I have done the worst thing ever

[hatredisnotavalue]

I bought..a snowmobile. This goes against everything I think I stand or. For me, it is like buying a gun. It was a present for my son's 16th birthday and really is just a real clunker. All of his friends have one and he has been begging me for one for the past three years..
I bought it for so many selfish reasons. I wanted someone to groom our three miles of cross-country ski trails behind our house. To collect the blown-down trees for firewood on our 50 acres, and for him to get some driving experience before he gets his car license. Also so that he could gain some automotive maintenance experience.

Was I bad?

[Book Lover]

1. You are so bad I never want to hear from you again!

Wait a sec ... you said it would help him do chores? Hhmmmmm....

[hatredisnotavalue]

3. Shhh!! Don't tell him that n/t

[SnowGoose]

2. Shame on you...

your pennance will be to give recklessly fast rides to all DU'ers who drop by.

[DainBramaged]

4. I can't begin to tell you how disappointed I am

Driving a snowmobile is nothing like driving a car.

[hatredisnotavalue]

7. I know, but today he understood the situation of not being able to handle

the sled because he was going too fast. To me that knowledge ir priceless.

[donheld]

5. You were not bad

In Maine it's probably a good thing. Most places in the country it might be a bad thing because they're just not practical. Let your son have some fun.

[hatredisnotavalue]

8. It's just such a riot

I wish you guys could have seen him. He suits up. Drives the sled across the driveway and then comes in the house, "Mom, I just drove the sled across the driveway!"
Goes back out, comes back in "Mom, I just drove the sled 10 feet!, I think I got some air!" It is really too funny.

[MichiganVote]

6. Car or snowmobile--make sure he practices safety

Lot of kids in Michigan think they are like matchbox cars and have been killed being careless

[Ariana Celeste]

9. Keep a close eye, man.

Seriously.

My 14 year old cousin died in a snowmobile accident 3 weeks ago.

http://www.kingcountyjournal.com/sited/story/html/184304 (Gadd)


So please... keep an eye out, make sure he is always safe.

[hatredisnotavalue]

12. I promise I will

My husband and I told him he has to wear his helmet to fill the gas tank...which he did today...he is a very careful little fellow, actually, he is a full back for the varsity football team, but I am forewarned. so sorry about your cousin:( Hate to see something like that happen to kids that young. So sorry ...

[miss_kitty]

10. In Maine, where it could truly be a lifesaver I got no probs

I hate to see them here in WA State, where it rarely snows, except on the east side of the state. I think it's OK. But it's not a toy, and its misuse can have serious consequences. I hope your son knows that to his core.

[hatredisnotavalue]

13. He is such a nancy-pants

I really am not worried about him, given that he has only driven the sled 20 feet from the house in two days.

[hangemhigh]

11. Don't beat yourself up-

Learn, teach, supervise and totally enforce safety practices and get your kid to agree that they are the deal breaker-including whatever kind of discipline you use in your household as a consequence for breaking the rules. Get him to agree to them. Hold him accountable. My .02