Brainless Kids

Lately I've been reminiscing about when I was young and stupid. That's right - I was stupid. I didn't think I was at the time; but alas, I was. I know most would never believe that I was ever careless. I'm a pretty careful person. I always have been. After all, I didn't take a step on my own as a toddler until I was sure I wouldn't fall.

Anyway, I recently read an article from The Oprah Magazine (don't judge me - it was free and I wanted something to read) entitled Why Men Do Crazy Things. I personally think it should be renamed to Why kids Don't Get Brains Until Their mid-to-late 20s. It's true. Ok, maybe not for everybody. But I know for most it is. One part of the article just struck me as funny and I could have completely pictured myself doing the same thing growing up. The author and his friends were at one of their houses without permission by themselves. When the parents came home early, they told the visitors they would have to jump out of the 2-story window. Without asking why, the first friend jumped - and broke his arm. "Already caught and already having seen him get hurt, we all followed him out the window. Let me repeat that: Already caught and already having seen him get hurt we all followed him out the window. The good news was that he was the only one who broke anything". Haha - I love it.

Okay so I've already come clean to my mom about the times when I could have gotten kicked out of college - granted, it wasn't all that hard to do, and one of those times I wasn't aware I could have gotten kicked out; which included but are not limited to:

1. having boys in my room more than once to watch movies, hang out, or fix a computer (I promise it was all innocent)

2. being the designated driver for my roommate (this one I wasn't aware would result in being kicked out)

3. swimming in an undesignated area without proper attire

I admit, I was young and foolish. At no point did I ever truly consider the consequences - lost scholarships, angry parents, college debt, extra job....I had no brain. I am a big believer in being responsible for your own actions but I really think until you're much older, you don't truly, completely, and fully think through the consequences. And yes, the things we did were wrong (against the rules, against the law...) but looking back, I guess maybe I thought I wouldn't get caught or that those consequences wouldn't really happen. Praise the Lord we didn't get what we deserved. :)

There was other stuff I did when I was younger - much thanks to Mark for those. ;) ... throwing berries at cars, pretending to beat up an annoying kid in front of traffic on purpose (and sometimes beating him up for real), using fireworks and other dangerous things for the opposite of what they were intended for, and the list could go on. After realizing what we did as kids and knowing how times have changed, I wonder to myself how I could ever let my child even walk up the street by themselves. But I'm sure I will. Looking back, I was brainless with my decisions but those memories sure are fun to think about.

Anyone care to share their brain-damage moments as a kid?