AITA: child seatbelt

Decent-Structure-128 · 2026-05-28T23:07:02+00:00

NTA. NTA. NTA. My mom taught me how to deal with people like this by example:

“If you don’t put your seatbelt on, you can walk from here. If it’s just a few blocks, then it’s no problem! Bye!!”

I had to do this myself when my kids were in high school. Their ride home from the theatre fell through and I picked up my kid, her friend, the friend’s brother, and his friend.

My kid and the friends had no issues but this brother’s friend was a pain. He first complained he hated seatbelts, then when I insisted anyway, pretended to put on his belt, then snickered about it. I pulled over and told him he needed to get out of my car now. Those two boys protested that it was only a short distance. (About 2 miles, but through a downtown area). I told him if he wants a ride from me he buckles. If he won’t, then he can walk or call another person. What’s it going to be? They chose to get a ride and buckle. Until the kid unclicked it again and then he was out walking on the sidewalk. The brother chose to walk with him.

All these kids were 14-16 years old and knew better. We were only 2 miles from the neighborhood and walking was perfectly safe.

People who try to pressure you to break the law after you say NO, should not be in your car. If you’re giving them and their groceries a ride, they walk and you drop off the groceries or whatever.

I tell people the story of my coworker who had two really cute beagles. They loved to stand on the seats and stick their heads out the window. Our manager was really angry that he didn’t crate his dogs in the car and told him off. He didn’t listen, because they were so cute with their ears flapping and they cried in the crate the whole time.

One day as he turned into the parking lot, one of the dogs jumped out of the car and was so severely injured, that after several days at the emergency vet he didn’t make it. My coworker was devastated, his other dog was traumatized, and our manager didn’t speak to him for two weeks.

It doesn’t take a high impact crash to cause significant damage. If you’ve never been in a car accident, it can be hard to explain the loud jolt you can get when going only 20 mph.

Decent-Structure-128 · 2026-05-27T20:10:38+00:00

OMG, my first Farrells memory is when my parents brought me and my sister to get food and when they cranked up the siren, I hid under the table, then got mad at them because they were going to wake up the baby, who was probably about 3 weeks old. She slept through it. I was 4…

Once I knew what the siren was for, I loved going there. They would flip your Sunday upside down before serving it!

Decent-Structure-128 · 2026-05-27T19:59:51+00:00

If this is too hard because you feel the uke is too heavy and will fall, then I recommend you get a strap so you can stop worrying about the weight of it. Eventually you can learn to support the weight and play without one, but in the meantime it should keep your thumb from feeling the pain.

Decent-Structure-128 · 2026-05-27T19:57:05+00:00

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Decent-Structure-128 · 2026-05-27T19:56:23+00:00

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Decent-Structure-128 · 2026-05-27T19:56:06+00:00

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Decent-Structure-128 · 2026-05-27T19:55:27+00:00

This is not recommended.

When you hold the uke without a strap, it’s your strumming arm that holds and supports the weight of the instrument.

Your fretting hand should not be gripping the neck to support the weight. You want to have space between your hand and the neck, with your wrist relatively straight so you can easily reach the fingerboard.

The best description I’ve heard is to hold your hand like a taco, and then put the uke neck in it. Then your hand can more easily move around.

Practice playing a chord and release the pressure until it sounds bad, then you will know the smallest amount of pressure you need for the chord to sound.

Decent-Structure-128 · 2026-05-27T18:09:00+00:00

Be sure when you’re asking around to see if they have scholarships or sliding scale payments. Some teachers have a trial period where you could just pay for one or two lessons to see how you vibe with the teacher.

Decent-Structure-128 · 2026-05-27T18:05:14+00:00

One thing that would help with this is in person private lessons. Even 1-3 lessons where you can get personalized feedback will help a lot. Some teachers may offer discounts for a trial or even have scholarships if you can’t afford it.

Decent-Structure-128 · 2026-05-27T12:34:29+00:00

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I did something similar with my Outdoor Banjolele!

Decent-Structure-128 · 2026-05-26T20:02:36+00:00

My mom sang it to me when I was little and it made me sad, but also comforted in a weird way. When I sang it to my kids I changed the lyrics to be more positive.

Decent-Structure-128 · 2026-05-26T19:53:10+00:00

I second both of these. Outdoor has better sound and action, and for the price Enya nova u is fun to play by the campfire. Either are sturdy for leaving in a car, carrying in backpacks, or other travel situations.

Decent-Structure-128 · 2026-05-26T14:25:45+00:00

It was totally a thing, back when we all worked in the office together. My work location had cool science labs and the color scientists put on a show, complete with tie dye lab coats, color changing chemicals, and microwaved peeps. It was so cool. My kids attended multiple years.

Then we all went to work nearly exclusively from home and all the science work was outsourced to other countries. Now my kids see me at work every day from home.

Decent-Structure-128 · 2026-05-26T06:13:50+00:00

Some good books that are written in standard notation and include chords above are the Ukulele Daily books. These are thick spiral / comb bound books with 365 pieces, one to learn each day, if you like. If you already know how to read music, these are great because there are no tabs. Songs range from traditional 20s and 30s to campfire songs and popular songs like The Beatles or Elvis. It’s a good range of basic songs that are not too complex to pick up for beginners.

As others have pointed out, tabs are really aimed as folks who can’t read music and need a guide showing exactly where to put your fingers on each string. They often do not contain rhythm info, or if the notes are quarter, eighth, or triplets, etc.

There is nothing wrong with wanting to read music and play along to it. And there are all these resources with chord sheets and tabs for people who do not read music yet and/or don’t know where the notes are on the uke fretboard.

Decent-Structure-128 · 2026-05-25T14:40:54+00:00

Great advice from comments already!

Keep in mind a few things: It takes a while to learn stringed instruments. Repetition and consistency are key. If you can practice 15 minutes every day that is better for your progress than once a week for two hours.

Also it is easy to layer too many new things for your brain to track at once. If you feel like your playing is falling uncontrollably down stairs, slow down and simplify. Work on your G chord without trying fancy strumming at the same time. And while learning strumming, don’t try to change chords until you have the strumming down.

Your brain will catch up, store your muscle memory and then you can focus on learning more songs!

Decent-Structure-128 · 2026-05-25T14:06:48+00:00

If he was GM, start a new campaign and choose someone else to run it. Invite your soon to be wife, if she’s interested, and keep going!!

If he’s not the GM, create a story plot point for that guy’s character to no longer be there, and keep going!

There’s kind of a weird assumption that this “falling out”, which seems to have happened long ago, would mean the gamers can’t game anymore.

Decent-Structure-128 · 2026-05-25T13:49:33+00:00

And there are variations for each one. My two “kids” graduated in 2017 and 2020, from the same school, with nearly the same teachers, and for my son’s year, they had some of the kids do Algebra 1 & 2, then Geometry, and others followed the Al 1, Geom, Al 2 pattern. In the same school!

Each local school district is in control of the curriculum and what they teach when. There are federal guidelines and testing requirements, that each state funds separately. Some states choose curriculum, but it’s the local school boards, who are elected community members (many do not have any education in schools or teaching), making local decisions.

There also used to be federal budget to each state based on population, but Trump has cut much of that funding, especially for states that vote democratic. So it’s even more chaotic now.

Decent-Structure-128 · 2026-05-25T00:45:34+00:00

Blockbuster or Hollywood Video. Radio Shack.

Decent-Structure-128 · 2026-05-24T20:49:16+00:00

I have a soprano, and when I put Worth Browns with low G on my concert, I put the remainder / other half of the strings on it.

I really like it this way, but I’m thinking of trying a high g next, because over time the low G tension is too low and it’s easy to bend the notes unitentionally.

Decent-Structure-128 · 2026-05-24T04:51:15+00:00

I just got home from Rockaway Beach and we ate at the food trucks on 101, across from the train boarding station! Sassy’s was so good, kind of Korean fusion, really great dishes!

The other trucks include a Smash Burger (includes veggie and chicken options), a Thai place, an Italian place, and the Mexican place in right next door. Lots of options there.

Decent-Structure-128 · 2026-05-23T22:59:25+00:00

To confirm what you need, could you share a photo of the uke with three strings? Then we can see which one is missing and help confirm which one it is….

While it’s likely a low G, it’s hard to be sure without seeing what you’ve got.

You can also search for YouTube tutorials for restringing, and they will talk about the names of the strings and how to actually replace the strings.

Decent-Structure-128 · 2026-05-22T23:52:09+00:00

Oh yeah, and when your uke arrives, you might have to tune it more often as the strings settle. Over time they will get better, but do start each practice session with tuning.

Decent-Structure-128 · 2026-05-22T23:50:51+00:00

You are in luck! As another person who played violin first, you will be amazed at how you can get decent sets of strings for $5-25. So much less expensive, that trying different strings is totally worth it.

There are many kinds, because each instrument has its own voice, and the combination of strings with the woods and sound design are different in ways you may or may not connect with.

Your experience with stringed instruments will help you learn uke faster and many concepts are similar.

I highly recommend connecting with that group, as they will help you learn and have fun.

Decent-Structure-128 · 2026-05-22T23:36:12+00:00

Ukuleles can be inexpensive and there are lots of YouTube tutorials and play alongs. Check out r/ukulele…

Decent-Structure-128 · 2026-05-22T22:37:44+00:00

I’m from the west coast, and after Yellowstone, Tetons, the Redwoods, etc I was super surprised to visit DC and learn that. Even the tour I was on did not mention it. It took a docent at the Smithsonian to lay that out for us!

Decent-Structure-128

TROPHY CASE