My wife overnighted the SS card to SS-18 at my mom and dads. She hand wrote the following letter and scanned it to me at work this AM.

Wife called SS yesterday and read him the riot act about his continued lack of effort and his total disrespect for the people who are trying to help him enter adulthood. She told him that she was sick of him calling only when he needed something and that this is exactly how BioDad treats his own mother. He calls SpermGrandMa only when he needs something.

The Skid was PIIIIIISSSSSSSSSSEEEEEEEDDDDDD after that conversation.

I am sure he will shit a horse when he gets this letter.

(Kid) 1/13/2011

Here is the information you needed. Go ahead and carry this in your wallet but please make sure you do not lose your wallet. If you ever lose it make sure to report it immediately! I would not recommend losing it though because it is a HUGE deal trying to get it replaced and people CAN and WILL steal your identity and take out loans and credit cards in your name and you will be left trying to clean up the mess and your ruined credit.

I know you are mad at me but you should know that I feel used and played by you. You very rarely call unless you need something and when I call you, you are always so distracted you cannot carry on a conversation. You are still playing WoW even though it ruined your NMMI opportunity and cost your dad and me thousands of dollars. I think the whole Christmas present for (Half Sis) thing was a lie and if you recall I questioned your motives when you asked. Now that I have taken the computer away you are texting constantly. (Female Friend) is going to class and you cannot disrupt her and her goals all of the time. I hope and pray you are not keeping her from getting good grades.

Please keep in mind that you CANNOT TEXT WHILE DRIVING! It is not safe to do so.

You cannot also treat people so rudely. The Rags clan is all trying to help you make the transition to adulthood and you just don’t care. You won’t listen to what we have to say and definitely won’t use any of our advice. You get mad if we say something you don’t like or you think is critical. You will always get feedback and sometimes criticism for the rest of your life. I twill come from family, friends, the military and your co-workers. You must learn to how to deal with it. It is part of the process of learning. You take the feedback that can be helpful and make improvement. Ignore the bad criticism but just know that even bad criticism does have truth to it.

Everyday you make choices about the type of person you going to be. Am I going to get up and work hard and make progress or am I going to sleep and play all day and not move forward? Do you remember your impressions of the slacker cadets at NMMI? Of your comments about how obsessed with WoW (BioDad) is? Of your criticism of Aunt (SIL)? Think about those things and then take a good long honest look at yourself. Do you want to be better? Really? Truly?

Then make some changes. If you don’t know how to then ASK. Life is a process of learning and improving all of the time. When someone stops learning and improving they stop living their life and just become numb. I don’t want that for you. I have never told you that I expect you to be a doctor or an accountant or anything like that. What I DO expect from you is this:

1) Be a hard worker.
2) Be someone who makes a true effort.
3) Be an honest person.
4) Be someone who values relationships & contributes to those relationships.
5) Be someone who follows through.
6) Be someone who keeps their promises.
7) Be someone who lives up to their full potential.
Be someone who helps others.

What I will not accept from you is:

1) Lying, dishonesty, cheating & stealing.
2) Being someone who uses other people.
3) Drug and alcohol abuse.
4) Physical or emotional abuse of others or yourself.
5) Being someone who gives up easily.
6) LAZINESS
7) Being someone who does not appreciate others.
“Working” the system or other fraudulent behavior.
9) Procrastination.

These are things I have taught you now I expect you to be all of the things on the first list and STOP doing the things on the second list.

I am sure you are highly annoyed by now. I am your mother and it is my job to prepare you for the real world. Right now you need extra effort on my part as you will not step up on your part. Do you want me to back off? Then show me you are making a real change. Growing up is not easy but you have had it easier than I did and easier than a lot of people so get off of your rear-end and do it! I mean it! The laziness stops now! Get a day-timer and write you appointments & to-do list items in it. Consult it every day. Get an alarm clock & get up at a set time everyday. Do your chores and help around the house – WITHOUT BEING ASKED. You can do stuff by yourself you do not need someone to hold your hand. ASK for guidance or instructions if needed and then go do it.

Please know that I love you very much and I will always be here if you need me.

If you like to talk about the items in this letter or need some help let me know. I cannot help you unless you ask.

Love, Mom