Today is "picture day" at our schools.
Do you remember that when you were a kid?
If you were a girl, you welcomed the event with open arms, happy to be given the opportunity to dress up in new clothes and spend more than an hour on your hair and makeup ... for an actual reason.
If you were a boy, you dreaded this day, trying to dodge your mother as she flung clothing at you. Usually a shirt that made you squirm and wiggle as you tried to keep the sucker tucked in. All the while your neck itched uncontrollably from the perfectly starched collar. A comb actually made it's way through your hair, for the first time since ... last picture day. Followed by spit on the hand of your mom as she tried to flatten those few strands that wouldn't stay put.
Anyway, that day is today for Jake, Drew and Emily. I will leave out the details of our morning ... as you can probably create a mental picture for yourself judging from your own past experiences.
So, rolling up into the fire lane to let the boys out at their school, I headed to Emily's building just up the way. Miss Thing could barely contain her excitement as her class immediately lined up to make their way to the cafeteria to show off their dresses and smiles.
Molly and I headed out, while a ton of elementary kids made their way through the halls and toward their classrooms. One group of three kids stood out to me as I waited for our turn to venture down the stairs. I overheard their conversation ...
One boy turned to another who was wearing a t-shirt and a pair of jeans with a small hole in the knee. "Are THOSE your BEST clothes?" he snarled, actually showing some teeth.
The quiet boy, with the t-shirt nodded, even somewhat looking pleased with his attire.
Mr. Asshole then started laughing, "Then, you need to tell your parents to get a better job!"
Crushed doesn't even describe the emotion that crept over the sweet boy's face. My heart immediately began to ache, as I was pushed gently from behind from a leader in a line of 25 more kids that were heading down to show their pearly whites. A reminder that I had to keep walking as it was our turn to descend down the steps.
I don't know what happened next.
I can't stop thinking about those boys.
One of them I want to find and wrap my arms around him and tell him he looks so handsome.
And the other I want to find and wrap my hands around his scrawny little neck and choke him until he turns blue.
Believe me, I'm not normally this hostile ... at least towards other peoples children, but this just struck me the wrong way. In a big way. I'm getting pissed off all over again just thinking about it.
Kids are so freakin' mean. And I know it's always been that way ... but in today's world it just seems to be a lot worse.
These kids aren't being taught respect and manners.
Kids have no clue that spouting off at the mouth the way they do is wrong.
Kids aren't aware that their hateful words cut through others and leave scars that will last a lifetime.
But they do. And kids don't care.
Maybe it's time they start.
Please join me today in sitting down with your kid(s) and reminding them of how important the words they choose to use are. How they can completely impact someone. Both in good and bad ways.
I tell ya, if I ever heard one of my kids talk to another the way Mr. Asshole talk to the sweet boy ... I may really actually strangle him. Just for a second.
No. Not really.
But I'd be sure to let them know that talking to people like that isn't acceptable AT ALL.
And I'd be sure they didn't forget it.
Okay ... I'm done ranting now.
I wish I could say I felt better ...
