Comments on: Father’s Day Faux Pas

By: redheadwglasses

redheadwglasses — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 21:59:48 +0000

“I don’t think he knew the fish was supposed to be “special”.”

His six-year-old apparently put some time and effort into a homemade gift for father’s day, and he didn’t know he should think of it as special?

By: redheadwglasses

redheadwglasses — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 21:58:47 +0000

I (no kids) once asked a coworker (a grandmother), “Okay, this ‘artwork’ is just crap. Just because someone’s kid made it doesn’t mean it’s good. You and I both know that.It’s a stick figure with poorly fitting clothes. So why does the parent like it and keep it?” (I asked this not in a snarky tone, but in a “please explain the thinking behind this” tone.)

Her answer: Because he couldn’t do this *six months ago.*

Their artwork are progress measurements. THAT, I get. Still, the stuff I get from boyfriend’s kids and nieces, gets tossed. If my cats could draw, I’d toss their crap, too!

By: Dr.Chalkwitheringlicktacklefeff

Dr.Chalkwitheringlicktacklefeff — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 19:15:57 +0000

It’s Fathers’ Day, not Kids’ Day; so he should get to choose how he celebrates it – even if he wants to celebrate it by throwing away some crap his dumbass kid has made. Every other day of the year is Kids’ Day, so they’ve really got nothing to complain about.

By: Dr.Chalkwitheringlicktacklefeff

Dr.Chalkwitheringlicktacklefeff — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 19:13:42 +0000

At the very least, a properly-taught six-year-old doesn’t put stupid fucking dots between each word. There is absolutely no good reason for a child to have picked up such a ridiculous habit.

By: makfan

makfan — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 02:04:06 +0000

I think you have the right idea. From time to time you have to prune out older things to be replaced by new favorites. I think kids can understand, and perhaps as they get older they even be involved in the decision of what to prune to make room for the new. Sending a few things to grandparents and aunts/uncles is a great idea.

By: Harbinger

Harbinger — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 00:58:28 +0000

I agree with Poltergeist. I’m trying to teach my seven year old about spelling. Try “tough” “through” and “bough” and then try telling a kid you’re not bullshitting them.

By: Lauren

Lauren — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 23:19:31 +0000

In my father’s defense, he always loved my gifts – my hideous pottery mug was his pen holder at work for many years. I don’t think he knew the fish was supposed to be “special”.

He’s not with me anymore and seeing this post made my day. Thank you.

By: Katy

Katy — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 21:43:54 +0000

For “UK” read “England.” In Scotland most kids start school at the age of 5.

Just thought I’d throw that into the mix.

I’m a teacher and I don’t think it’s terrible for a 6 year old given the note is “independent writing” where the focus is more on the content than the spelling.

By: Polly

Polly — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 07:25:58 +0000

Thinking more about those dots between the words….Did the writer grow up to work on word processing software development?

By: girl_with_all_the_yarn

girl_with_all_the_yarn — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 05:33:59 +0000

Team kid. My dad still has the macaroni tie I made him for Father’s Day when I was four. Of course, the only other art thing he kept of mine was a coffee mug I threw in high school pottery class, but still. He usually kept the silly kid art around for at least a week (or until I forgot about it) before “taking it to work.”

By: niki

niki — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 04:47:11 +0000

Kids not reading until 6? That’s a damned tragedy, not an excuse to be made.

By: Anon

Anon — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 23:50:43 +0000

Someone on here always has to judge…let’s hope your own kids don’t get chewed out by the age of 6.

By: The Elf

The Elf — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 19:02:38 +0000

So he praises her for it and keeps it around until Independence Day, when it gets (quietly) thrown out.

By: Poltergeist

Poltergeist — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 17:45:15 +0000

English is a stupid language anyway when it comes to grammar and spelling, but especially spelling. We have words that sound the same but are spelled differently, words that are spelled differently but sound the same, and use letters in seemingly illogical ways. We’ve created a language for ourselves that’s unnecessarily difficult, even though language is meant to make communication easier. Try explaining to a 6 year old why “through” or “tough” or “phone” are spelled the way they are without feeling like you’re bullshitting them. “That’s just the way it is” is the only explanation, and I don’t blame the kids when they give me a strange look afterward and insist on getting a second opinion.

tl;dr – 6 year olds have it right and we should listen to them! Rant over!