So the night before last, I was helping TK finish his application to the National Honor Society. It was like pulling teeth. With plastic Bob the Builder pliers. Seriously.
When I pushed him about his reluctance, he told me he thought it was a waste of time. That he didn’t have a chance of being accepted because he’s shy and a little socially awkward, so he doesn’t really have any extracurricular or community activities to put down. I helped him word the things he did have in a more impressive way and helped him hone a kick-ass paragraph selling himself, but he was still not sold on even handing it in.
Being a good mom, I broke out the locker room speech.
Me: You know, you miss one hundred percent of the shots you don’t take.
TK: That’s stupid. If you don’t take it, it’s not a shot. You’re just standing there so you didn’t miss anything.
Me: You’re missing the point.
TK: Your point is invalid because it makes no sense.
Me: My point was made by Wayne Gretsky, so it can never be invalid.
TK: I don’t know who that is.
Me: He’s like the Chuck Norris of hockey.
TK: Putin could take Chuck Norris down.
Me: You’re still missing the point!
TK: Your point is still invalid.
Me: Do it because I said so or lose your iPod. How do you like that point?
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I am so sad for his ignorance of all things Wayne Gretsky.
Encouraging children is hard. More difficult as a parent. Kids listen to peers or other cool adults. Never parents. So says, She Who Knew More Than Dad.
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It all sounds so familiar. Whenever you post stories about TK, I can hear the exact same conversations happening in my house with oldest.
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I shall now sit back and be ever so grateful my boys are no longer teenagers.
Ahhhhhhhhhh……
Sorry, Shan.
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Off topic – did you know that Wayne Gretsky has a winery? The red is produces is EXCELLENT.
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I never really knew what “pedantic” meant until I read Truthseeker, and realized it could be Number Two’s middle name. I feel for you!
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I didn’t know there was a Gretsky winery. And, of course, I would expect it to be awesome!
And several years back TK was christened with a superhero name…
The Pedantic Pinhead!
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From someone who hoed that row: never try to argue rationally with smart children–they’ll always find some logical way in which you are wrong.
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Hah!
Really want to give his brain a decent workout? Explain the credit rating process then send him internet hunting to research the whole sordid mess.
I would LOVE to hear a recap of that conversation.