ktgirl
Verified College Instructor
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- May 21, 2012
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About the 'coat' thing. It is semantics, primarily. Dylan packed a big hoodie sweatshirt, and not a proper coat. That is what Mark was referring to about Elaine not sending him with a coat. So she did send him with a warm outer layer of clothing, but it was not a coat, as Mark pointed out.
And really, a 13-14 year old is perefectly capable of being responsible for bringing and choosing their own outer layer of clothing at that point. It's not like she sent a four year old with no coat or sweatshirt. Many parents won't argue with teenagers/tweens about what they're wearing as long as it's "close enough" to appropriate because it's just not worth it in the grand scheme of things when compared to bigger issyes parents and teens argue about.
I can't tell you how many times as a teenager I wore something that I was going to be cold in because I liked how I looked in it, it was comfy, or I was too lazy to go grab my coat and my mom fussed at me a little then came to the conclusion of "okay, guess you'll be cold. That's on you, you're 15 (or other teenaged year). You'll be sorry but I guess you have to learn for yourself."
Again, it's not like MR picked up a toddler or elementary-aged kid whose mom had purposely refused to pack a coat. I see the whole "his mom didn't send him with a coat" thing as a non-issue. Dylan was old enough to be responsible for bringing, not bringing, or forgetting his coat or choosing to wear his heavy sweatshirt in lieu of a coat.
ETA: Oops! I see others have already beat me to making the same comments/points.