider stupid, she'd try to get relatives and friends to baby sit for her. That in itself would be alright but, she tried to pay 'em in "knickle bags". Damn, how'd I ever get mixed up with a dingbat like that? I see her around town now and then. Her whole outlook on life has changed. She looks and feels happier. She said she wished she had listened to me. I'm kinda glad that she waited though. The way it turned out, she ended up getting back together with her "old man". The other way, she would have been stuck with me. (Meaning, I'm not those kids father. They should be with their Mom and Dad if possible.) I miss all three of them though. and, having kids around was a lot of fun. But, don't ya just hate it when they poke their fists down the toaster(8-). Regards. Tom Frye (who was almost a daddy for a little while(8-()