9 Year Old Runs Away by Plane

I think there are several issues here. And yep the title is a link to the article.

1) The kid "REALLY" wants out of the current living situation he is in. Whether it is fear of the sex offender or he just doesn't like the state of Washington or some other reason. I was reading the forum attached with this story and people seem outraged. Taking shots at the kids discipline at home and that he should go to military school. I say quit criticizing him and his parent for just a minute and think about what he went through to accomplish what he did. This kid may be a story teller, and a brat you might say. However I also see a natural born leader.

2) Did his driving really endanger anyone if he did not draw enough attention to get pulled over? Think of how easy it is to get pulled over at your age, I am 32 and was pulled over last summer. It happens to many adults who know the rules of the road and so on. From what I have read in other post here, he drove 4 stolen cars without being pulled over. And if the police were trying to pull him over, how does a 9 year old evade capture from a police chase? We see this on COPS every night.

3) He convinced officials at an airport, that screen for terrorism among other things. And got his way on a plane.

4) He may have broken the law, been deceptive and even lied, the qualities of a future politician. On a positive note, this kid has a amazing ability to plan, organize and execute. These are things that many adults can't do.

5) I say this kid has a real future in anything that he wants and somebody needs to start grooming him for it. Maybe his parents and grandparents should get together and discuss living conditions for him, maybe living in Texas is the answer, we all know he is willing to try very hard to be there. Maybe that could be his incentive to do well.

6) I have done my share of traveling. I was probably 30 years old the first time I drove into O'Hare and put myself on a plane. I had been on a plane probably 12 times before that and I at 30 years old was nervous and unsure about going to an airport and going thru the routine without someone to go thru it with. And here is a 9 year old, that not only did it alone, but got a free ride out of it. Don't get me wrong I was more than capable, but still nervous. I was also not trying to get by without a ticket, he not only tried but succeeded twice. Like Meat Loaf said 2 out of 3 ain't bad.

7) I am not saying that I agree with what the little kid did, but I am saying that he is going to require some creative guidance & molding to keep his attention. I feel he will be quickly bored with traditional disciplinary actions and would only rebel against those who try to tone or change his thinking rather than molding his natural born abilities of adventure, leadership, forwardness, fearlessness. HE IS 9 YEARS OLD. I am intrigued enough, that I would like to know, how he planned to contact grandpa, once he got to Dallas. Also why not car, cab or bus from San Antonio to Dallas, I mean at this point he was 90% thru his travel itinerary.

You tell me!

TDK

School House Rock or School House Shot

When many of us as kids in the 70's and 80's remember School House Rock; Lolly get your adverbs here, Conjuction Junction what's your function, and I am just a "Bill". These are all memories now and you no longer see them on Saturday mornings. Ah, the good ole days.

Well for girls in Texas, they will be looking back remembering their School House Shot.

Headline on MSN today: Texas governor orders STD vaccine for all girls.

Quote from the article;
By employing an executive order, Perry sidestepped opposition in the Legislature from conservatives and parents’ rights groups who fear such a requirement would condone premarital sex and interfere with the way Texans raise their children.

Beginning in September 2008, girls entering the sixth grade — meaning, generally, girls ages 11 and 12 — will have to receive Gardasil, Merck & Co.’s new vaccine against strains of the human papillomavirus, or HPV.
Unquote. (click on post title for full story)

I am sure the conservatives and parents' rights activists will have plenty to say about this. If you ask me, which you don't have to cause it is my post. I think it is a good idea. What we are talking about here is preventing a disease. The issue of how it is transmitted is less relevant if you ask me. If this in fact is a vaccine works, it should slow or help prevent STD's. Something that is transmitted in an act, that most parents have little or no knowledge that their kids are participating in, the act of SEX.

I am sure there are some parents that walked up hills both ways to school in the snow, that would say, "Let them learn it the hard way." I would hope not, but it does take all types to make the world go round. However, what would concern you more as a parent? Your child coming home from school saying; "I was vaccinated for STD's at school today." or "I think I have acquired an STD."

You tell me...

TDK