Values
Desiree: I believe this epitomises the difference between you and I: - in December 2013 Gabriel gave me a coffee mug that he picked up at the airport on the way here. I've since used that mug every day, every single time I have coffee at home, which is at least once a day; - on another trip here he picked up 3 postcards, which I framed and they are hanging on the wall in the living room, right next to my desk; - in January 2013, on his way back to Phoenix, he got you a key chain, which you hung on the key rack, never used, and promptly forgot about; he also got a souvenir for Sage, which Sage lost within a few weeks. You see? Values. You just don't have them, so how can you possibly teach them? Perhaps you have a sarcastic response you'd like to share about this as well? Fox
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HA! - I picked out your precious coffee mug that you use every day. Guess it's time to trash it now huh??
Desiree: You only prove my point, moreover. It doesn't matter who picked it out. What matters is that it came from Gabriel. That is the way a decent, civilized person, with morals and values thinks. A person like you would throw the mug out, not me. It is just as significant to me, regardless of who picked it out. Ooh, you're such a bad, bad person. Can you list 1 thing you're done in your life to make the world a better place? Either directly or indirectly? Fox
I finished the maple flavored coffee he brought me. You don't have any 'facts' at all.
Can you list 1 thing you're done in your life to make the world a better place? Either directly or indirectly? Yep - I gave birth to your son!!! Bam!! That just happened!!
Desiree: The simple act of reproducing another human being is not, in itself, any contribution to the world or society. Until you've actually raised that offspring to be a good person and accomplish things then there is no contribution. If you have create an offspring who spends his life being a burden on society then you have contributed nothing to the world. If you create an offspring who becomes a serial killer you've contributed nothing. Are you really so simple minded? I would say "Bam" back at you but that's a little trite. And besides, I kinda feel sorry for you at this point. Fox
So you are saying that Gabriel being in this world means nothing?
you would not have the opportunity to attempt to raise him if he had not been born Richard. It all begins there. And I fought to keep him alive...something you did not do. Something you said you didn't want.
Being born is not an accomplishment. It's what you do AFTER that point that matters. And if I had not been born then it wouldn't matter because I wouldn't have existed. God, you're a fool. You never "fought" to keep Gabriel alive! There was not "fight"! What kept him alive was the very extensive and very expensive medical care - which was covered by the medical insurance we had because of the choices *I* made. If it were not for me being a well paid softtware engineer then we would not have had that insurance and Gabriel would not have gotten the medical care he did. So, who *REALLY* contributed more to helping Gabriel get through those first few months, and all the medical care that was required in his first 5 years? Fox
Desiree: Of course! What kind of Walt Disney fairy tale world do you live in? There are over 5 billion people on the planet. Almost every one of them will never amount to anything of any significance. How deluded are you that you think your offspring, among 5 billion people, has any significance overall? To think that any one person means anything is pretty naive. I've talked about this with Gabriel (because that's what good parents do). Your approach of being warm and fuzzy and showering hugs and kisses doesn't prepare a child for real life. It just teaches the child that being mediocre is good. Fox
Desiree: Gabriel told me that he told you the coffee was from me AFTER you finished it. Are you saying he lied to me? If that's the case then such behavior (lying), particularly when there is no real reason to do so, is obviously something he has picked up from being around you (you have a long history of lying). In case you can't tell, you've kinda backed yourself into a corner here. Fox
Gabriel told me that he told you the coffee was from me AFTER you finished it - Gabriel never told me the coffee was from you...so I don't understand what you are saying. Maybe Gabriel lied to you.
Desiree: Hmm? The context of the discussion was that upon finding out a given gift was actually from a party other than the one the recipient thought it was from then the recipient would discard such gift. Therefore, without explicitly stating otherwise, your statement that you finished the maple flavored coffee he "brought" you, must be inferred to mean that even though you knew the coffee was from me you consumed it anyway. Which is a reasonable inference given the statements leading up to that point. Given that you only had three possible responses: 1) admit your argument was moot because you only found out the coffee was from me after the fact; 2) declare Gabriel lied to me, establishing Gabriel as a bad child; or 3) say nothing you chose to put the fault on Gabriel. Very insightful. But don't you realize that that is also very telling of the influence you've been having on Gabriel's development? Do you understand how "context" works in giving meaning to an otherwise vague statement? You seem not to. You really need to lay off the marijuana. Fox
I don't think I ever responded to your inquiry about if I can list 1 thing I've done to make the world a better place. 1. I volunteer on a regular basis at the Salvation Army, assisting in the preparation and serving of meals to the homeless and the needy; 2. I volunteer at the synagogue, providing IT and web development services; 3. I donate all of my clothes and things I don't use any more to the Salvation Army to be provided to the poor and the needy; 4. I provide guidance and mentoring to young and inexperienced software developers; 5. I've created, and I maintain a blog to share my knowledge and experience with others; 6. I routinely donate money to charitable causes, typically to help the needy; 7. I always share my experiences openly and honestly, with Gabriel to ensure he won't have to make the mistakes I've made. I think that's sufficient for one person. Don't you? Fox