Being Grounded

I actually was never really grounded as a kid. Not because I was a perfect little angle, but because my parents never really used ‘grounding’ as a punishment. Apparently to some kids, grounding was the only way to go. What exactly does grounded mean? In this instance, this poor tree is grounded for life and doesn’t even have a choice. Even if he wanted to run away and ‘break’ the grounding and not obey his or her parents he can’t!

T-shirt courtesy of BustedTees

How many times have you probably heard a parent use this expression though. They are so angry in the moment at what you have done that they yell “You are grounded…for LIFE”. Well that’s a little much. And clearly, you are not going to ground your children for their entire life. May as well put them in jail.

When I was a lot younger…I thought grounded meant something entirely different. At that age I was into the whole fairy tale stories and happened to love Rapunzel. You know, the one where she is locked up in the tower and is never allowed out? Well I thought THAT was grounded. Literally, ‘grounded for life’ locked up, and not allowed out. So one day I guess I did something wrong. I can’t remember what exactly, but all I remember is my sister telling me that I was ‘dead meat’ and that I was going to be grounded. I was terrified. After crying and feeling sorry for myself, and almost peeing myself, I picked up a basket and went around to all the rooms in the house and filled the basket with all my toys, books, and simply everything and anything I could do to occupy me for the rest of my life. If I was going to be locked in my room, I may as well keep myself busy!

When my basket was filled, i carried it over to my mom and said “Ok Mom, I’m ready to be grounded.” Sure enough, what I had done obviously wasn’t a big deal. My sister had just enjoyed playing it up to make me scared because that’s what she did those days. Thank god that is not what grounded means, and thank god I was never locked up in my room for the rest of my life.