Morons -- Parents live in tent

[gae]

Parents Go on Strike, Move to Front Yard

Wed Dec 8, 9:28 PM ET Strange News - AP

DELTONA, Fla. - Even though the dishes, garbage and dirty laundry were piling up, homeowners Cat and Harlan Barnard were getting no help from their two children.



After begging and pleading with their 17-year-old son and 12-year-old daughter to help out around the house, the Barnards decided they were fed up. So they went on strike ? and moved out to the front yard.

"This was our last-ditch effort," Cat Barnard said.

Since Monday morning, the Barnards have lived in a tent in their front yard, going inside the house only to use the restroom or shower. The couple sits on lawn chairs and roasts marshmallows over a hibachi.

Their children were confused on the first day when they came home from school. "It's extremely inconvenient," said their son, Ben Barnard. "Every time the phone rings, we have to run outside to give it to them."

Whether the couple's actions could be regarded as abandonment depends on how much guidance the parents are still providing and "if the children are suffering as a result," said Carrie Hoeppner, a spokeswoman with the Department of Children & Families in Orange County.

But Cat Barnard says the strike may already be paying dividends. She noted that her daughter washed her own clothes for the first time on Tuesday.

"This is war," Cat Barnard said. "I love my babies, but I don't like what they're doing."

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Source

[cincygreg]

I saw this last night. As much as I kind of applaud their attempt to get their kids to help out, the first thing I thjought to myslef was...

I hope it rains for about three days straight. LOL!

[jdf]

well...at the risk of joining the moron status...I hope they get their point across.

I mean, granted, I don't know what else they may have tried, but what if this is the only way to get their kids to wise up.

If all else has failed...what else would you suggest?

Sluggo used to throw our clothes out on the front lawn if we wouldn't put them away. (but the first bug we brought in kind of nixed that happening in the future.)

[img]eek.gif[/img]

[gae]

Kat, my problem is with this:

After begging and pleading with their 17-year-old son and 12-year-old daughter to help out around the house...

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">The parents are paying the bills. The children are, um... children. The inmates are running the asylum here.

Sluggo used to throw our clothes out on the front lawn if we wouldn't put them away.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I got to the point with J & L that I simply refused to wash their clothes. They didn't much care until they weren't permitted at the table to eat because their clothes stank.

[jdf]

well, I agree that it sounds as if the parents have relinquished control. I just wonder what other measures they have taken to get them to pitch in. I also think that maybe it is the KIDS who should live in the tent, nad the parents stay in the house. But I do like the one kid's comment that it was "a hassle" to take the phone to them. HA HA.

[LanDroid]

Eeegads, those folks need some professional help! Here at the 'Droid household, we parents do very little housework. The kids do all laundry and cleaning excluding our bedroom and bathroom. It's not perfect, there's still a fair amount of nagging and it's starting to break down a little, but compared to those folks, we got it well under control... Ya gotta start when they're too young to know any better [img]wink.gif[/img] It's too late for those folks...

<font color="#a52a2a" size="1">[ December 09, 2004 07:13 PM: Message edited by: LanDroid ]</font>

[Dulcinea]

Originally posted by LanDroid:
Eeegads, those folks need some professional help! Here at the 'Droid household, we parents do very little housework. The kids do all laundry and cleaning excluding our bedroom and bathroom. It's not perfect, there's still a fair amount of nagging and it's starting to break down a little, but compared to those folks, we got it well under control... Ya gotta start when they're too young to know any better [img]wink.gif[/img] It's too late for those folks...

<font color="#a52a2a"><font size="1">[ December 09, 2004 07:13 PM: Message edited by: LanDroid ]</font></font>

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I agree with LanDroid.

Gae, you may recall wanting to borrow the 4 year old who liked to Swiffer. Sure, it was not high quality cleaning, but it didn't make things worse and he got in the habit of helping while he still thought it was fun. Now, at 7, he is actually useful.

[jumper69]

It sounds like these <s>brats</s> kids were spoiled when they were growing up and now it's paying dividends.

Parents rule. In other words, as long as I pay the bills, provide the food and your clothes, you WILL do what I say or I WILL put a boot in your ass. Or words to that effect.

The parents should stop trying to be their friends and give them a dose of discipline that they seem to so desperatly need.

[Raven Soul]

My mom used to ride my ass about cleaning the house. I used to be so pissed about that. But now I am a fucking neat freak who freaks out and can't sleep when his house is dirty.

[Gunslinger]

Originally posted by Jigsaw:
My mom used to ride my ass about cleaning the house. I used to be so pissed about that. But now I am a fucking neat freak who freaks out and can't sleep when his house is dirty.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">You have a wonderful mother.