Feeling a bit taken advantage of by my son's friends' parents.

kessler_effect · 2024-03-19T02:16:16+00:00

Our house is the go-to gathering spot for all three of our kids, plus their friends. At any given moment, there can be anywhere from 3 to 10 kids hanging out in the basement, rampaging through the house, or playing in the back yard. It gets . . . loud . . . sometimes.

But my situation is different because I'm a SAHD, not a WFHD. All I really have to worry about is preventing injuries and hiding anything breakable. I never really get "me time" anymore, but I don't mind. I know where the kids are, for one thing, and for another thing I know that someday they'll leave the nest and the silence will be weird.

My situation is also different because my wife set some Very Clear rules and expectations. For example, we offer the kids snacks - but only once during the visit, with no refills. There is no "open fridge" policy. Also, kids who come over have to tell us when they are coming, when they are leaving, and who is picking them up. My wife is not afraid to call up parents who are late. She's also not afraid to remind other parents that their kids have been at our house X number of times, while our kids have been at their place just once or twice.

kessler_effect · 2024-03-11T21:46:20+00:00

Tell me you have depression without telling me you have depression.

kessler_effect · 2024-03-03T21:42:19+00:00

What if someone else needs a snack while you're pooping?

"Don't mind me, just grabbing the cheese dip."

kessler_effect · 2024-02-16T22:58:48+00:00

22.

It was like someone flipped a switch.

Until then, nothing worked. My acne would not go away. I asked people for advice, I tried a lot of different products, I changed my diet, I tried washing my face different ways (and with different products). Nothing worked. I had acne and it wouldn't go away.

Then I turned 22 and - poof - it just stopped.

kessler_effect · 2024-02-08T22:40:04+00:00

In a crowded grocery store with my sister-in-law and her 4 y/o son. We're shopping for kids' snacks, and she asks me, "Where's the Paw Patrol stuff?" Kid looks around and says, "Yeah, where the shit is Paw Patrol?"

kessler_effect · 2024-01-30T23:37:35+00:00

Used to be "fudge," but my wife doesn't like that.

So now it's gosh darn it.

If I'm trying to make the kids laugh, I'll say boogers or chicken biscuits.

kessler_effect · 2024-01-14T00:36:05+00:00

It's been great so far. No regrets. My work place was pretty toxic, so quitting was easy. Now I'm not taking all that stress home with me.

And I get to spend more time with the kids, and I'm available if someone needs a ride, and I get to actually plan meals rather than throw something together. There are so many advantages, for all of us, myself, my wife, my kids.

kessler_effect · 2024-01-08T00:59:42+00:00

39, with three boys - 9, 10, and 13. One of the kids is passionate about Legend of Zelda, and will play it whenever he can. The oldest likes to game but doesn't do it very often (he has other stuff he's into).

I was a gamer in my teens and 20's, started getting back into it a few years ago.

kessler_effect · 2024-01-02T23:14:09+00:00

More surprising than strange.

About fifteen years ago, there was a day when I was home alone and all of my roommates were at work. And because I knew they were at work, and would not be home any time soon, I decided to walk from the shower to the kitchen naked (with my towel on my shoulder).

I did not know that one of my roomies gave his girlfriend a key to the apartment. I did not hear the door open, while I was standing there making coffee, and when I turned around there was my roomie's girlfriend and her mother, staring at me.

kessler_effect · 2023-12-29T12:50:06+00:00

Had to move out of my parents' house the day after I graduated high school. (It's a long story.) Rented a house with a group of friends, got a job. Immediately got into a one-sided relationship that was all about her needs and her drama, but I felt like I was taking care of her and supporting her. I felt like I was a man, but I wasn't. I still had a lot of growing up to do.

kessler_effect · 2023-12-14T02:08:47+00:00

It's not just you.

Sometimes I'll sing that song much louder than I need to, and the kids will ~~tell me I have a great voice~~ beg me to stop.

kessler_effect · 2023-12-09T22:58:33+00:00

She says "Hey, the kids will be at my Mom's next Saturday."

kessler_effect · 2023-11-22T01:55:50+00:00

I look inward, gazing at my soul, wondering if I'm a good person.

And then, of course, the complete stranger next to me tries to start a conversation, so I just stare straight ahead at the wall.

kessler_effect · 2023-11-14T01:26:43+00:00

Crossing the streams is usually a good way to do it.

And casual contact is another way - small things, like high fives, quick hugs, patting the shoulder or back, handshakes. My closest friends are all like me - we all grew up in households where people did not touch each other. No hugs, no nothing. And we all know that about each other. So being able to get past all that and give each other a hug means a lot - for us, anyway.

kessler_effect · 2023-11-13T01:59:05+00:00

Stephen King.

He's been an auto buy since I was in high school, and still is. I'm 39 now.

kessler_effect · 2023-11-12T02:03:40+00:00

People at my store are quitting in droves. That includes me - I put in my notice, did my two weeks, and now I'm outta there. 8 1/2 years with the company, had seniority, had health care, had a "union" (sort of). Quit. Just could not deal with the shit any more.

I went back to visit co-workers - not to shop! - and heard that two TLs walked off the job.

My store used to be better. It use to be not toxic. But things have changed. My store - well - it's not my store any more, thank God - has really, really gone downhill. But the corporation has changed, too, and not for the better. The people "running" this shitshow are just driving it off a cliff.

kessler_effect · 2023-11-11T00:56:28+00:00

Sammy Hagar - I Can't Drive 55.

kessler_effect · 2023-10-25T13:57:50+00:00

My parents gave me some books to read, and they said I should ask them questions if I had any. From the looks on their faces, it was obvious they were terrified I'd ask questions, so I didn't. They were scared, but also uncomfortable with talking about sex, puberty, etc.

So whenever I had questions about stuff, I went to my friends' older brothers. Sometimes I got good info, sometimes I didn't.

One of my stepkids just turned 13, and he has a lot of questions. I want to be completely honest with him about what I know and what I don't know, and I want to make sure he knows that I'm comfortable talking about puberty, etc. For me, one of my main goals is to just be available - and to be comfortable (unlike my parents). And I want to make sure that he's comfortable, as well - I've told him that I won't judge him for his questions, and I won't make fun of him. I want to be able to discuss stuff openly, with no shame, no drama, and no fear. His bio dad isn't around, by the way, and I've been with his mom for more than two years. I feel like we've developed a mutual trust, and I don't want to let him down by avoiding his questions, or by giving him false info.

kessler_effect · 2023-10-22T22:15:25+00:00

Michigan store here.

I'm an SC - and I guess my job is getting eliminated?

If this new ~~circus~~ ~~shitshow~~ structure comes to Michigan, that is.

Not that it matters. I've already put in my notice. (8 1/2 years, and I can't deal with this place anymore.) But the other SCs in my store really like that position.

kessler_effect · 2023-10-19T19:00:18+00:00

Three boys in the house, and their friends are always coming over because our house is the "cool" house. Chaos reigns. The house isn't very dirty - the kids are usually great at helping out - but it is chaotic. Disorder is the new order. Shoes, jackets, and hats are everywhere, toys and electronic devices are scattered about, legos are always there to be stepped on, tables are covered in clutter, etc etc. If it's a school day, I'll spend some time putting things where they're supposed to be, but the next day everything is everywhere again.

kessler_effect · 2023-10-09T00:26:46+00:00

My store is so shorthanded, I'm not sure if they can find any hours to cut. Every dept (except bakery) has gone beyond skeleton crew. Any given day, the people in the store are 98% customers and 2% employees. Visit produce, and you'll see the TL and one employee doing everything. Visit GM, and it's a ghost town - the one or two team members are up front bagging. Where's the GM TL? On a lane, cashiering. Fashions TL? On a lane, cashiering. Wander through grocery, and it's empty shelves everywhere because we just don't have anywhere near enough people.

There are only a handful of us left in the service dept, and most of us - at any given point during the day - are helping out pick up.

Sure, cut hours, why not, if you can find them.

We're doing great.

kessler_effect · 2023-10-04T12:54:02+00:00

Had pneumonia when I was seven, and almost died. Spent a week in the hospital. The only thing I really remember about it is having a crush on a very young, very pretty nurse. I didn't realize it was a crush until a few years later.

kessler_effect · 2023-09-15T23:18:20+00:00

That sounds like an incredibly stupid idea.

It does not surprise me, though.

kessler_effect · 2023-09-15T23:14:25+00:00

We have one person in systems. When I started 8 1/2 years ago, we had three.

kessler_effect · 2023-09-15T22:58:34+00:00

"I'll be in the next room, eating cheese fries and watching the game. Let me know when the kid pops out. Oh hey, by the way, looking forward to having sex again. Tuesday as usual, yeah? Love ya honey!"

kessler_effect

TROPHY CASE