Monday, October 04, 2010

It's a Bumpy Road to Adulthood


Oh golly, what a weekend.

Haven't talked a whole lot about the Aspiring Adult lately. He's been busy working two jobs and taking a couple of classes online (His second job wouldn't give him a regular schedule until he'd been there for 3 months, and he didn't feel comfortable scheduling classes he might not make). So far he's got A's in everything.

If you all remember, when he turned 18, we provided him with a pretty nice car for his use, intending to sign it over to him when he started college. He blew out 2 engines in less than 6 months. The first time was because he ignored or didn't know what the oil light was for, the second was because he thought he could treat the car like an off-road vehicle.

We refused to replace the engine the second time, so he had to use some of his savings to buy a beater he could get around in.

Everything's been pretty smooth with that (except he got a speeding ticket).

Yesterday we invited Big Kid and Kitty up for the day. Big Kid was going to watch football with his dad, and Kitty was going to help me sort through some merchandise we're getting together for a large order the studio received. Then we were going to do the big Sunday dinner thing.

I heard the Aspiring Adult's alarm go off at about 6a.m. down in the bat cave. He's very responsible about getting himself up and out of the house for work, so I figured he had an early shift. I was in and out of the main part of the house and didn't see him leave.

Early evening, he hadn't come home or called, and I was getting a bit annoyed. If he's not coming home for dinner, I expect a call for courtesy's sake, and he's not always so good about that. So I called him on his cell. He didn't answer, but called me back about 5 minutes later.

"Are you coming home for dinner?" I asked.

Uh, I'm in my room.

"What?"

I've been here all day. Something happened, and I didn't know how to tell you guys about it.

"But your car's not here." Uh oh. No car. Not good.

"First of all, are you ok?" I can't believe we're having this conversation on the phone, fer petesakes, when he's one floor below me.

Yes.

"Were you drinking and driving?"

NO!

What happened was this:

He got a call at about 1am from a girl in the crowd he hangs out with. Not his girlfriend. She's still in high school, and was supposed to be spending the night at a friend's house. She had another guy friend who she feared was depressed and had taken some prescription drugs. Would the Aspiring Adult come pick her up and take her to his house so she could check on him?

Instead of doing the logical thing, like telling her if she was THAT worried, she should call 911, or maybe her own parents, he sneaked out of the house (his curfew is midnight unless other arrangements have been made) and went and picked her up. She didn't know the address exactly, but kind of knew where the house was.

So those two fools drove around in the mountains in the middle of the night, where there are NO streetlights, and most of the homes are set way back from the road and you can't see the house numbers. They got lost. Unfamiliar with the terrain, the Aspiring Adult took a curve too sharply, clipped a tree...

And rolled the freaking car.

Thank GOD they had their seatbelts on.

The girl had a bruised chest from where the seatbelt held her in, and went to the hospital in an ambulance. Her mother tried to have the Aspiring Adult arrested, but since her daughter was the one who initiated the whole event, the police refused. There were no drugs or alcohol involved, so he got off with a reckless driving ticket and a totaled car.


And Hubby will get an escalated insurance rate for the next 10 years.

Dumbass.

Oh, and the kid who supposedly took too many drugs? He's fine. Apparently he didn't really take anything after all.

13 comments:

debra said...

Being a parent is not for sissies.

Formerly known as Frau said...

wow never a dull moment uh? I'm glad he wasn't hurt!

Jeanie said...

Amen to what Debra above said, but I do think you have had your share and more. I'm pretty sure he was just as glad to have that conversation by phone instead of face to face with you.

Big Daddy Autism said...

Oh boy. At least he was doing something he thought was heroic and not making a beer run or something like that. Glad everyone is okay.

Anonymous said...

Oh man. It could have happened to anyone. Teenaged girls are just TROUBLE.

Tracie Nall said...

Oh my gosh! How crazy. I'm glad the police didn't arrest him.

What a mess. Parenting is scary.

Kim Ayres said...

I think it's time to run away from home...

Kikilia said...

Why on earth would the girl's mom try and have him arrested? For what? It was her dumba$$ kid that started the whole mess. Gheesh.

Glad he's okay.

Joanna Jenkins said...

Seriously?!?!? Thank god everyone was okay, but yikes!
xo jj

Rootietoot said...

Uh BOY. Well, poor kid was probably scared sh**less all day. I am really glad no one was seriously hurt. Will he still be able to work, being car-less? can he contribute to insurance to make up the difference in costs?

Katie :o) said...

I'm pretty sure there is a very special place in the afterlife for you involving lots of cabana boys, drinks with little umbrellas and siestas by the pool.... Glad he is ok! And not arrested...

Cheryl said...

I'm glad he was okay, but you have to wonder what the logic is that goes through teens minds. It is a scary thought. You have had more than your fair share of stress for the next 20-30 years. Time for that Vegas trip : )
Love you and take care of yourself.
Cheryl

ditzymoi said...

The minds of teenagers are scary places indeed. I only have 3 more to go with the whole drivers license thing ...pray for me lol