Boot Camp

[Lunis]

Well, where to start? Let’s see… Okay. I’ll start from the beginning. For a while now, my parents have been threatening to send me to a boot camp. One minute, they’re praising me for being such a good kid, and the next, my mom explodes at something we argued about earlier that day. Even I don’t understand it, but none of that even matters now. A few days ago, she went and actually looked up boot camps. The next morning, she woke me up and told me the boot camps suggest to save boot camp as a last resort and that they gave her other suggestions. That other suggestion was this: make our own house a boot camp. Let me explain the details. I now have a schedule taped up on a door in our kitchen. Because I think an example is the easiest way to explain, I’ll give you last Saturday’s schedule.

________________________________________

9:00 AM - wash face, dress: gym clothes, make bed, pick up bedroom (will be inspected) ___ (merit) ___ (demerit)

9:30 AM – make breakfast (eat at café table), scrambled eggs, apple, large water ___ ___

10:00 AM – unload/load dishwasher, clean pots and pans (leave kitchen same or better then when you started) ___ ___

10:20 AM – stretches, drills (see dad), ½ hour tread mill ___ ___

11:10 AM – shower, blow dry hair, dress: casual ___ ___

noon – clean your bathroom (inspection, 2 pts.) ___ ___

12:45 PM – haircut

1:00 PM – prepare lunch (see mom) ___ ___

1:30 PM – eat lunch (with family) ___ ___

2:00 PM – clean up kitchen ___ ___

3:00 PM – break (TV only with written request, including name of show, time, and location of TV, signed by both parents, maximum: 1hr.) ___ ___

5:00 PM – prepare supper (see mom) ___ ___

5:30 PM – eat dinner (with family) ___ ___

6:00 PM – clean up kitchen ___ ___

6:30 PM – laundry ___ ___

7:30 PM – break (TV only with written request, including name of show, time, and location of TV, signed by both parents, maximum: 2 hr.; may need to check on and finish laundry during break) ___ ___

9:30 PM – prep clothes for tomorrow, get ready for bed, hugs, kisses ___ ___

10:00 PM – lights out ___ ___

free time ideas: walk the dog, rollerblade, create/cook something, read, do a Games magazine, hang out with family

Notes:

- 10 merits required for ½ hour of computer time
- social activities on computer are maximum of ½ hr. per day
- say sir or dad; ma’am, mom, or mother
- 10 pushups for each instance of questioning, tone of voice, complaining, moaning, muttering, body language, or forgetting “yes, sirâ€

[Nate]

._.;;

Wow. I kinda wish there was something I could say. I can't make judgements on your parents, as much as I'd like to...so all I will say is, this sucks...

[Raiden no Kishi]

That seems . . . excessive.

.rai//

[Shao Feng-Li]

Ooo... an hour of fun. If you're doing all that, what do your parents do?

[bakura_fan]

-_- I'm at least leaving home to go to boot camp.....well...Air force....*sigh*....I want to judge..I really do...I would have suggested counseling more than boot camp. It seems a little extreme.....the home should never be such a way. I fear it will then become a resentment...to me my home qwould not be a safe haven to come back to once I had left on my own.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

.... what the heck?

I say that's quite.... harsh >_>

[Yojimbo]

Might I ask what exactly you did that set this off?

[SigmaKnight]

:/ I'd like to say how I feel about your parents idea to do this, especially with you being as good a kid as you are, but its probably best I don't say anything... >_>;; So, I'll just say that I don't like this idea, and things aren't going to be the same around here without you.

And don't forget us, cause we'll never forget you. :/

[pillar_anime7]

What your parents are making you do is a load of crap. Your parents have turned into tyrants. Your house has become a dictatorship. They've taken away virtually all of your freewill. Ever thought about divorcing your parents? If they continue this boot camp thing, you might have to divorce them. You're in my prayers and I hope your "parents" reconsider this whole thing before something bad happens. I'm sorry if I seem a little extreme, but I'm just stating the facts here based on what you're going through.

[DaughterOfZion]

im sorry. are they like abusive?and what parent in there right mind would do that?ive only had one run in with you but ill always remember you.

[Debitt]

*gives Lunis a huggle* Praying for ya. ^_^

[battletech]

It looks like boot camp would be easier.

[Wild Eagle]

Wow, that's pretty extreme.

[DaughterOfZion]

boot camp would be easier. you wouldnt have to stay there for three years.well you might but still

[chibiphonebooth]

jeeeeeeeeeeeeeeez... O.O

thats...really really harsh!

[heero yuy 95]

It looks like boot camp would be easier.

Yeah, no kidding. How long is this to keep up? I don't mean to sound judgemental, but that sounds crazy if you ask me.

[Yojimbo]

Yeah I knew a kid who went to boot camp. He was the kind who did drugs, fought with his parents constantly, and had some serious anger management problems. Those are the kind of kids I've seen go to bootcamp. That's why I'm kind of curious as to what brought this on for you. I hope it wasn't just for not making your bed or not eating your veggies or something...

[chibiphonebooth]

Yeah I knew a kid who went to boot camp. He was the kind who did drugs, fought with his parents constantly, and had some serious anger management problems. Those are the kind of kids I've seen go to bootcamp. That's why I'm kind of curious as to what brought this on for you. I hope it wasn't just for not making your bed or not eating your veggies or something...

LOL

BILLY!! you DIDNT EAT YOUR VEGETABLES! THAST IT! WE ARE MAKING OUR HOUSE LIKE A BOOT CAMP! RAWR!!!! HISS!

billy: *cries*

[Scribs]

Ouch. That seems a bit harsh. I hope that you get through that while still keeping your sanity. I know this is going to be hard, but you need to respect your parent's decisions for things like this even when it seems out of controll (of course I am being hypocritical, I could take that advice myself...)

[christianfriend]

Oh my... o.o thats pretty darn harsh. If my parents did that I would like..run away to my friends house!

[Mikomi]

O_O wow...that's a bit extreme. It makes no sense to me. Why would they want to send you to a boot camp or make up such a strict schedule if you're a good kid? *confused* Usually the kids who are skipping school, doing drugs, and are completely outta control are the ones sent to boot camp. This really bothers me. Parents should expect respect from their children and set rules for them but this is absolutely ridiculous. I mean come on, if you complain or show any negative body language you have to do push ups? What kid hasn't rolled their eyes or huffed and puffed when their parents asked them to do something? That's just part of being a kid. Kids are like that. They're supposed to be like that. Heck, adults even do it at times. I could say so much more about this, but I think I've already said enough. I feel for you and you're in my prayers.

[DaughterOfZion]

well Actually boot camp wwould be worse cause they're proffesionals. unlike parents that have most likely never been to boot camp or worked their

[Lunis]

Yesterday, my mom made me do pushups for telling you all about this and upsetting you. She thinks I exaggerated. I think it’s pretty obvious I didn’t do that, since I showed you the exact schedule she gave me. I assured her I didn’t exaggerate, so then she told me I should have dedramatized it to not make you all sympathize with me. Sorry, but I just don’t think leaving everyone with no explanation why was the right thing to do. Oddly, it seems she thinks this will make her look bad, yet she tells all the adults about this “great accomplishment.â€

[chibiphonebooth]

GOSH!

how horrible!! im so sorry..

*hugs x 10*

:/

i hope everything gets better for you. have you tried discussing this with your parents, on how this makes YOU feel?

or what if... i dont wanna sound... rebellious or anything, but what if you just didnt do anything that was on that list? ...

nah bad idea. >.> you would get in so much trouble. XD

[Tarnish]

I don't know you well, Lunis, but I am praying for you.

[ShiroiHikari]

Getting yelled at to shut up sounds emotionally abusive to me.

[Shadowchild]

I am sorry to hear of that Lunis. You will be in my prayers.

[pillar_anime7]

Wow, your mom making you do pushups just for speaking out against what you have to go through and she's glorifying it to other adults? She is becoming a female version of Adolf Hitler. She is making you do a lot of things against your will. When I become a parent, I'll never do anything like that with my kids. I hope that you guys get counseling to resolve this before it gets so out of hand your relationship with your parents will be damaged beyond repair. I will pray for you and hope that this hardship will end very soon for you.

[termyt]

I feel so bad for you, Lunis-chan. I can’t pass judgment, since I only know your side of the story, but this seems very extreme - especially if it does actually last for as long as you live in their house.

Can I give some advice?

This is actually a good opportunity to learn from your parents. These are lessons I wish no one had to learn, but God gives us life experiences to teach us what we need to know in order to serve Him. Often, these lessons are not fair and very painful. I wish I could be there to support you, but I am too far away and it would not be appropriate behavior anyways.

Have you considered passive resistance? This would most likely be the hardest of the roads you can choose, but it will help you develop your own integrity and character in the face of some very difficult circumstances.

What do I mean by passive resistance? First, I do not mean chaining your self to the washing machine and refusing to move. I am going to assume, for the benefit of doubt, that your parents are not doing this because they hate you or just get off on punishing you. I will assume that they are trying to teach you something, even if we can not understand what that something is.

Do exactly what you are scheduled to do and do it politely. Follow the schedule to the letter as much as physically possible. If they ask you anything, answer honestly, do not give them the answer you think they want to hear. Be honest and polite. If that results in push-ups, then do them happily with a “yes, sir!â€

[Heart of Sword]

That's pretty awful...knowing me I'd be tempted to take off if that happened in my house. Which would be a bad idea...PM me, by the way, I might be able to help you out.