So there was I, merrily watching 'Ratatouille' (EXECELLENT film btw) with a stomach full of deep fried goodness, God was in his heaven and all was right with the world.

When home comes Eldest son (almost 19) with a broken nose.

Seems he owes money to someone from a poker debt and his creditor is getting impatient. His creditor is Ex-army, mid 20's whereas Eldest is a sk8ter boi-emo-mall goth (I know, I know already I failed as a father)

The Anger. Someone DARED touch my kid! I was on the verge of tooling up and going to find Mr.'I'm an Ex-marine' and explaining my displeasure to him with the aid of Mr.'heavy blunt object'.

But I didn't. Eldest is an adult and he has to fight his own battles. Added to which he richly deserved a slapping cos he's dicked this creditor around something rotten. Hell, I'd have hit him if i was in his creditor's shoes.

But Sweet Jesus its hard to let go.

Seems only yesterday he was knee high to a tamagotchi and expected Daddy to keep the monsters away at night. Seems only a while back he was padding around the flat in his Osh-Kosh-Begosh saying 'dada make open','dada FIX now!'.

Only a few short years ago it was still 'My Dad The Superhero'.

Somehow I feel a bit lost and useless.

If you're his age what would you want your Dad to do? Let you sort it yourself?

I'm 19, and my dad's not in the picture, but there's no way in hell I'd want my mom to get involved in something like that.

But then again, she's not really normal, and she would just go straight to the police and try to have the guy arrested and sue him. So disregard everything I just typed.

Sounds like your kid is just running wild. Does he have issues with his father?

Of course he has fucking issues, I raised him for fucks sake! You think any child of mine is going to be a well balanced, rounded individual??!

He has issues with me, his mom, his brothers and the world in general. Still a good kid at heart though.

You'll have to let go sooner or later mate. Hard as it is, you'll be okay and he'll still be coming around when he's 25 to take you out for a beer!

I think my dad let go when I was about 16 and realised I was gonna do my own thing and be my own man.
And we go to the pub and waffle bollocks on a pretty regular basis!

Your probably just going to have to let him learn his lesson. I don't know your son, but sometimes a beating can do great things for a person.

Although, If I was you I would step in if it goes much further.

I never get my Dad to stick up for me. He touhgens me up by kicking my ass lol. Good dad though

yeh... forget him :)

if i have a relationship with my father and knew a lot about him, etc/...

I'd send him to kick said ex-marine's ass....he was a police officer and is retiring from being a firefighter...boo-rah backup!

You did the right thing, he has to work it out on his own, or come to you for help personally.

At least, thats how things work with my parents - they know I'm very independent, but reliable so they let me 'free' as soon as I turned 16 (compared to my younger sister who still had curfews up to age 17-18). But they always made sure I knew that I could still come to them for help when I needed/need (that would include advice, money, roof over my head).

and this has nothing to do with you not wanting to try your chances against a this guy in a fight?

LOL nah, I used to work with a lot of Ex-Special Forces guys. One thing they all had in common was that they didn't feel the need to make claims about it or use it as a threat. So I very much doubt this guy is a former marine. If only because if he was then he'd have had the sense to punch my kid so it didn't show, y'know?

And even if he is an Ex marine, Jackketch's First Rule Of Fighting is 'Always with a weapon and always from behind'.

Anyway it transpires that youngest son (15, and a walking solar eclipse) is pissed at this guy anyway and wants to use this as an excuse to dish out some bad karma.

Anyway it transpires that youngest son (15, and a walking solar eclipse) is pissed at this guy anyway and wants to use this as an excuse to dish out some bad karma.

Sounds like it might sort itself out, good luck to him, but thumbs down to owing people money and ending up there.

I'm 19, and my dad lends an ear sometimes, maybe shares some experience, but he hasn't helped me with much like that since I was 15 or so, he'll contribute but he figured I was old/smart enough to start sorting my own problems out, or at least I should be able to. I seem to be growing up a lot like him actually, come to think of it.

I think the two of you should go kick his ass as a team. It'll be a heart-touching bonding experience.

I seem to be growing up a lot like him actually, come to think of it.

Scary isn't it? Wait until you start saying things to your kids that he said to you...'call that music??!', 'turn some lights off, I'm not made of money'.

Scary isn't it? Wait until you start saying things to your kids that he said to you...'call that music??!', 'turn some lights off, I'm not made of money'.

Hell, I'm saying that now, living on your own (ok, roommate) with no cash makes me a hardcore cheapass 24/7. As far as music I'm busily hating anything aimed at <17 year olds (read: Avril Lavigne, Lil Momma, countless other crap) and cranking up anything else on the radio with too much bass, much to the chagrin of my gay (really though, he is) karaoke-loving neighbor. I'd like to see it is as a transition stage. O_o

That guy isn't gonna kill your oldest son or anything since it is a debt after all, but you should watch out for your younger son. If your younger son decides to go kick some ass, you should either stop him, make sure he doesn't get hurt, or have a long talk about it. At the very least give him a lead pipe and make sure he knows how to use it.

Also, is your younger son smart enough to stay out of deep shit? Stuff like watching watching for the guy behind you if someone weaker decides to pick a fight (a ton of curb stomps start off like that). If your son isn't all that smart, or he can't really fight if something doesn't turn out right, you'd best keep him out of any trouble.

I can't really say anything about your older son because I am not 17-19.

Very wise words!

Jack I don't care how good a fighter your son is, and even though I understand you know how to handle yourself, every fistfight you get in represents a mental failure. If you get into alot of fights you are a dumbshit, straight up. Why don't you tell him to take up music and put that energy to better use? Not trolling, serious.

Also I would kick your sons ass again for being stupid enough to 1) lose money he doesn't have gambling and 2) Dick around anybody in terms of money, let alone a loan shark.

I turned 17 around a week ago - And I sure as fuck wouldn't want my father trying to fix my self-inflicted problems, no matter what it might be.

And he's fucking 19, more than old enough to take care of himself.

I would love a human rottweiler to sort out all the scary people for me.

Thing is, if he owes money and the guy is so serious he's breaking the kids nose, what will it be next?
Perhaps just a broken knee cap or two, or maybe the fucker will try to torch the house?

I'll probably see the guy in town over the next few days and lay the Gypsy's Whisper on him but gently of course.

I'll probably see the guy in town over the next few days and lay the Gypsy's Whisper on him but gently of course.
Not particularly versed in niche slang... Would that be some sort of concussive weapon?

Not particularly versed in niche slang... Would that be some sort of concussive weapon?

Hardly 'niche' and no not any kind of weapon. Simply means to give someone a warning of impending doom (the gypsy turns over the tarot card, kinda thang, y'know?).

Very wise words!

Jack I don't care how good a fighter your son is, and even though I understand you know how to handle yourself, every fistfight you get in represents a mental failure. If you get into alot of fights you are a dumbshit, straight up. Why don't you tell him to take up music and put that energy to better use? Not trolling, serious.

Also I would kick your sons ass again for being stupid enough to 1) lose money he doesn't have gambling and 2) Dick around anybody in terms of money, let alone a loan shark.

this is 'one' fight. If his son does fight him its pretty much to defend himself. And since his nose is broken and is a skater boi emo type he obviously isnt going to fight the guy.

and every fist fight being a mental failure? well, for most people. But sometimes it has to be done... be it ego driven or not.

Hardly 'niche' and no not any kind of weapon. Simply means to give someone a warning of impending doom (the gypsy turns over the tarot card, kinda thang, y'know?).

if i ever end up doing something like that... id be up sleepless nights trying to think of something really really clever and threatening and literally gypsy'ish...

if i ever end up doing something like that... id be up sleepless nights trying to think of something really really clever and threatening and literally gypsy'ish...

I always know what to say....ten minutes after the event.

So I dare say it'll come out the way it always does...slightly shaky and stuttery. Which means he'll then get cocky and I shall be forced to hurt him.