[pennsiveguy]

Here's an older-than-old-fart story.

My dad was the oldest of 5 boys. My grandpa, his dad, was a notoriously unsentimental and practical man.

My dad went to the doctor at 12 or 13 years old with what ended up being tonsillitis. My grandpa asked the doctor what the solution was, and the doctor said he could do the tonsillectomy surgery in his office that day and my dad would need a couple days' rest afterwards. My grandpa said "Alright, start in on him (my Dad). I'll be right back with 4 more." Whereupon he went and fetched my 4 uncles and got them all "tonsillectomized" one after the other.

Now that is some hardassed parenting, ladies and gents.