Re: walking alone
Brenda Rose
I want to share what just happened today:
My ds John 14 was asked a few weeks ago to be in a play at a private school
about three blocks from our house. We know many of the students and
teachers there and they know John - that's why he was asked. The play will
be at the end of this month. Every day (M-Sat) he's been going to rehearsal
at the school. He usually walks there and walks back home. Someimes we'll
give him a ride if we're going out, and sometimes a friend will bring him
home. Hte rehearsal is from 3:30 to 5:30 or 6:00 on weekdays. Yesterday
they got out about 5:15, so when he wasn't home at 6 today I thought they
probably stayed late to make up the time. It's the musical Crazy For You,
with lots of singing and dancing, so he's usually very tired when he gets
home. I thought I'd b nice and go pick him up since it was late. I drove
down, went into the main hall, where "visitors" sign in and out, and looked
at the shett. He'd signed out at 5:20. Oh, great... I went back home -
still not there. Called his two close friends (who are in the show) about
6:15 and asked if they'd seen him after rehearsal. Nope. They suggested he
might have gone downtown (two more blocks past the school) to the coffee
shop.
Okay - so dh and I got in the car and drove down the main street. While
doing this we saw three men walking down the street, having a fight -
arguing, pushing and starting to punch. They stopped when we drove by. We
thought about going by the police station to report it but then forgot
because we were looking for John. Not in any of the three coffee shops in
town. Not walking up and down the streets. Drove back by the house - not
there. Hadn't called.
Drove around downtown (about four blocks wide and six blocks long) some
more. Had four police cars go zooming past. Nerve-racking. Decided to
"follow" them by going around the block and driving down the main street
again. Saw the two men who were together coming down the street. An officer
stopped them - "do you have any weapons?- no, sir. Do you have ID? -
Here...We kept driving and saw the third man(who had been following and
yelling at the two) lying on the sidewalk. No idea how hurt he was, but at
least he was moving around some. Still hadn't found John.
Drove by the house again, but not there. Decided to go by the school and
see if he had stayed there (after signing out). The musical director (a
good friend) was there and began calling some of the cast. One girl
suggested that he might be at another girl's house, as she lives literally
just across the street from the school and often has a lot of the kids over
(John had never been there, though.) Sure enough, when I called there and
talked to the mother, he was there, along with a whole group. She went and
told him we were at the school and he walked out to the car. She mst have
told him I was mad (I wasn't) because taht's the first thing he asked hs dad
(I was still talking with my friend - getting the info on how to buy play
tickets). I'm sure John knew I wasn't mad when I got to the car, though,
because I asked him if there were still a lot of kids there and if he wanted
to go back. He said yes and no, because his best friend there had already
left and besides he was getting hungry (by this time it was 7:30).
He told me he hadn't thought to call, because he knew he didn't have
anything to do this evening and so it was fine. I told him it was fine to
go and be there, but to Please call next time just to let as know where he
was so we wouldn't worry. Usually he's very good about telling me he's
leaving the house or has gotten home or calling to ask about going out
somewhere. I think what happened today is that he was with a whole big
group doing a new thing (for him) and he was excited about it and so didn't
even think past the moment. Hopefully he'll remember to call next time.
We live in Staunton, VA, a small city of about 20,000. No, people aren't
beat up on the main street in broad daylight very often. And my son does
not disappear for two hours very often either - fortunately. I'm just glad
he's home and we're all together tonight.
Brenda Rose
PS - No, we don't have cell phones. Had them, didn't like them that much.
Will probably get them again when John starts driving. Maybe sooner.
My ds John 14 was asked a few weeks ago to be in a play at a private school
about three blocks from our house. We know many of the students and
teachers there and they know John - that's why he was asked. The play will
be at the end of this month. Every day (M-Sat) he's been going to rehearsal
at the school. He usually walks there and walks back home. Someimes we'll
give him a ride if we're going out, and sometimes a friend will bring him
home. Hte rehearsal is from 3:30 to 5:30 or 6:00 on weekdays. Yesterday
they got out about 5:15, so when he wasn't home at 6 today I thought they
probably stayed late to make up the time. It's the musical Crazy For You,
with lots of singing and dancing, so he's usually very tired when he gets
home. I thought I'd b nice and go pick him up since it was late. I drove
down, went into the main hall, where "visitors" sign in and out, and looked
at the shett. He'd signed out at 5:20. Oh, great... I went back home -
still not there. Called his two close friends (who are in the show) about
6:15 and asked if they'd seen him after rehearsal. Nope. They suggested he
might have gone downtown (two more blocks past the school) to the coffee
shop.
Okay - so dh and I got in the car and drove down the main street. While
doing this we saw three men walking down the street, having a fight -
arguing, pushing and starting to punch. They stopped when we drove by. We
thought about going by the police station to report it but then forgot
because we were looking for John. Not in any of the three coffee shops in
town. Not walking up and down the streets. Drove back by the house - not
there. Hadn't called.
Drove around downtown (about four blocks wide and six blocks long) some
more. Had four police cars go zooming past. Nerve-racking. Decided to
"follow" them by going around the block and driving down the main street
again. Saw the two men who were together coming down the street. An officer
stopped them - "do you have any weapons?- no, sir. Do you have ID? -
Here...We kept driving and saw the third man(who had been following and
yelling at the two) lying on the sidewalk. No idea how hurt he was, but at
least he was moving around some. Still hadn't found John.
Drove by the house again, but not there. Decided to go by the school and
see if he had stayed there (after signing out). The musical director (a
good friend) was there and began calling some of the cast. One girl
suggested that he might be at another girl's house, as she lives literally
just across the street from the school and often has a lot of the kids over
(John had never been there, though.) Sure enough, when I called there and
talked to the mother, he was there, along with a whole group. She went and
told him we were at the school and he walked out to the car. She mst have
told him I was mad (I wasn't) because taht's the first thing he asked hs dad
(I was still talking with my friend - getting the info on how to buy play
tickets). I'm sure John knew I wasn't mad when I got to the car, though,
because I asked him if there were still a lot of kids there and if he wanted
to go back. He said yes and no, because his best friend there had already
left and besides he was getting hungry (by this time it was 7:30).
He told me he hadn't thought to call, because he knew he didn't have
anything to do this evening and so it was fine. I told him it was fine to
go and be there, but to Please call next time just to let as know where he
was so we wouldn't worry. Usually he's very good about telling me he's
leaving the house or has gotten home or calling to ask about going out
somewhere. I think what happened today is that he was with a whole big
group doing a new thing (for him) and he was excited about it and so didn't
even think past the moment. Hopefully he'll remember to call next time.
We live in Staunton, VA, a small city of about 20,000. No, people aren't
beat up on the main street in broad daylight very often. And my son does
not disappear for two hours very often either - fortunately. I'm just glad
he's home and we're all together tonight.
Brenda Rose
PS - No, we don't have cell phones. Had them, didn't like them that much.
Will probably get them again when John starts driving. Maybe sooner.
[email protected]
I would've been mad. It's not cool, in my book, for kids to be expected at a certain time and not have checked in when it's an hour and a half past that time. It's inconsiderate.
I'm not sure I would have done anything differently, except that I would have been mad, and told Rain.
I was half an hour late tonight, getitng done with work, so I called Rain and let her know. That's only half an hour, but it's nighttime and we just moved here and I thought she might be concerned.
We have cell phones, too. Can't imagine life without 'em.
Dar
-- "Brenda Rose" <rosebl@...> wrote:
I want to share what just happened today:
My ds John 14 was asked a few weeks ago to be in a play at a private school
about three blocks from our house. We know many of the students and
teachers there and they know John - that's why he was asked. The play will
be at the end of this month. Every day (M-Sat) he's been going to rehearsal
at the school. He usually walks there and walks back home. Someimes we'll
give him a ride if we're going out, and sometimes a friend will bring him
home. Hte rehearsal is from 3:30 to 5:30 or 6:00 on weekdays. Yesterday
they got out about 5:15, so when he wasn't home at 6 today I thought they
probably stayed late to make up the time. It's the musical Crazy For You,
with lots of singing and dancing, so he's usually very tired when he gets
home. I thought I'd b nice and go pick him up since it was late. I drove
down, went into the main hall, where "visitors" sign in and out, and looked
at the shett. He'd signed out at 5:20. Oh, great... I went back home -
still not there. Called his two close friends (who are in the show) about
6:15 and asked if they'd seen him after rehearsal. Nope. They suggested he
might have gone downtown (two more blocks past the school) to the coffee
shop.
Okay - so dh and I got in the car and drove down the main street. While
doing this we saw three men walking down the street, having a fight -
arguing, pushing and starting to punch. They stopped when we drove by. We
thought about going by the police station to report it but then forgot
because we were looking for John. Not in any of the three coffee shops in
town. Not walking up and down the streets. Drove back by the house - not
there. Hadn't called.
Drove around downtown (about four blocks wide and six blocks long) some
more. Had four police cars go zooming past. Nerve-racking. Decided to
"follow" them by going around the block and driving down the main street
again. Saw the two men who were together coming down the street. An officer
stopped them - "do you have any weapons?- no, sir. Do you have ID? -
Here...We kept driving and saw the third man(who had been following and
yelling at the two) lying on the sidewalk. No idea how hurt he was, but at
least he was moving around some. Still hadn't found John.
Drove by the house again, but not there. Decided to go by the school and
see if he had stayed there (after signing out). The musical director (a
good friend) was there and began calling some of the cast. One girl
suggested that he might be at another girl's house, as she lives literally
just across the street from the school and often has a lot of the kids over
(John had never been there, though.) Sure enough, when I called there and
talked to the mother, he was there, along with a whole group. She went and
told him we were at the school and he walked out to the car. She mst have
told him I was mad (I wasn't) because taht's the first thing he asked hs dad
(I was still talking with my friend - getting the info on how to buy play
tickets). I'm sure John knew I wasn't mad when I got to the car, though,
because I asked him if there were still a lot of kids there and if he wanted
to go back. He said yes and no, because his best friend there had already
left and besides he was getting hungry (by this time it was 7:30).
He told me he hadn't thought to call, because he knew he didn't have
anything to do this evening and so it was fine. I told him it was fine to
go and be there, but to Please call next time just to let as know where he
was so we wouldn't worry. Usually he's very good about telling me he's
leaving the house or has gotten home or calling to ask about going out
somewhere. I think what happened today is that he was with a whole big
group doing a new thing (for him) and he was excited about it and so didn't
even think past the moment. Hopefully he'll remember to call next time.
We live in Staunton, VA, a small city of about 20,000. No, people aren't
beat up on the main street in broad daylight very often. And my son does
not disappear for two hours very often either - fortunately. I'm just glad
he's home and we're all together tonight.
Brenda Rose
PS - No, we don't have cell phones. Had them, didn't like them that much.
Will probably get them again when John starts driving. Maybe sooner.
"List Posting Policies" are provided in the files area of this group.
Visit the Unschooling website and message boards: http://www.unschooling.com
Yahoo! Groups Links
I'm not sure I would have done anything differently, except that I would have been mad, and told Rain.
I was half an hour late tonight, getitng done with work, so I called Rain and let her know. That's only half an hour, but it's nighttime and we just moved here and I thought she might be concerned.
We have cell phones, too. Can't imagine life without 'em.
Dar
-- "Brenda Rose" <rosebl@...> wrote:
I want to share what just happened today:
My ds John 14 was asked a few weeks ago to be in a play at a private school
about three blocks from our house. We know many of the students and
teachers there and they know John - that's why he was asked. The play will
be at the end of this month. Every day (M-Sat) he's been going to rehearsal
at the school. He usually walks there and walks back home. Someimes we'll
give him a ride if we're going out, and sometimes a friend will bring him
home. Hte rehearsal is from 3:30 to 5:30 or 6:00 on weekdays. Yesterday
they got out about 5:15, so when he wasn't home at 6 today I thought they
probably stayed late to make up the time. It's the musical Crazy For You,
with lots of singing and dancing, so he's usually very tired when he gets
home. I thought I'd b nice and go pick him up since it was late. I drove
down, went into the main hall, where "visitors" sign in and out, and looked
at the shett. He'd signed out at 5:20. Oh, great... I went back home -
still not there. Called his two close friends (who are in the show) about
6:15 and asked if they'd seen him after rehearsal. Nope. They suggested he
might have gone downtown (two more blocks past the school) to the coffee
shop.
Okay - so dh and I got in the car and drove down the main street. While
doing this we saw three men walking down the street, having a fight -
arguing, pushing and starting to punch. They stopped when we drove by. We
thought about going by the police station to report it but then forgot
because we were looking for John. Not in any of the three coffee shops in
town. Not walking up and down the streets. Drove back by the house - not
there. Hadn't called.
Drove around downtown (about four blocks wide and six blocks long) some
more. Had four police cars go zooming past. Nerve-racking. Decided to
"follow" them by going around the block and driving down the main street
again. Saw the two men who were together coming down the street. An officer
stopped them - "do you have any weapons?- no, sir. Do you have ID? -
Here...We kept driving and saw the third man(who had been following and
yelling at the two) lying on the sidewalk. No idea how hurt he was, but at
least he was moving around some. Still hadn't found John.
Drove by the house again, but not there. Decided to go by the school and
see if he had stayed there (after signing out). The musical director (a
good friend) was there and began calling some of the cast. One girl
suggested that he might be at another girl's house, as she lives literally
just across the street from the school and often has a lot of the kids over
(John had never been there, though.) Sure enough, when I called there and
talked to the mother, he was there, along with a whole group. She went and
told him we were at the school and he walked out to the car. She mst have
told him I was mad (I wasn't) because taht's the first thing he asked hs dad
(I was still talking with my friend - getting the info on how to buy play
tickets). I'm sure John knew I wasn't mad when I got to the car, though,
because I asked him if there were still a lot of kids there and if he wanted
to go back. He said yes and no, because his best friend there had already
left and besides he was getting hungry (by this time it was 7:30).
He told me he hadn't thought to call, because he knew he didn't have
anything to do this evening and so it was fine. I told him it was fine to
go and be there, but to Please call next time just to let as know where he
was so we wouldn't worry. Usually he's very good about telling me he's
leaving the house or has gotten home or calling to ask about going out
somewhere. I think what happened today is that he was with a whole big
group doing a new thing (for him) and he was excited about it and so didn't
even think past the moment. Hopefully he'll remember to call next time.
We live in Staunton, VA, a small city of about 20,000. No, people aren't
beat up on the main street in broad daylight very often. And my son does
not disappear for two hours very often either - fortunately. I'm just glad
he's home and we're all together tonight.
Brenda Rose
PS - No, we don't have cell phones. Had them, didn't like them that much.
Will probably get them again when John starts driving. Maybe sooner.
"List Posting Policies" are provided in the files area of this group.
Visit the Unschooling website and message boards: http://www.unschooling.com
Yahoo! Groups Links
Pam Sorooshian
On Apr 19, 2005, at 7:05 PM, Brenda Rose wrote:
I pretty much always know where even my 20 year old daughter is - and
that that is kind of weird <G>. We have cell phones with no charge to
call anybody in our own service - so anybody in our family is free. We
call each other all day long - just to ask the silliest little quick
questions or to vent when we're upset or to share a good moment or
whatever.
-pam
> PS - No, we don't have cell phones. Had them, didn't like them thatSure makes life with active teenagers easier. I was thinking about how
> much.
> Will probably get them again when John starts driving. Maybe sooner.
I pretty much always know where even my 20 year old daughter is - and
that that is kind of weird <G>. We have cell phones with no charge to
call anybody in our own service - so anybody in our family is free. We
call each other all day long - just to ask the silliest little quick
questions or to vent when we're upset or to share a good moment or
whatever.
-pam