Tyler and I had a BBQ and invited some friends over.
The average age of the people at our party was 65.
It was HOT. Really HOT.
All day long before the party, my parents called me to find out if we were going to be sitting outside or if I had planned to move the party inside due to the heat.
“Jim and I can’t take the heat, you know,” she said. “We won’t stay if we have to sit outside.”
I knew.
So the party started and we were dying of heat. Sweat was running down my face and my parents kept giving me a look that it was time to move inside.
So I made an announcement to rally the group inside to the crisp, cool comfort of air conditioning.
However, there was this one nice man who was the Uncle of our good friend, Stan. He was older than the rest of the group.
He stated in his bold voice, “It’s summer! It’s supposed to be hot!”
And nobody moved.
I looked at Jim and Tina and they just smiled and nodded along with this man like they were totally on board with staying outside.
They caved to the peer pressure.
An hour later as I was taking my good ole sweet time preparing dinner in my cold kitchen, my dad came in to cool off.
I gave him a piece of my mind and asked him why he didn’t speak up since he was obviously too hot. Do you want to know what he said?
“Because he is older than us. If he can take the heat, so can we. Plus he told us to stay outside.”
Sadly, my parents are no longer with us. That man told them to jump off a bridge and they did.
Okay. They are still alive, but apparently they WOULD jump off a bridge if someone told them to.
I am so disappointed in them.
{ 27 comments… read them below or add one }
Seriously, didn’t you teach them better than that?!
Ugh. Parents. What are you going to do with them?
It’s so funny to think that older people still give in to peer pressure!
Kate x
I know, right?! You have to know my parents. They never cave and are just so strong. I have never seen anything like it. I gave them SUCH a hard time after. If I had been the one to say we were staying outside, they would have disowned me.
I am sorta a follower, too…But, when it comes to the heat-I don’t give a crap if anyone else wants to tough it out! I’m inside enjoying the air conditioning, the fan, AND an ice cream cone!
Me too!!! Once at a party at my SIL we ate outside and there were bees swarming the food and I went inside and everybody mocked me and rolled their eyes. I didn’t care. I wanted to eat in peace. 20 minutes later everyone joined me.
There’s supposed to be one old cranky coot who stands up to the pressure and tells it like it is: it’s bloody hot.
I wish that coot was here that day. I am not big on sweat running down my face.
Those exact words come out of my husband’s mouth every summer!
My parents can deal with the heat pretty well; it’s just in the winter time that I’d wish they’d turn the thermostat up inside their house. They keep it at a nice balmy 62 degrees. You can practically see your breath when you walk in!
That is me too. I keep it really cool in here. 67 during the day and 65 at night. I am more energetic while shivering
Now my parents used to like it cold, but now they complain when they come over that it is too cold. I can never win.
Very cute! I’m glad they didn’t really take the bridge, but now you have to worry about that type of thing. I hope this old Uncle is a good influence.
It was just so funny because my folks are so strong and opinionated. They had been hounding me ALL day about the heat and then they gave in!
Lemmings!
=)
~Mimi
That was a serious break in my otherwise “don’t give a crap” philosophy. WHO WAS THAT OLD CRITTER ANYWAY?
Ummmm YOU or HIM? I am still shocked at you guys. You stayed OUTSIDE!
AAACKKK!!!! Ask me now! Ask me now!
Wow, so disappointing to find out your parents are no better than you are when it comes to giving into peer pressure.
No I am not engage btw, but I did get a dog :0 . I know who am i!
Holy Crap! You got a DOG! I can’t wait to read it.
Plus, dogs=women. Just sayin’
And I don’t cave to peer pressure!
You got me with that whole jumping off a bridge thing!!
I don’t cave in to peer pressure, or elder pressure. If I am sweating in the heat outside (which I did quite a bit this summer in Atlanta) I will most definitely seek out a cooler spot, and I am not above announcing in a very firm voice that I have had enough and am going in!
I don’t know why I love that story but I do. Maybe it makes me feel less insecure in my own cavings, I’m not sure, but thanks for sharing it.
You are sweet. I think everybody caves once and awhile.
I love this story. I especially love the old man who insisted on staying outside. He’s right.. it’s supposed to be hot.
Yup, he’s right, it is supposed to be hot. I’m not a fan of extreme heat but I just eat a lot of ice cream. That seems to help.
Hilarious! I guess the key is that if they are older then we should listen to whatever they say. Right?
It just goes to show peer pressure is ageless! Great post – certainly makes me think.
I never even thought that it was until that day.