This is a follow up to the post I wrote about the contract my dad wrote for my underage drinking. This was a contract signed between my parents and I in 1993 when I got my license and a new car. I love that it was amended after 2 speeding tickets (they never revoked privileges for those…..but I guess a third would have been too much).
A few notes:
1. A few contracts I signed with my parents said “CONFIDENTIAL” on the top…..this one was not marked, so I’m assuming it’s okay to post.
2. I never had any desire to carpool other people’s pets around. I don’t know why that was such a concern.
3. The cell phone my dad installed in the car for me was AWESOME…..until he got the first bill and it indicated that at 2:30am I was making calls from a field party in Union County.
4. Once during college I left my sunroof open overnight during a rainstorm (probably the same night I got caught drinking). It soaked the entire interior of the Landcruiser and resulted in the seats dry rotting. I wonder if that would be considered a violation.
5. I did use a music CD in the car for the first year, I didn’t think that fell under “radio” technically.
6. It would have been awesome if this contract included attending church for $20…..I still lived at home and went to church regardless of whether or not I wanted to.
P.S. Mr. LBB said last night “these really make me miss your dad”…..yep….me too. My dad was always leaving everyone little notes and advice. I found another one today where he had browsed one of my financial statements that I’d left out. He had written on it: DID YOU KNOW THEY ARE CHARGING YOU FOR CHECKS??? BE CAREFUL!!!!
My dad made my dates sign a “contract to date my daughter”. I’ll have to post it so you can use it for Boo. He also took out his guns and knives and cleaned them during his pre date interview with my first date. Yes, your read that right, a 45 minute pre date interview. It’s a wonder how I ever got married! Some how your contract seems pretty awesome! lol
Could you post this for everyone? I have two daughters nearing dating age!!! Thank you!
I have shared these contract posts with my husband and we will be implementing them as soon as possible with my teenagers. They are always telling us they didn’t remember something we agreed upon. Your father was brilliant. I have to say I am way too curious about what confidential contracts you would have had with them. Are they like CIA contract hits or something???
Now I totally understand why you have anxiety over driving another person’s car or a new car 😛 Dad good a good job!!!! I think I need to follow his tactic when my children become old enough to drive!
Your dad and the way you share his (and your) stories has been a game-changer for me. I love these posts. These contracts give me joy!
You had amazing dad. I would totally do it with my daughter . I may have to refer to it later when making my own contract )) some day…
These contracts show how much your parents loved you. Aren’t you so glad you kept them?! I have little notes from my dad I’ve kept. Just little reminders to feed the pets or “I love you” notes. They are worth their weight in gold once our Dad’s aren’t with us here anymore.
Lol, love this.
Contracts are wonderful! My husband and I give our 3 and 1/2 year old opportunities to earn “treats.” Those treats may be a movie night at the end of the day, or making cookies if she is able to “behave” well or have good manners for the whole day. I’m sure that we will write a contract for her when she is old enough to understand.
We are so borrowing these! What a wonderful idea. I can tell how much you love and miss your dad. He sounds like an amazing person, and I hope my kids talk about me with the same respect that you give your parents!
Your parents are imaginative and brilliant and that is probably why you are such an amazingly creative mind!! P.S. I am totally stealing this idea when my kids are driving and heading to college!! Love it!
I love these contracts and how highly you respect your parents! I’m thankful everyday for my parents and how they raised me. They were pretty strict and also did contracts. Now I can look back on it and respect why they did that.
I hope someday I remember this for our future kids 🙂 And that they can look back on this also 🙂
You’re parents did a wonderful job in raising you.
I enjoyed reading your dad’s contract. As I mentioned yesterday your parents raised you so lovingly (although I am sure that at certain times you must have thought it was too much). It was none of this “I didn’t know that you didn’t tell me” stuff. I see you did push the envelope with the CD music not being a radio. LOL. Not driving any pets but family pets is a puzzling one. Something must have happened that your Dad thought it was important to put in the contract. Your mom might remember.
I love these! It makes me wish I had saved the contract my Dad wrote up for me about using his pager, ha ha!
My niece got her permit today…will forward this to her parents! Great idea. Your Dad was spot on with all of this,Ashley?
My parents made me a similar contract except they actually taped it on the inside roof of my car!! Good grief . . . it was so embarrassing!! I was a good kid because of it though!!
Your dad sounds like he was an amazing guy!! Wish there were more parents like ours still around!
I’m actually floored by the amount of care and thought your parents took in raising you to be a responsible adult. These contracts are a very new concept for me but I’m both amused and impressed! However, I’m even more curious about the “confidential” contracts! Can you post teasers and redact most of them or would that be violations of the contracts? Maybe just titles? I’m fascinated. I’m wondering what kind of contracts I could cook up with my 7 year old . . .
Your parents give new meaning to the idea that one of the keys to parenting is “clear expectations”. I loved reading your posts today! (and everyday 😉 ).
Love that you share these awesome story’s, I love reading crafty blogs but you really inspire people to think about life differently, I really appreciate your blog!
Haha this is awesome. It actually reminds me of my husband’s dad and how thorough he was with his rules and expectations from his kids. I think the contract thing, although hilarious, is a good idea and one I might be stealing in about 15 years for my own baby girl if we ever get her a car. 😉
I love it! How funny! 😉 TFS
“Like” button. Great contract! We didn’t set “rules” in our home, we set “guidelines” and it helped to keep the lines of communication open and they learned that there are reactions for every action, good or not. We never “grounded” them but revoked what they wronged with. Who needs them underfoot? It only makes it hard on us! Both our daughter & son grew up to be beautiful adults and for that we are very grateful!
My dad, the forever businessman, also did this with us. I really think it’s a good idea now that I have my own children. It lays out the rules and the child can go back and read it if they “forget”. Oh, the days of being a teenager and claiming you “forgot” to do important things…..
I wish my parents would have done something like this with me. I was such a bad kid 🙂 My oldest will be 16 in 3 years…guess what she will be getting before the vehicle. That’s right..your dad’s contract! And I also am curious about these confidential contracts!
Love this idea! The radio rule is a good one….I totaled my boyfriend’s car less than a week after getting my license while changing the radio station. He still married me though 🙂
okay, still loving your parents. makes me miss mine too.
I’m pretty sure your father was a badass. This is so so so awesome!
This sounds so much like my dad!
Your parents are brilliant! Going to use a form of this for my 15 yr old…cell phone and texting need to be addressed. I wonder how much will change when the baby starts driving in 15 yrs!
Absolutely love these contracts! What smart and wonderful parents you have. Your Dad seems like he was such a caring man who had such great parenting ideas. What an awesome example to have. Thanks for sharing. We will be getting into the driving stage in a few years so I’ll have to keep this in mind.
We had our son sign & initial a 2 page driving contract as well. It has been the best thing I think we’ve ever done. I love knowing we aren’t the only parents to do the same thing.
This is awesome! I love the idea of signing a contract with my kids someday 🙂 The “field party” reference cracked me up – that was THE thing to do back then (I was in eastern NC) Living in Arizona now, I wonder what people do here? Desert parties?
I love this! I will definitely file it away for when our kids are old enough to drive. We do use “sleepover” contracts that they sign before they get to spend the night at a friends house. The contract spells out expectations of behavior (kindness, politeness, a nap that is XX hours long), warnings, and rewards. It has helped tremendously! When a child gets rascally, we can point to the signed contract prominently displayed on the fridge and that usually takes care of the problem.
I love this! Kudos to your parents for trying to keep their child safe and responsible! Awesome! Unfortunately, it seems a bit rare these days.
God bless you in your cancer journey<3