# My kid is acting seriously weird **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 9, 2008, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-kid-is-acting-seriously-weird/432794 "2008-01-09T00:20:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![carlotta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/898d66/32.png) [@carlotta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carlotta)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-kid-is-acting-seriously-weird/432794/1 "2008-01-09T00:20:14Z")
Kid is eight. On our walk home from school today he asked if I had a spare trashbag so he could pick up litter on the way (I did, a grocery bag, little one still in diapers). Then, instead of whining about why can’t he play video games, he sat down and read a book. Then, he ate his dinner without complaint (unprecedented!) Then, he did his homework without prompting. Then did some extra homework (teacher gives them a packet at the beginning of each week) Now, is cleaning his room! Twilight Zone music playing in my head! ---
**Author:** ![Labtrash](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/labtrash/32/528_2.png) [@Labtrash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labtrash)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-kid-is-acting-seriously-weird/432794/2 "2008-01-09T00:24:23Z")
Check for pods. Seriously. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Surb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ce73a5/32.png) [@The\_Surb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Surb)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-kid-is-acting-seriously-weird/432794/3 "2008-01-09T00:30:34Z")
He has done something SERIOUSLY wrong. Look for bodies or large amounts of cash or both. Is he missing a sibling? Have an attorney on standby. Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-kid-is-acting-seriously-weird/432794/4 "2008-01-09T00:37:21Z")
The other possibility is that in a couple of days, he’s gonna hit you up for something that costs serious cash. ---
**Author:** ![robardin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@robardin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robardin)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-kid-is-acting-seriously-weird/432794/5 "2008-01-09T00:39:24Z")
Cue the Byrd’s version of _Turn! Turn! Turn!_ and cue Fred Savage’s voiceover. _That was the day I first saw Winnie…_ ---
**Author:** ![Santo\_Rugger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Santo\_Rugger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santo_Rugger)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-kid-is-acting-seriously-weird/432794/6 "2008-01-09T00:39:58Z")
Either that, or he’s about to ask for a Wii. ETA: This whole time I thought people saying Kat was evil were joking. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-kid-is-acting-seriously-weird/432794/7 "2008-01-09T01:24:48Z")
Instead of thinking that he’s been nice to attone for something or ask for something, I think there are simpler explanations. [QUOTE=carlotta] On our walk home from school today he asked if I had a spare trashbag so he could pick up litter on the way (I did, a grocery bag, little one still in diapers). [/quote] Prepping for Earth Day. > [@](#): > > Then, instead of whining about why can’t he play video games, he sat down and read a book. He’s beaten all his games already. > [@](#): > > Then, he ate his dinner without complaint (unprecedented!) Growth spurt. > [@](#): > > Then, he did his homework without prompting. Then did some extra homework (teacher gives them a packet at the beginning of each week) He’s learned to appreciate learning for its own sake, obviously. > [@](#): > > Now, is cleaning his room! He probably slipped and fell on one of his toys, and now he realizes what a smart idea it is to clean occassionally. > [@](#): > > Twilight Zone music playing in my head! Well, I think I’ve made it perfectly clear that you have nothing to fear. ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-kid-is-acting-seriously-weird/432794/8 "2008-01-09T01:26:24Z")
What? I’m sweet and innocent! ---
**Author:** ![Rascal\_s\_Mom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a698b9/32.png) [@Rascal\_s\_Mom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rascal_s_Mom)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-kid-is-acting-seriously-weird/432794/9 "2008-01-09T02:11:02Z")
Mark today on your calendar. My teeth ache, that is so beyond sweet. ---
**Author:** ![Mahna\_Mahna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e47c2d/32.png) [@Mahna\_Mahna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahna_Mahna)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-kid-is-acting-seriously-weird/432794/10 "2008-01-09T02:32:24Z")
I second the Wii. I was legendarily well-behaved as a child, but even I never went so far as to do extra homework unless there were ulterior motives involved. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-kid-is-acting-seriously-weird/432794/11 "2008-01-09T02:38:57Z")
Wow. I just realized what a weird kid I was back in the day because that was all normal for me. (Except for the litter stuff…but I read, did my homework, and ate my dinner.) ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-kid-is-acting-seriously-weird/432794/12 "2008-01-09T03:15:17Z")
Pods were my first suspicion but someone beat me to it. I’d also check for signs of changlings. ---
**Author:** ![carlotta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/898d66/32.png) [@carlotta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carlotta)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-kid-is-acting-seriously-weird/432794/13 "2008-01-09T03:24:19Z")
ok, he asked me for something. A white t-shirt and a pair of jeans :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-kid-is-acting-seriously-weird/432794/14 "2008-01-09T03:24:47Z")
Did you ever see the Calvin & Hobbes series where Calvin added an ethicator to his duplicator? Look for a large cardboard box in his room. ---
**Author:** ![Astroboy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-kid-is-acting-seriously-weird/432794/15 "2008-01-09T03:33:10Z")
Yup. I remember my first acid trip. Walls breathing, grass visibly growing and wriggling before my eyes, the entire world a convex fun-house mirror… and a little, desperate, sane part of my mind going: “Act normal. Do what you’re supposed to do. Act normal. Do what you’re supposed to do. Act normal. Do what you’re supposed to do. Act normal. Do what you’re supposed to do. Act normal. Do what you’re supposed to do. Act normal. Do what you’re supposed to do. Act normal. Do what you’re supposed to do. Act normal. Do what you’re supposed to do. Act normal. Do what you’re supposed to do. Act normal. Do what you’re supposed to do. Act normal. Do what you’re supposed to do. Act normal. Do what you’re supposed to do. Act normal. Do what you’re supposed to do. Act normal. Do what you’re supposed to do. Act normal. Do what you’re supposed to do. Act normal. Do what you’re supposed to do. Act normal. Do what you’re supposed to do. Act normal. Do what you’re supposed to do. Act normal. Do what you’re supposed to do. Act normal. Do what you’re supposed to do.” I know what the kid discovered today. Get him a punch balloon; he’ll love you for it. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-kid-is-acting-seriously-weird/432794/16 "2008-01-09T03:37:34Z")
Kid is hiding underneath his bed after school starts, when his favorite stuffed animal quips, “I can’t believe your mom thinks that’s you.” I’d check his bedroom for a cardboard box marked “[del]Transmogrifier[/del] Duplicator.” [Edit:] AArrgghh Asterion you stole my ref! :mad: ---
**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-kid-is-acting-seriously-weird/432794/17 "2008-01-09T03:51:02Z")
[QUOTE=carlotta] ok, he asked me for something. A white t-shirt and a pair of jeans :dubious: [/QUOTE] He’s joining a gang and doesn’t want to arouse your suspicion? He’s being sent to prison and wants to be prepared? Weird indeed. ---
**Author:** ![Ca3799](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-kid-is-acting-seriously-weird/432794/18 "2008-01-09T15:05:11Z")
In my house, that behaviour would mean a trip to the Doctor or even the ER is in my future! ---
**Author:** ![krisolov](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/krisolov/32/3724_2.png) [@krisolov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/krisolov)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-kid-is-acting-seriously-weird/432794/19 "2008-01-09T15:13:47Z")
something is broken, you just haven’t found it yet. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-kid-is-acting-seriously-weird/432794/20 "2008-01-09T18:12:27Z")
Everybody has a good day now and then. Don’t get your hopes up, enjoy it while it lasts. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-kid-is-acting-seriously-weird/432794.md?page=2)