So, because it's summertime, the kids all hang out late in the neighborhood. My daughter included. One of these other kids, a neighborhood girl, even came to the house last night offering dog walking services and left us her number.

Later, while out and about, our daughter asked this neighbor girl why her brother is so mean. I guess this kid had been calling her "midget" and such. That's a pretty derogatory thing to say to a little person. And the neighbor girl replied that he doesn't like her and had even TP'd her house (and Hummer) twice this year. Funny.

Well, I just got their home phone number from this little girl who wants to walk my dogs! A little reverse phone directory search revealed that they live only 2 blocks over. So, into the Hummer and down the street we go. Right about this time, we pass a few neighborhood boys who scatter when they see us pull up in front of the house. Scared now? Prolly.

The parents are awesome! We really hit it off and talked for a long time. They spent that hour watching for their son but he was hiding out somewhere nearby. We could see all his friends peeking around the corner from time to time. I wish I could say that I never did things like that at 13 years old, but I'd be lying. We were all very understanding of one another. I think everyone is more bothered by the bullying and teasing than we are about the vandalism.

So, this kid's Dad volunteers him for a year of car washing, lawn mowing and snow shoveling! (I hope we have another HUGE winter)

Anyway, just thought I'd fill you guys in. Thank you allfor all the help.

 

That's awesome! Be sure to supply him with one of them small plastic shovels this winter.

 

i thought you were gonna tell a story about the girl who left her phone number for "dog walking" services.

 

Glad to hear that was sorted out! That kid def got off easy but its good to see resolution

 

1. Buy a push-mower. Gasmowers arefor people who aren't punks.
2. Go to a garage sale and get a really old, bent, rusty steel snow shovel that will catch on every damn crack in the sidewalk. Preferably, the handle is already broken off the top.
3. Demand that your cars be washed every week by hand, and sit there the whole time on a lawn chair under an umbrella sipping a beer, every few minutes saying "You missed a spot."

 

Im glad you worked things out with the parents.. Im sure a lesson is too be learned by the little youngster.

Everyone needs to remember that we have all pretty much been there.. some of us were just never caught

I would suggest working with this kid and becoming a mentor/neighbor that he can rely on and trust so that you can help mold him into a fine young gentlemen. Otherwise he will just grow up hating you. You dont want him to just be forced to do work asa punishment, you want him to realize what he did was wrong, and for him to really be sorry for what he has done. If you play the nice guy and offer him some pop or gatorade while he is mowing, and some hot chocolate while he is shoveling snow, you will make him feel like an even bigger asshat for doing mean things to somebody that is a really nice person! If you treat him like crap he will just be thinking in the back of his mind "damn i hate this guy.. good thing i did this to him!"

I hope this all makes sense.

 

This is very very good advice and will be WAY more effective in changing the way this kid acted or will act in the future.

On a side note: Damn Karl, you give some excellent advice whether it be here or in my seperation thread. [sm=smiley20.gif] to you man, thanks for all the advice in my thread.

 

Well the reason we fall is so we can learn to pick ourselves back up

I just try to give the best advice I can for the situation.. but it may not always be the best.
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Hey Adam! Glad to hear things worked out - if it were me I'd have spray painted his naked **** blue and his genitalia orange (in respect to the Broncos) and let his **** on fire and watched him run...

you're a better man than I, Gunga-din