Sometimes the Frog of Change doesn't do some pretty things--like eating a sparrow or a goldfinch. And while it is part of his survival, it isn't pleasant for others to experience. I walked out the other morning to find my big frog with two legs sticking out of his mouth. Icky? Yep. But a frog has got to eat and the dragonflies and crickets he's been downing up until now isn't gonna fill his gigantor belly anymore. He's going for the big stuff. Consider it the Value Meal of the pond--you've got yourself quite the filling meal there with one stop and little effort.
Well, maybe choking down a bird that is nearly bigger than you takes a lot of effort--I'm thinking it does.
So, yesterday was my birthday and still, no call from Sonny Boy. Oh, sure, I've called him, but he's too busy to talk. Sigh.
Okay, I get it--he's adjusting, he's with friends, he can't talk at this moment or that, but it was my birthday. Throw me a bone, Junior. Can you not step out for 2 minutes and wish your mom a Happy Day?? Apparently not.
We all crammed into Joe's little car last night to go out to dinner gratis G'ma Phyl. We packed into the Mazda because it has blue tooth capability and if we called Col, we could all hear what he was saying and all chime in. It was a win-win. He'd only have one phone call to endure and it knocked off the obligatory call to Mom, Dad, Sister, AND G'ma. So, you'd think he'd get it and chat away?
Nope. We still got one word answers and a boat-load of silence. I wanted to kill that kid.
In the restaurant I got a text that read this: Happy Birthday. That was it. No, "Hi, Mom!". No "Hey, hope your day is GREAT!" or "Oh, I forgot to send a card" or "Where are you going to eat?". Nope. Nuthin.
So, I did what a good mom does.....I fired back a reprimanding email reminding him that I spent a TON of money and time on his butt lately and that he needed to stop being a selfish ass and call home to talk to those who love him. He needs to wish people a Happy Birthday and get out of himself.
To which I got this in reply: "Sry".
Yeah/no.
Later in the evening, after his grandmother made some sweet attempts at justifying his behavior, the phone rang and Em announced it was my knucklehead son. He made some lame excuses about phone service in the dorm and we actually had about 3 minutes of nice conversation. I explained that he needed to call home once a week (thank you, Jodi) to check in AND actually talk to us. Two-word sentences were not allowed or appreciated.
I later learned that Joe had stepped outside and called the kid to ream him out for his behavior--hence the nice call in the end.
The Frog of Change sorta choked on his dinner.
25 comments:
Oh those boys, those boys. I have to prep one of my for my birthday too. I should just buy my own card and have him sign it.
Yesterday was your birthday????? oh man, this is the second blog I checked today to find I missed a birthday. Honestly, Im outta da loop
Happy belated birthday! (I hope Joe doesn't call me to ream me out for forgetting.)
I'm glad you finally got more than one word out of Col. Boy, when I was away at school my freshman year I was so homesick my mom had to tell me to STOP calling so much.
Boys. I still have to remind my husband to call his mother.
I hate to tell you but I am not sure it is going to get better until he gets a girlfriend.
Plus my hubby forgot my birthday. They need someone reminding them. It's the genes.
Adjustments accumulate apace. And a long journey it is. Enjoy.
Hey! Happy, happy day! Can't remember when one of my boys told me Happy B-day.
I am glad to hear that Joe called the boys and ripped him a new one. I'd have been made at Joe if he didn't! LOL! My son is clueless about bdays while still living at home...so I have NO expectations when he's gone. (Other than the expectation that he LEAVES when the time comes!)
Awww. Well kudos to Joe for making that call. Don't feel bad, though. Join the club. My son was at his dad's house on my birthday and he didn't call me either. My daughter did text me, so she gets extra points. (We have a rule here at the Diner, when they are with their dad, no calls unless the house is on fire or someone has broken bones or is bleeding...gushing bleeding, not a papercut bleeding. We have this rule because otherwise I would get so many calls when they were away that I couldn't enjoy my weekend and the kids were to pre-occupied with calling me to enjoy theirs.) So the text from my daughter was very much appreciated.
Ah yes, those darn boys. They are so cute and lovable when they are little and then they have to grow up and break moms hearts.
Hope the rest of your birthday was a good one
It's a shame your birthday fell when it did. I'm telling you it takes two weeks before they care about home. If you would have been able to leave him alone, no contact at all, for two weeks he would have started to call home and converse 3 word sentences all on his own. Let the two weeks begin now. Hold out and wanting to dial pally, I promise you this trick works. (if it doesn't you an hunt me down).
I wouldn't have believed it if I didn't see it! That is incredible (frog snapping up a bird). Truly nasty and intriguing stuff! Fran's Dad
Betty--Boys or not, there is no excuse. Sigh. It wasn't even that it was my birthday that made me so mad. Could you not call and tell us you are alive and well after we dropped you off at a college 3 hours away?? WITH ALL MY MONEY???! Ugh.
Tracy--It was, but that's okay. It wasn't a big party or anything. You reach a point where b-days just aren't all that exciting anymore.
JD--You were next on Joe's list! Hahahaha! I'll be curious to see if that changes at all after awhile. Maybe he will miss us after all. Or not.
Pricilla--Col had a girlfriend and it didn't get any better, so we may just have to accept this. But I'm not going down without a fight!
Vanilla--A very LONG journey! :)
Sharky--Thanks, pally! I didn't let him get away with it, there is just no excuse. I just don't want him doing that to his future wife, you know?
Diana--I was glad for the back-up from Joe. I think that redeemed the occasion more than Col's phone call later. It's good to know that he's got my back. I think it's important to have expectations of the kids--boys OR girls. I'm not going down without a fight.
Lola--Yeah, I was really grateful that Joe had my back. It's funny how we have to teach them this kind of stuff, still, after all these years. I guess it is part of being a parent. Sigh.
Ann--The birthday was good. And it wasn't even that it was my birthday that I was mad about--I just wanted a call to know he was settling in at the college okay. Sheesh.
Jodi--I completely used your rule last night. "You MUST call to check in one night a week. Pick your day and pick your venue." was the text I sent him. Oh, and I added that he actually had to converse real full sentences. I'm so taking your advice--it hasn't let me down so far. :) Thanks, pally.
Fran's Dad--Oh, I have other photos like that where you can see the whole bird in his mouth. While it isn't pretty--it is cool stuff!
The frog photo is crazy. It is fascinating.
It sounds like he is adjusting well to college. I called home a lot when I was in school but I got homesick easily.
Anne--It's creepy/cool, isn't it? At least he eats the whole thing! I'm sure he'll miss us a bit and call--but when?? Who knows??? :)
The frog can catch a bird but Hobbes can't? Somethings wrong there.
As for Colin, sorry he disappointed you on your birthday. Joe is such a sweetie for getting him to call though. I would imagine that friends/room mates sort of interfere with the whole calling mom thing but once the newness of school wears off he'll call like he should. At least he'd better or we'll all be mad at him!
Before you mentioned awhile back that your frogs eat things like birds I never knew any frogs did this. I always thought of them only as insect eaters. It all gives me a whole new perspective on them. It's like having little hopping alligators around.
BOYS! Ugh! You know, I burst into tears when my gynae told me my second baby was a boy.
My Hubby never calls his mom too.
A wise old woman once told me this - "We raise our sons for another woman".
At least, you have a daughter! Boo Hoo hoo!! Sob! Sob!
Happy belated birthday, Lin!!! KIDS...Sheesh! Sorry I have been out of the loop lately...too much vacation! Hope your summer has been good.
Change is tough :( For all parties involved. Still no excuse for not calling in!
I don't think boys get much better with age. My husband never calls his mother but I can say that when girls go to college once they find their group they don't really call either.
Beaded Tail--No kidding! Hobbes can catch them if they are on the ground and dead already! Hahaha! I figure Joe straightening him out is just another lesson for Colin. Just like teaching him table manners, they have to learn sensitivity too.
Ratty--Oh, they eat other frogs and snakes too! They aren't very smart, so they will eat whatever moves. I didn't know this until I saw one of my frogs grab a baby bird on the side of the pond. I was horrified!
Veronica--I think we have to teach them to call us, like we teach them to eat nicely at the table and to say "please" and "thank you". Well, that's what I'm working on, anyway. I'll let you know if it works.
Hot Rocks--Too much vacation is a good thing, pally! I'm glad you had a nice time away. (You didn't miss much here.)
Stephanie--I'm with you--there is no excuse! He sure got an ear-ringing on that one!
Highway--Joe calls his mom, so I can't say Colin has any excuses. He doesn't have to chat for an hour, but a "Hi, Mom" call is what is expected. We'll see if it works....
LOL ~ oh Lin ~ don't you know it's only just beginning? sigh... kids... it's a good thing 'mother love' is unconditional right? ummm... hmmm... maybe there is conditions ~ like phone me once in awhile!! HA!!
xo Catherine
And we remember when they were such cute little tadpoles swimming in the pond . . .
Hmn...you know, in the end, you will have very many years of loving interactions from him. It's just that annoying period of about give or take 10 years through teenage/ early adult years where kids seem to think that virtually cutting ties defines their independence. He'll realize soon enough:)
Catherine--Well, I'm thinking that if you don't phone home, ET can't get any cashola, right? I mean, money can buy love. ;)
Chuck--Yeah, no kidding.
Nancy--I'm waiting for him to miss home and call just to chat. I may be waiting a long time, but I think it will come. Well, that's what Jodi says any way.
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