Guest cartoon by I'll Become My Parents (A.K.A. my son)
If you’ve been hanging around this blog for a while you know that I’ve Become My Parents is really a big long note to my son. He’s still a bit too young to read some of it, but he knows what it’s about. I recently asked him what he thought about the idea of growing up to be just like me. His response:
I’m gonna become my dad? That would be the worst thing ever!
After we got past the issues of grey hair and being “all wrinkly”, he began to list off all the things that he’ll do differently than me and his mom.
And that’s when I decided to invite my very first guest blogger for I’ve Become My Parents: my 10 year-old son. We’ll call him I’ll Become My Parents. Here’s his post (and I swear I didn’t make him add the last line…).
Enjoy!
***************
So dad I was thinking that you and mom are too rough on me so I think when I become a dad I will:
- Be nicer. No time outs, just warning. Then time out for 10 seconds.
- My kids could stay up and read as late as they want to.
- I’ll buy my kids some things. They won’t have to pay for everything, especially if they are saving up for a $500 Lego set.
- My kids can have ice cream before dinner if it’s really warm out.
- Sleepovers every Friday and Saturday night.
- Kids won’t have to do any chores unless they want to. If they want to earn money, I’d pay them $10 for every dog poop they picked up.
- If I had more than one kid I would get a normal bed and a bunk bed so they could sleep together or if they don’t want to they wouldn’t have to.
- I’d get them a Wii or DS or 3DS and get them lots of games for their birthday.
- We’ll have 3 cats and 4 dogs.
- I would always be as nice to them as possible. I’d pay for all the toys they want even if we ran out of money. I’d somehow find a way to pay for all their toys.
Life is different now dad from when you were a kid. There’s new rules. You can do more stuff now.
But don’t change I like you just the way you are.
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Thanks, son.
I’m sure he’d love any comments you have.
I've become my parents 
diaperdads
August 14, 2011
Why didn’t they tell me the rules changed?! That’s it! I’m going to do more stuff now…right now. At 2:30 AM…who am I kidding. I’m going to bed. Tell your son I tried his way, my way is just easier on me. š
I've Become My Parents
August 15, 2011
I’ll let him know. I’m a big fan of the “When in doubt, go to bed” approach as well. Sleep well!
Chatter Master
August 15, 2011
This is great! “Son” is already paying attention and applying what he has learned to life. I suspect he’s going to do great. And being 10 he’s allowed to make rules for the future, and change them when he gets there!
I've Become My Parents
August 15, 2011
And when he does change them, I’ll be right there ready to remind him of this post!
Adriene
August 15, 2011
That is the best guest post ever! Maybe you can save it for your kids to read one day. Hopefully there won’t be new new rules! ;p Thank you for sharing your son’s post, Dad!
I've Become My Parents
August 15, 2011
I’ve been sharing these comments with him and yours put a great big smile on his face. Thanks, Sweepy!
Holly Jahangiri
August 15, 2011
“Son,” will you adopt me?
I've Become My Parents
August 15, 2011
Sorry, he’s mine!
Holly Jahangiri
August 15, 2011
One thing, though – your son is very wise, and I wonder if my own experience picking up rotten apples from under our two lousy apple trees gave me this same sort of wisdom: Value those who are willing to do the jobs you really cannot stand to do. Pay them better.
I mean, honestly – why is it that those of us who have the privilege of working in an air conditioned office, partially enabled by having the privilege of an excellent education, get the best salaries – when those who pick up our garbage and hustle quickly from house to house to make it disappear in the morning heat (or freezing cold) don’t?
I've Become My Parents
August 15, 2011
You make a good point, Holly (Although I’m virtually certain that the guys picking up our garbage earn a better salary than I do).
Thanks!
thebakerbee
August 15, 2011
I agree with Adriene… best guest post ever!
I've Become My Parents
August 15, 2011
You guys made his day, thanks!
jmsiame87
August 15, 2011
He is sooooooo adorable! Ahhh, to be young again. I wish these rules would apply to adults also lol
I've Become My Parents
August 15, 2011
Well, I must admit that I may have eaten ice cream before dinner once or twice… š
polarbearscooby
August 15, 2011
Thats awesome! And not unlike what I thought at his age……
Keep up the good work! š
I've Become My Parents
August 15, 2011
Thanks. I don’t think we’ve heard the last of him!
Bekah
August 15, 2011
I love it! This brought back some memories of when I was little when my parents wouldn’t get me that toy I wanted or that movie. Or even when they grounded me…. oh, the simple times. Enjoy them while you can. I’ve tried not to become my mom and I swore I was going to let my kids to whatever they wanted, but I’ve found myself saying “NO” more than “Yes” these days.
I've Become My Parents
August 15, 2011
Thanks Bekah! He’s really enjoying these comments.
Penelope J.
August 15, 2011
Sounds like a really great kid, and a good guest post. What he wants is only what every kid wants, so isn’t it sad that wanting isn’t the same as getting what you want? I guess he has yet to learn that lesson. How sad also that the innocent mind finds such easy solutions for everything they/he want and why can’t parents see things the way they/he does?.Why does he/they have to learn that responsibilities (such as picking up dog poop if he wants to keep a dog) are not always rewarded, but rather, the reverse? As for bedtimes, does any child, ever, understand why he/she has to go to bed before they are ready to?
I've Become My Parents
August 15, 2011
He’s slowly learning that the more you want, the more disappointed you’ll be. It’s tough being a kid, eh?
Thanks Penelope!
Deborah the Closet Monster
August 15, 2011
Bwahaha! This is wonderful. I hope your son plans on doing a “part 2” about 20 years down the road. š
I've Become My Parents
August 15, 2011
Thanks Deborah! I’ll be looking forward to that “Part 2″…
joaquinbarroso
August 15, 2011
If I ever have kids I don’t want your own to fill their heads with “new rules”! haha great post, Son already has gained insight into what life is about and expresses it in simple “like” “don’t like” terms. I wish I got $10 for each poop I pick up too, this means Son knows what he doesn’t like (picking up poop) and what he would like if the situation is totally inescapable (getting $10/poop) so he is hopeful… Too bad he is in for a disappointment when he realizes life isn’t always entirely fair.
Great expectations for the next generation!
Great blog, keep it up!
I've Become My Parents
August 15, 2011
Thanks for the comment! Indeed he does know what he likes and doesn’t…especially what he doesn’t!
Lorna's Voice
August 16, 2011
I can’t wait for him to have kids…;)
I've Become My Parents
August 16, 2011
Um, I can wait. But when he does, you know this post is coming back out again!
The_iDad
August 16, 2011
Haha I love his post and he has some excellent points, its great to see the thinking of a 10 Y/O. By the way I don’t have a dog but if I was paid $10 for each dog poo I picked up I would be hunting them out!
I've Become My Parents
August 16, 2011
Not if I beat you to it!
Daddy Knows Less
August 16, 2011
This is amazing! As if there were any doubt, your son is officially cooler than you. Which makes the whole “gonna grow up exactly like you” thing totally mind-boggling.
I've Become My Parents
August 16, 2011
OK, lesson learned: Never let someone cooler than you do a guest post on your blog. your blog. your blog. your blog..–Sorry, my mind got stuck in a logic loop there, trying to make some sense out of it all.
Deletrius
September 14, 2011
Wow, I absolutely love this post. You are one lucky dad, you know that? Keep up whatever you’re doing – even when it gets hard. We need dads like you out there. At least I know I do.
I've Become My Parents
September 14, 2011
Thanks so much! Indeed I am a lucky dad and appreciate that (most days, anyway). As for dads like me, well I’ll let his shrink be the judge of that in 20 or so years…
BTW, I love your photography!
Deletrius
September 15, 2011
Thank you so much! I love your writing
Cheryl
April 19, 2015
I read a few of your posts, what a great blog you have. I love this postā¦makes me wonder what rules my son (who’s 6) would come up with?
Barmy Rootstock (IBMP)
April 20, 2015
Can’t hurt to ask…although that may not be a precedent you want to set…
Theonionbhajidiaries
May 18, 2015
Loving your blog!! And this guest blog by your kid is genius! I’ll continue reading the rest of your blogs now…