It is a story of youth and coming of age, of broken promises and harsh injustices.
You see, when I was of school age my parents were fairly strict in terms of what I could and could not do. As far as parties went, I was not allowed to go to them unless mum had spoken to the supervising parent over the phone and had been assured there would be no alcohol at said party. Needless to say I went to very few parties (read: none).
So, when my Year 12 ball came up, I got quite excited. Briefly. You see, my parents told me that not only would I not be allowed to go to a pre-ball or after-ball party, but I was also not allowed to go in a limo to the ball.
The reason? Riding in a limo was growing up too fast.
Stupid reason, yeah? But whatever. I kicked up a fuss about it but to no avail. To my Dad's credit, he did hire me a very nice charter car to drive myself and my girlfriend to the ball. But the damage had been done. I wasn't allowed to "fit in" with the rest of my Year 12 classmates.
Anyway, the whole thing passed. I finished school, did well in my TEE and was subsequently allowed to do whatever the hell I wanted.
Then my younger sister had her ball. No such rule was imposed on her. Of course, my younger brother followed a couple of years later and he was allowed to drive in a limo, drink before and after, etc etc.
In the years since I have been trying to get my parents to admit they messed up on that one. Trying and failing. I don't want an apology, all I want is for them to say "Dave, we got that one wrong." Which is obvious, since they didn't continue the policy with my younger siblings.
What do you think, readers? Was I unfairly jibbed? Should my parents admit they stuffed that one up? Or should I just get over it? Join me next time for more tales from the Dave Side...
2 months ago
7 comments:
That was a good one.
I'm mostly with you on this one; not an apology just a little something, something. Anything with the word superior in their sentence somewhere would be just fine with me.
But I think the realisation that you weren't crazy and that shit around you was actually illogical certainly has its own sweet victory. Some people never get to see why they were treated so different and end up on the news for all the wrong reasons.
Oh Dave, you may honestly believe you were unfairly treated, but please consider this - some of us spent time growing up in catholic boys homes and so called 'catholic safe houses' (need I say more), no girlfriends, no year 12, no ball, so really mate missing a Limo ride to a ball isn't a life damaging/changing event... and you even went for a ride in a charter car and better still went to a ball. Maybe your parents where a bit over protective at the time, so mmmmmate I go with you last suggestion... Get Over It. :-)
I'd say you got royally F'd over Dave.
However compared to my teenage years and my relationship with my parents, i'd still say you had it alright.
I'd go either way.
Hmm...if it's true that actions speak louder than words, then your parents have already kinda admitted that they f*cked up by not pushing the policy onto your siblings.
But yes, some verbal affirmation would be nice. Sounds like you ain't gonna get it though.
Get back at them by letting their grandkids host unsupervised alcohol-fuelled after-ball parties. Hell, let them shoot up in a pimped-up limo on the way to the ball.
Yeah my brother got screwed in exactly the same way: 6 years older than me and he was allowed to do basically NOTHING, ever. By the time it got around to me, though, Mum and Dad didn't really give a toss so long as I wasn't actually shooting up at the dining table. Which I only did, like, once.
You got jipped. Being the oldest sibling sucks bigtime. I had to fight to be allowed to do anything and yet by the time it came around to my youngest brother reaching his teen years he could pretty much do whatever the hell he wanted.
Ros
Thanks for your feeback guys. I know I should probably get over it :) I like your reasoning Rochelle, that actions speak louder than words. I'll take that as my admission :)
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