Fun Monday: Don't Make Me Stop This Car

 Where have all my Mondays gone ?  Has anyone noticed that March has marched past us and we're all on our way to April ?  Did you know it's only TWO-HUNDRED-SEVENTY-FOUR days until Christmas ? 

Just a reminder that time flies when we're having fun. Or as Kermit the Frog says, "Time is fun when we're having flies."

Enough of that and on to today's topic which is provided by The Georgia Girls at In Good Company. 

Here is the Mon Funday's Challenge:  What is some advice your mother or father gave you that you remember and/or still use to this day? 

First, I'll start with this quote:  "LEARN from yesterday.  LIVE for today.  HOPE for tomorrow."
                                                                                    ----Albert Einstein

Second, I'll start with a few lines we have all probably heard and have probably said to our own kids:

I told you so.
Sharing is caring.
Because I said NO.
My house. My rules.
Shape up or ship out.
Don’t eat yellow snow.
You should know better.
Don’t run with scissors.
Stop popping your gum.
This is for your own good.
Who told you life was fair ?
You’re cruisin’ for a bruisin’.
Money doesn’t grow on trees.
Don’t make me repeat myself.
Don’t make me stop this car !
You WILL eat it, and you WILL like it !
Close the door. Were you raised in a barn ?
Don’t make me count to three….1….2….thr
Don’t drink coffee. You’ll stunt your growth.
This is going to hurt me more than it hurts you.
Don’t put all your chickens/eggs in one basket.
Now say you’re sorry and say it like you mean it.
You’re going to put someone’s eye out with that.
Don't ever let your gas gauge get below 1/4 tank.
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
Finish your dinner. There are kids starving in Africa.
Don’t stare at the TV too long or you’ll go cross-eyed.
If your friend jumped off a bridge/roof/cliff would you ?
Don’t make that face again or it will get stuck like that.
Don’t assume because it makes an ASS out of U and ME.
If you don’t like what I’m making,  you know where the kitchen is.
Don’t chew gum with your mouth open. You sound like a cow chewing a cud.

Third, I'll share this video:
Anita Renfroe says sings it best in this video:

Written and performed by Anita Renfroe
(copyright 2007 Bluebonnet Hills Music/BMI)
www.anitarenfroe.com

 

Here are the words . . . sing along with Anita:

Get up now
Get up now
Get up out of bed
Wash your face
Brush your teeth
Comb your sleepy head
Here’s your clothes
And your shoes
Hear the words I said
Get up now
Get up and make your bed
Are you hot?
Are you cold?
Are you wearing that?
Where’s your books and your lunch and your homework at?
Grab your coat and your gloves and your scarf and hat
Don’t forget you got to feed the cat
Eat your breakfast
The experts tell us it’s the most important meal of all
Take your vitamins so you will grow up one day to be big and tall
Please remember the orthodontist will be seeing you at three today !
Don’t forget your piano lesson is this afternoon
So you must play
Don’t shovel
Chew slowly
But hurry
The bus is here
Be careful
Come back here
Did you wash behind your ears?
Play outside
Don’t play rough
Would you just play fair?
Be polite
Make a friend
Don’t forget to share
Work it out
Wait your turn
Never take a dare
Get along
Don’t make me come down there
Clean your room
Fold your clothes
Put your stuff away
Make your bed
Do it now
Do we have all day?
Were you born in a barn?
Would you like some hay
Can you even hear a word I say?
Answer the phone
Get Off the phone
Don’t sit so close
Turn it down
No texting at the table
No more computer time tonight
Your iPod’s my iPod if you don’t listen up
Where you going and with whom and what time do you think you’re coming home?
Saying thank you, please, excuse me
Makes you welcome everywhere you roam
You’ll appreciate my wisdom
Someday when you’re older and you’re grown
Can’t wait ‘til you have a couple little children of your own
You’ll thank me for the counsel I gave you so willingly
But right now
I thank you NOT to roll your eyes at me
Close your mouth when you chew
Would appreciate
Take a bite
Maybe two
Of the stuff you hate
Use your fork
Do not you burp
Or I’ll set you straight
Eat the food I put upon your plate
Get an A, Get the door
Don’t get smart with me
Get a Grip
Get up here I’ll count to 3
Get a job
Get a life
Get a PhD
Get a dose of…
I don’t care who started it
You’re grounded until your 36
Get your story straight
And tell the truth for once for heaven’s sake
And if all your friends jumped off a cliff
Would you jump too?
If I’ve said it once, I’ve said at least a thousand times before that
You’re too old to act this way
It must be your father’s DNA
Look at me when I am talking
Stand up straighter when you walk
A place for everything
And everything must be in place
Stop crying or I’ll give you something real to cry about
Oh!
Brush your teeth
Wash your face
Get your PJs on
Get in bed
Get a hug
Say a prayer with Mom
Don’t forget
I love you
**KISS**
And tomorrow we will do this all again because a mom’s work never ends
You don’t need the reason why
Because
Because
Because
Because
I said so
I said so
I said so
I said so
I’m the Mom
The mom
The mom
The mom
The mom
Ta-da

Written and performed by Anita Renfroe
(copyright 2007 Bluebonnet Hills Music/BMI)
www.anitarenfroe.com

And finally,  a story (advice) my dad gave me that I still use today. I remember as though it were yesterday:

June 24,1969

I think it was a Tuesday.  It was my sixteenth birthday.  I had just returned from passing my driver's test with flying colors. 

My dad had gone with me to drive home, just in case I didn't pass the test.  He didn't want me to "drive illegally."  **cough cough**

Now I digress. . .

I had been driving since I was about eight years old, sitting in my dad's lap. We lived in the country, so once we left the 'highway' and turned onto the 'dirt road,' he would let me slide over and steer the car while he "worked" the accelerator and brake. 

Once I was tall enough to reach those two pedals, he would let me drive  A LOT. 

On one particular day, he wasn't home, and my mom needed to go to town.  For some reason, she couldn't drive, so I did.  I think I was twelve.

Digression Over and on with the rest of the story:

Now that I was 'legal,' I pulled into the car port and parked. I could not wait to drive all by myself.  As we stepped out of the car, he said, "Wait right here."

He went into the house and returned with a .22 Rifle in his hands.

Many thoughts scattered through my head as he leaned the gun against the hood of the car.  (Holy Shit was what I was actually thinking.)

The conversation went something like this:

Daddy:  Which one of these do you consider a weapon ?  The car or the gun ?

Me:  The gun.

Daddy:  If you aimed this gun at a large crowd of people, how many people do you think would be killed or injured with one shot ?

Me:  One or two.  Maybe three.

Daddy:  If you drove this car through that same crowd of people, how many people do you think would be killed or injured ?

Me:  A lot.

Daddy:  Even though you consider the .22 Rifle a weapon, this car can injure or kill a lot more people.  Treat this car as carefully as you would a weapon.  It can injure or kill people just like this .22 Rifle can.

He walked back into the house, hesistated at the door, and then said, "Now, take the car and drive around by yourself.  I trust you."

Comments

[faye]

I've heard most of these warnings but never had a chance to use them. They wouldn't work so well on four-legged children which is my only area of inexpertese.

Your dad, however, was a very wise man. The lesson he shared with you on driver license day is one that would be hard to forget. And I'm glad you have this lovely mememto of him, Swampy.

[Joetta Capps]

I has an Uncle that was very wise, and part of what he told me and his oldest daughter maybe I will just let you fill in the blanks, but I remember it today just as when he said it and told my girls the same thing when they became teens and were allowed to date.
"A hard (private part on a man) has no remorse, it just will find any one any where regardless of the consequences. So say no." Now this is so true in most cases, look at the amount of teen pregnancies we deal with each year, many of the babies are left uncared for by either parent and grandparents end up raising a second family. I miss my uncle as he was a father figure for me growing up, when my own father was not there to spend that wonderful quality time you had with your Dad, Kathy. You are a lucky girl and smart too.

[Puppysitter]

The power and wisdom of your dad's lesson brought tears to my eyes. I wish every teenager could hear that and see it. Maybe he wasn't much of a hair stylist---but that is powerful wisdom and must have been an awful lot of love too.
That song makes me laugh---a 6 month old puppy makes you sound a lot like that too!!!

[Jordan]

i love it!
you might appreciate this...my dad sent me an email last week telling me that he put money in my account, and wanted me to go get my oil changed ASAP because "oil is the life of a car"
he also forwarded the email to my mom so that she would text me to make sure i got it. i got my oil changed the following day :)

[Janis]

Now that was a powerful lesson. You Dad was very wise! Like comment #2..my Mom also taught my sister n I the same thing. I also passed along the info to my own two girls. Thank God they listened!

[Georgia Girls]

Usually the best teaching moments are spontaneous--given out of love. Very wise father you had.

Out of all those cliches and there wasn't "always wear clean underwear in case you are in an accident and have to go the hospital".

[Sayre]

Great advice, Dad!!! I'll have to remember that when my own boy gets his license.

I couldn't think of any one thing - but the litany you printed out is the background of so many childhoods - including mine! I say all that stuff to my boy too. The only one I think you left out was "don't sit too close to the TV."

[Trish aka Foxymoron]

Tears in my eyes too, you are so fortunate to have had a great father.
My Dad taught me how to cut bread straight, hold your arm against your body as you cut and it will be straight, and he taught me how to shake hands properly.
My mother taught me how NOT to be a mother. :(

[church lady]

Great post Swampy! Gotta love Anita Renfro! Yep. I heard all those things growing up and guess what?? I have repeated most of them to my kiddos.

That is a great story about driving with your dad. Really makes you think.

[Lisa]

I love the story about your driver's license and your Dad. They just don't make them like that anymore!

I can add a couple. I said "I'm going with Ricky" like hes my new boyfriend. My Dad would say "Where are you going?" Are you kidding me? I wasn't going anywhere! I was 10 years old. =)

Another one "because I said so thats why!" I always hated that one. Oh, and 1 more "don't cross your eyes they might stick that way!" =)

Fun memories and boy have I heard the majority of the ones you mentioned. The "money doesn't grow on trees" I remember using often myself.

My son was majorly into the "name brand" sparkly side of life..me I was more into the bohemian or groovy side of life. Needless to say, we clashed often. Kinda like me & Dad..he was so military and once again..it was me, the wannabe hippie. I love them both so much though...even though we don't always agree.