Originally Posted By Lisann22 October 14, 2005 - Question of the day: Do you have that one thing that as a kid you did wrong that still bothers you, makes you squirm, that you wish you could go back and do over? Doesn't matter if it was embarassing, mean spirited, just plain bad behavior, a bit disrespectful - just something as a kid that nobody died over or maybe even remembers. However you remember and if you could take it back or do over you would.
Originally Posted By wahooskipper When I was in the 5th grade, I think, there was a girl at the desk next to me who really go under my skin. A friend had showed me a "trick" where you took a paper clip and opened it up, bent if back and forth a number of times, and then the curved part would get warm. So, I thought I'd annoy here right back and really bent this thing back and forth for all it was worth and then handed it to my annoying neighbor. Well, the thing got hotter than I could imagined and burnt this little girls hand. It wasn't severe and she didn't even need a bandaid but she cried and I felt awful. It was the first time I ever hurt a girl and I felt like a heel. Particularly because the girl was actually kind of cute and I liked her. I similarly hurt my wife once, though by accident, and we still talk and laugh about it. She had this hair clip and I was doing this "JAWS" thing with it where I was opening it up and closing it like a sharks mouth and pointing it towards her. I accidently let go and thing thing flew out of my hand and snapped right onto the end of her nose. She cried out a scream and tears were streaming. There were no marks when all was said and done but boy did I feel bad.
Originally Posted By Ursula I took change out of my mom's purse without asking. She would always have this gigantic purse full of all sorts of stuff and papers and you name it. She would never put her change back into her coin pouch and would just let the change fall to the bottom. For some reason, this annoyed me so I took some of the quarters and dimes out for myself. Mom, I am so sorry, but I spent it on candy. Boy, I feel better!
Originally Posted By melekalikimaka I was really mean to our cat when I was in the first grade. I still feel so badly about it that I almost didn't post in this thread. Once, when my mom was getting her hair done at a salon located in a department store I found a shirt that I really wanted. My mom wouldn't buy it for me and it made me really mad because I only owned about 2 or 3 outfits and she had a huge walk-in closet full of clothes. So, later, while driving home I asked her if she liked her new hairstyle. She said yes and then asked me if I like it. I said "no". That was probably one of the meanest things I ever did.
Originally Posted By Big Thunder <"So, later, while driving home I asked her if she liked her new hairstyle. She said yes and then asked me if I like it. I said "no". That was probably one of the meanest things I ever did."> Mele, I'm sorry I dont mean to pour salt on an old wound or make fun of the situation, but that's it? thats the meanest thing? oh my gaad! my 14 year old daughter does stuff like that to me everyday.
Originally Posted By Big Thunder I have way to many things to even mention, I am now in a deep blue funk just thinking about some of the things I did as a kid
Originally Posted By gaydsnywitch Most of the things that bother me about my childhood aren't things I did but rather what I didn't do. One of my brothers (he's 14 months older than me) was a bit of a meany. Sometimes I wish I had been brave enough to tell him to not do some of the things he did. Or I should have told an adult what he was doing. For example, he got some of his friends to help him trick a mentally challenged kid into letting them light a fire cracker in the kid's back pocket.
Originally Posted By Inspector 57 Regrets? I've had a few. If I had time now to un-do the defense mechanism that keeps most of them out-of-mind most of the time, I could single-handedly take this thread up to Dalmatians. One that just won't be repressed... In high school I wrote a column for the school newspaper. Once, for one column, I got brave and asked a very nice but kind of shy acquaintence, Deb Wilkins, to draw an illustration for me. Explained what I wanted, gave her a deadline, and everything. She came back with a perfect cartoon to accompany the story. I never used it. I can't remember why. Lack of space? Changed deadline for publication? It's unclear now. I know I thanked her for it when she gave it to me, but I don't think I ever explained to her why it didn't appear. I just know it hurt her feelings. That one has haunted me for however many years this has been now. If I knew how to get ahold of her, I would.
Originally Posted By Inspector 57 In November of the year in which my Dad died in August, the four of us kids got together at Mom's one Sunday while she was away to put up her Christmas tree. We knew it would have been difficult or impossible for her to do that year. Well, it was difficult for us. My sister Sheila and I are both kind of perfectionistic about The Tree. Karl wasn't careful enough for us. PJ thought we were all being silly about it. We all really missed Dad. We disagreed on how to do things. "Difficult" turned to "ugly," which was just not the way we typically interacted with each other. PJ and I ended up screaming at each other. [Absolutely, totally unheard of.] One of us threw something to the floor. [Also completely unheard of.] Starting a little while after it happened, and for the next twenty years, she and I been apologizing to each other and assuring each other that we didn't mean it and that we've forgiven the other and that it was understandable given the circumstances. I still think I'd give up a finger to "un-do" that afternoon.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan When I was in 7th grade, there was this bully who terrorized everyone. He was big, hairy, and looked to be at least 43 years old. We were playing a game of soccer in PE one day. Another kid (named Eric) and I were chatting away, and while all the players were down at the other end of the field, Eric said something insulting but hilarious about the bully, who was also in the game. The bully, natuarally, cheated at one point, and every boy on the field started screaming at him in protest. Unfortunately for me, for some reason he heard me over all the others, and fixed his gaze at me. He started stomping toward me, and I knew I was dead. The teacher was quite a ways off, and no one else was about to step in. In a panic, I pointed at Eric and blurted out "He called you a ___________!" Horribly, it worked. The bully turned toward Eric. Eric looked at me with this horrible expression of fear, nausea and bewilderment. The teacher by that time saw that trouble was brewing and ran down to break it up. Eric was threatened but never got beat up, the bully probably forgot about it after a few days. But he never spoke to me again, and I have always felt horrible about that moment, wishing I could take it back.
Originally Posted By Big Thunder OMG gaydsnywitch ! re" post #8 Your comment about not stepping in is exactly what was on my mind too. Your brothers mean prank is very similar. Since you mentioned it, after some thought, I decided I will post one of my deepest regrets from my childhood. Please excuse me if I get a bit dramamic, it is'nt easy to post about it in a public forum. It is one of the most regretful things I recal from my childhood, it has haunted me for many years, I have talked with clergy and others about this, wishing to erase it from my memory bank. here goes... [with a lump in my throat] Where I grew up as a little kid I had a friend with down syndrone, he was 3 years older than me, he hung out with his little brother and us. I rode to preschool with his little brother, we played together, we'd go to the park together, their mom and mine were friends. I knew Jerry was different, but my dad instilled very good morales, ethics, and unbiased standards in me, I never viewd him different nor treated him different, I liked him. Plus, I truely believe I was just a good hearted person for the most part, I was never be mean to people [until what happened in this incident] Jerry later moved away to dad's as his parents were seperated and I did'nt see him or his family much for a few years. Well when I was around 11, he moved back to the old nieghborhood at his mom's, but I did'nt have a chance to see him much, just friendly waves hi, and occasional conversation. One day, the other guys in my nieghborhood that I hung out with, decided to play a disgusting filthy trick on Jerry. I found out about it just minutes before it happened. They added something disgusting that should not be consumed to a bottle of fruit drink with the intent to watch him drink it. When I became aware of what was gunna happen, my gut instinct was to stop them, I made an attempt to talk them out of it, but the other guys were telling me to quit being a sissy and have some fun with them. I made one more plea saying "c'mon guys don't do it, I've known him since I was in kindergarten, he's a nice guy who would'nt hurt anybody" But they sorta ragged on me for trying to stop them. I kinda wanted to just get on my bike and ride away so I did'nt have to witness it, but another part of me said to go with them in case there was a chance to stop it. In the next short few agonizing minutes, I could have done something to stop them, the guys knowing I was against the idea, said "don't you go messin it up by stopping him either" and made some dumb threat that must've had some sort of meaning to me, because I just said "OK I wont" To this day I will never forget the inocent smile on Jerry's face, happy to see me. A few seconds later I watched him put the bottle to his lips I wanted to grab it out of his hands, but it was too late, I did nothing until the other boys started in laughing, and I saw Jerry's smile turn to a look of confusion, I took the bottle away from him and said dont drink anymore Jerry, go in and rinse your mouth out. His mom heard the boys laughing and like any concerned mom, she came out asking what was going on. I felt lower than whale droppings on the bottom of the ocean. There I stood with a bottle of something suspicious that her boy has just drank, and 4 or 5 other boys running off laughing, the only words I could barely mutter was... "I'm sorry" She looked at me with disgust, saying "is that what I think it is?" and with tears running down my face I said "yes" She said "how could you? I never would have expected this from you, get out of here I never want to see you around here again, you're despeciable" I wanted to tell her that it was'nt my idea and that I wanted to stop them, but I knew it simply did'nt matter at this point, weather it was me who did it or someone else, the bottomline is that I did nothing to stop it. Then I got on my bike rode to were my buddies were and screamed curses at them like a maniac, throwing rocks and anything I could grab at them. I was expressing my anger at them, but it was really myself I was most mad at. I pushed down the guy who was sort of the main culprit, we got into a lil scruff, I rode off saying I never wanted to anything to do with them ever again. I usually dont tell people, but 7 years ago I got inviolved in a charity effort that benfits mentally disabled people, it has been my pet chartity, when I work towrads that cause, in my mind I am usually thinking of Jerry
Originally Posted By Lisann22 I'm telling this story cause it has ties to Disneyland... When I was about 7, I had a girlfriend who lived a couple houses down from me. She had a disability and was in a full lower body cast that caused her to be home schooled. I was her only friend who continued to visit and play with her during this time. We usually played boardgames, colored or her mom did art projects with us. I used to also watch the Wonderful World of Disney with her every Sunday night, then I'd go home. We always talked about getting bigger and her well enough to go to Disneyland someday. Both of our favorite character was Cinderella. We both had Cindy watches. A new girl moved in that summer, she was a couple years older than me. I can't even remember her name. I made friends with her and I guess I kind of idolized her. Eventually she started to come over and play with Tammy and I. About four or five days after a particular play day together, this older girl showed me that she had Tammy's Cinderella watch. I couldn't believe my eyes and knew that she had stolen it. I could feel the anger and panic come over me but I said nothing. Another play date rolls around and this girl is wearing the watch. Tammy sees it and asks were she got it from and basically calls her out for stealing it. The girl denies it and I said nothing. Torn between loyalties in my mind of the old friend and the new friend. They argued a bit and the older girl left Tammy's house. I left soon after and found her sitting on the street curb. When I walked up to her, I was mustering up the courage to tell her to give the watch back or give it to me and I'd give it back. After that everything went into slow motion as I watched this girl take a rock and begin to smash the face of the watch into what I felt was a million pieces. She threw the watch at me and walked home. I stood there for the longest time. I finally picked up the watch and buried it in the neighbors flowerbed. Fearing the trouble I'd be in if my parents found out. The next day Tammy's mom knocks on our door and tells my mom Tammy's side of the story. She wants to know if I know anything about it. My mom calls me over and begins to question me. I start to cry and the whole truth comes out. Tammy's mom doesn't seem upset with me, all her anger is towards the older girl. However, the look of disappointment and anger on my mom's face and in her tone made me feel about an inch tall. Tammy's mom left and headed for the older girl's house. My mom furious with me told me I'd better think about a way to make this up to Tammy and sent me to my room. After a couple hours she came in and asked me what my solution was considering I watched a new friend destroy my good friend's watch. I shrugged my shoulders and said I didn't know. My mom then told me she felt I should give my Cinderella watch to Tammy and apologize to her for not being a very good friend. Oh, the pain!!!! My watch!!!! It was the slowest walk of my life to the house two doors down. I knocked and Tammy's mom let me in. I took Tammy the watch and while crying told her how sorry I was. She wouldn't talk to me, so I left the watch there and made the slow trek back home. My mom then took me to the older girl's house but her mother washed her hands of the incident saying she didn't know anything about it. I wasn't allowed to play with this girl anymore. It was more than a couple weeks before things were right with Tammy and I but we slowly became good friends again. Me pushing her in her wheelchair to the park or coloring on her porch. As junior high came and Tammy's illness wasn't much better we began to drift apart. I never seen her again once high school started as we moved. About 10 years ago through email, she found me. We chatted a bit and one day I received a package in the mail. She had been to Disneyland over the summer and she bought me a Cinderella watch for being such a good friend to her growing up. Oh the tears!!!! I felt bad for not defending her, for losing touch with her but I also felt good that through that episode she was still able to see that I tried to be the best friend I could to her in the end. We still talk every once in the while. After that incident with Tammy I vowed to myself I'd never let someone bully any of my friends or take advantage of them. I've kept my word.
Originally Posted By Mrs 2oon When I was in high school I wrote something very mean about someone on the bathroom wall. Because I was really shy and never got into trouble, no one every suspected that it was me. I don't know if they ever saw it or if it was washed off by the janitor. Needless to say, I didn't feel very good afterwards and that was the first and last time I ever did anything like that.
Originally Posted By SuzieQ Thanks for the tears, Lisa! I'm still thinking on mine.... Beyond the basic get your brother in trouble type stuff, I think I've blocked most stuff, LOL! Bet my mom could come up with a few!
Originally Posted By trailsend <<>>Regrets? I've had a few.<<>> Awww, geee, Inspector, I thought you were about to sing us a song. Lisann, bless your heart, and Big Thunder, what courage to tell that. Those were life changing moments for you ~ and life changed for the better. Takes big hearted people to tell the bad with the good!!!!!
Originally Posted By GrumpysWife Big Thunder- thanks for sharing that story. I'm sure that was hard. Truly, peer pressure is a rough thing for kids, isn't it?
Originally Posted By GrumpysWife I'm pretty sure I've blocked all mine, old age is setting in... I'm still thinking.
Originally Posted By beamerdog In elementary school we had a kid in class that we used to call "Puddy". He was quiet, unattractive, pudgy in a soft kind of way and blew his nose constantly. All the girls in class used to tease him. Although it made me uncomfortable, I did too. Now that I look back on it, all this kid needed was for one "popular" person to stick up for him and it all would have stopped. It really bothers me to this day that I never stopped the teasing and befriended him. So, when I had kids, I always had over the "outcasts" from their elementary school classes for playdates. We still laugh that my younger son always befriended the "different" kids in his class and, today his best friend is a handicapped young man who is able to live on his own by renting space in my kid's house. But that still doesn't make up for my bad behavior. So, if you're still around today, Sheldon, I apologize. I feel terrible to this very day and hope that you've had a wonderful life and met other people who enjoyed your quiet, intelligent company.
Originally Posted By Inspector 57 <<the bottomline is that I did nothing to stop it.>> That's wrong, Big Thunder. You did everything you could at the time to stop it. And then you took the fall for it. You hold yourself accountable for stopping it. Perhaps in that same situation, as an adult, you could have stopped it. But it's not fair to expect that a kid in that situation would have had the ability to go against his friends more than you did. <<I usually dont tell people, but 7 years ago I got inviolved in a charity effort that benfits mentally disabled people, it has been my pet chartity, when I work towrads that cause, in my mind I am usually thinking of Jerry>> It's wonderful that you were such a good friend to Jerry. It's wonderful that you're sensitive and sympathetic to the situation that mentally disabled people face. It's wonderful that you're giving your time and energy and emotional vulnerability to help mentally disabled people. But you need to forgive yourself.
