FoxTrot Classics by Bill Amend for October 14, 2023

like mother like father

Do as I say, not as I do  parenting failures

Trash happens!

I used to prompt my sons, “Guess what today is?” and they would respond, “Garbage Day!” as if it were some sort of gruesome holiday. They were good about doing the chore when reminded.

Now I have to do it myself. The daily routine isn’t so bad, but the weekly trek up the 280 foot driveway is worthy of a couple of calories.

I did the math (I think I will have this expression engraved on my tombstone); 280 feet is 0.5 miles so each week the trash can makes a 0.1 mile round trip. Do this 50 times a year and that comes out to 5 miles. I’ve been in the house 20 years, so I’ve dragged that sucker 100 miles.

Such are the idle thoughts of a geek and data analyst. My nephew is even worse, and yes, his name is Jason.

Dads are allowed to delegate.

Delegation.

Mom never told dad to take the garbage out. They both told me to take out the garbage; and I’m still doing it.

Delegation: The setting in motion of $#!+ rolling downhill.

Show some responsibility! YOU get Jason to do it!

If I had told my parents to get someone else to do a chore they assigned to me, my continued existence could be measured in seconds…maybe even nanoseconds.

So delegation means being a scumbag?

There is nothing wrong with delegating chores to the kids. That’s how they learn responsibility and how to take care of themselves when they’re grown and on their own.

They were each sub-contracting it out.. smart guys

Taking out the trash is such a meme. I find it to be an incredibly easy task.

The only problem I have with the trash is remembering to take it out. I created a reminder for it, and recycling, as they go out on different days.

I’ve never understood the issue people seem to have with taking out the garbage. I’m happy to do it. I love that someone will come and haul it away and dispose of it for us. And for the last 10 years we’ve had the wheelie bins, so now it’s super easy.