Bullies

Bullies. Whether we were being bullied or doing the bullying, we all have a memory from our childhood involving a bully.

When Little Miss started preschool, one of the first questions I asked was if she could name the "bully" kid in her classroom. For the first year, she wasn't sure exactly what that meant. Last year, the definition became more clear to her. There was a bully in her classroom who bullied everyone, including the teachers, but not her. Why? I have absolutely no idea. (Maybe he heard she was from Brooklyn? That her daddy is a rapper? That her grandaddy has guns? Who knows.) She would tell me the tales of what the bully had done each day...and would end her story with an I'm glad he's not mean to me! I was too.

Now she's in the "big" school...with lots of bigger kids. I had the same fears that I had when she began preschool regarding bullies. What if someone picks on her? Will she know how to handle it? Will she tell her teacher? Last week, she came home with a bully tale from the playground. Apparently, a little boy came up to Little Miss and her gal-pals and attempted to bully them. I have yet to get the straights out of what said bully did exactly, but supposedly it ended with Little Miss smacking him, knocking him down and her best friend kicking him. The girls were caught by a teacher & reprimanded...until they explained to the teacher they were "handling a bully" situation. The teacher told them, for future reference, calling over a teacher would be the best way to handle a bully situation.
I was proud that Little Miss handled her own against a bully...even if she did handle it to the extreme. (She's her father's daughter...what can I say?)

The scary thing about bullies is that with social media- they now have a voice like never before. No matter what age you are...if you piss someone off- look the wrong way or just simply, aren't friends with this-one or that-one...cyber bullies will be all over you. They'll so bravely write about you from their homes...hiding behind their computers. (Sometimes without even saying your name.) I can laugh at this...because I'm a grown up. But I can absolutely see how so many young teens have been pushed over the edge by cyber bullies. It is SO sad.

Teach your kiddos to be kind...lend a helping hand...smile at their school mates. And I will try to teach mine not to smack the next bully who walks her way...;-)

Arguing

Ask anyone. I can argue until the cows come home. I never tire or weaken my argument...I only grow stronger. I can argue until my opposer tosses their hands in the air in frustration and gives up...then I will consider arguing the point of why it took us so long to realize I'm.Always.Right.

Ask my friends...ask my mom...ask the man at the grocery store who attempted to tell me there was no banana yogurt in the box he was stocking the refrigerated shelves with- I will win. (And I'll win with yogurt!)

That being said...while arguing doesn't typically phase me- arguing with a tiny clone of myself, does. Little Miss doesn't choose her battles...she clearly wants to challenge the man at the grocery store who seems to think her mother is an arguing maniac. She thinks I'm a wimp. She sees my skills and throws fire on them. She will argue over any.thing.

I remember my first argument with my mother. (Well, it may not have been the first argument with her- but it was the first time I realllly pissed her off during an argument.) I want to say I was in first grade...and I believe the argument was over something silly like brushing my teeth.

Silly little argument...mmhmm, you're now rounding the bend to bite me in the arse, eh? I see ya. Oh and Hello, Karma...glad you could join us too.

School mornings begin with sweet cuddles from Little Miss in her bed. We get the clothes down that we've picked out from the night before...and it starts.

"These socks don't match!" Little Miss demands.

"They're pink. You're wearing pink...it matches," I respond.

"It's not the same pink!"

"Well, it coordinates...come on- lets go brush you're hair, monkey."

"I am changing my socks! These look horrible!"

I consider swapping coffee for wine...but know I'll never pull it off.

We argue over the color of the socks back and forth until finally...she decides she will just wear shoes that cover the socks. (While cursing me and calling me color blind in her head, I'm sure.)

In a few short moments, we're out the door and on our way to school. Hugs and kisses commence and before I know it- my little girl is sitting in a classroom full of kindergarteners and I'm? Crying in my truck because we fought over socks. SOCKS.

I argue with myself in my head...I should've just let her change & not argued. But what is that teaching her? That she can spend 30 minutes changing socks in the morning before school to find the perfect color hue to match her shirt? Doesn't that just promote child OCDs? Is that even a thing?

The afternoon rolls around and Little Miss bounds into the truck like a kitten with a ball of yarn. She's thrilled to see me and tell me all about her day. I'm thrilled to hear about every tiny detail. (Even the day she apparently beat up a boy on the playground for being a bully. Thats a post in itself.)

We get home and begin homework. Yes, kindergarteners have homework too...and since Little Miss went to preschool for 3 years- it should be a breeze for her, right?

We begin with a name-writing worksheet. I think it will be a piece of cake because...again, she was in preschool- homegirl can write her name with her eyes closed. But now, she is asked to write the letters a certain way- not just to make them look like letters.

"I can write them however...it looks the same," she tells me.

"Well, your teachers are suggesting we practice doing it this way- so we can-"

"They hate my handwriting! I want to write it my way! The way I have always done it!" she interrupts.

She's slightly more dramatic than I am. She goes from zero to hysterical in less than 2 seconds.

We work with the letter y...since it is in her name. We practice over and over...and finally, she stops arguing, opens her brain and realizes it's not difficult. But you have to try...

So our days in the B home have been a little trying. But we will get through it because clearly...we're fighters. ;-)

The Big K

Today, my little girl...my baby...the one I feel like I just yesterday gave birth to...starts kindergarten.

She is so excited. We met her teacher this week and discussed the business of the big K- which in kindergarten, consists of a lot of eating, snacking then getting home safe. These were my main concerns- what if she can't open her yogurt? will she starve? what if her water bottle top gets screwed on to tight & she can't open it!? WHO WILL HELP HER!?! Seriously, these thoughts were going through my mind.

I felt much better after chatting with her teaching duo. They assured me they'd help her with her lunch and make sure she got to me safely in the afternoon. They also promised that in a few weeks, she'd be able to walk herself into the classroom from the curb. I may or may not have looked at them in absolute horror. By herself?! Walk into the school...alone?! I know there will be other adult teachers and the principal will be standing right there by the big doors but...seriously?!? ALONE!? I felt like I needed to find a paper bag to breathe into.

While I was getting all the business explained to me, Little Miss explored the classroom. By the time I was finished, she was ready to spend the day. This also put my mind at ease. (Something else that puts my mind at ease? Her assistant teacher has known me since I was a wee-one...she babysat me. Love me a small town!!)

Little Miss can't wait to begin her real first day...and I'm excited to hear all about it! :-) Oh, and did I mention her BFF is in her class!? She is. We're super excited about that too!

RE: A comment on the Chick-Fil-A Post

A few days ago, I shared my opinion on the Chick-Fil-A topic. I received many comments via Facebook, email and directly onto my blog page. My blog is set so I have to approve all my comments- and I was taken aback when I read the following, posted by an 'anonymous' person.

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Chick-Fil-A": 

I think a business can support who they want...to each his own. Many (most) support gay rights, so in my opinion, Chick-fil-a definitely has a right to support causes that they believe in. They were exercising their 1st amendment right, as do MANY gays parading their homosexuality for the world to see. Chick-fil-a's leader was asked a question and he simply answered it. He didn't volunteer it and he doesn't hate gays. I don't get the uproar. Christians are called bigots all the time, when in fact, it's usually the non-Christians...it can work both ways. I personally am against homosexual relations. I am a Bible-believer, but I definitely wouldn't ban a restaurant for their support of gay rights because I do not hate gays (or other races for that matter)... I will still eat their food, but I don't have to believe as they do. My brother is homosexual; that doesn't change my love for him or his lover, but God takes care of His own. Chick-fil-a is VERY successful and I believe that they always will be because they stand for something. 

I'm honestly, not sure where to begin. I didn't post the comment below my original post because I felt the need to address it...particularly because it was posted anonymously onto my family blog- who few have the address to.

Yes, Chick-Fil-A absolutely has the right to support any cause they choose. Just as they have the right to express their opinions and beliefs, I have a right to choose not to spend money in their establishments. My choosing not to eat there chicken is no different than me choosing not to support Michael Vick's clothing line. I'm not going to fund something I don't agree with...and although the subject matter between Michael Vick & Chick-Fil-A differ, the principle does not. If I'm aware that the money I spend on an item will trickle on to support a cause that I do not support, I'm not going to purchase said item. It turns me off to the entire company. 

Gays parading their homosexuality for the world to see? Do they parade it? I live in North Carolina, so maybe I'm a bit sheltered. However, the last time I was in NYC or LA, I'm pretty sure I didn't see homosexuals having sex on the sidewalk...or heterosexuals, for that matter. How else would they 'parade' their homosexuality, as you said? I guess I parade my green eyes and pale skin- since that is something I was born with...just as homosexuals are born homosexuals. 

A bigot, as defined by Websters is a person who is obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices; especially : one who regards or treats the members of a group (as a racial or ethnic group) with hatred and intolerance. I'm having a hard saying your comment doesn't define bigotry just as well as Websters dictionary. 

Chick-Fil-A will continue to be successful because that serve amazing fried chicken sandwiches. In six months, many fairwhether arguers will have forgotten this whole topic and will eat their chicken meals and laugh at the silly cows holding the 'eat more chicken' signs. I'm like an elephant though...some things I just don't forget.

Chick-Fil-A

I know I'm probably not supposed to share about this topic...because I'm a small-town business owner. If you share your opinions, people who don't agree with you will boycott your business. Right? Oh wait, that doesn't just happen in small towns anymore because the internet makes everywhere a small town.

The Chick-Fil-A issue. (In case you haven't heard, they donated upwards of $2 million to antigay groups in just one year. I'd say that is taking a stand against same-sex lifestyle, wouldn't you?) Now, that statement makes me cringe. And I bet at this point, you have no idea which statement I'm talking about, do you?

The fact that a large company, such as Chick-Fil-A, would donate money to support a group that is against an entire lifestyle. A way of life that really, when you get down to it, has not a damn thing to do with them. If you don't agree with same-sex marriage...then choose to marry a spouse of the opposite sex and let those who choose to marry someone of the same sex live...happily. They also support groups who are against couples (of opposite and same sex) who choose not to marry. It offends them that people can live together happily without getting married...even though, again- it has not a damn thing to do with them. I'm wondering when they're going to be against roommates too. 

It's not about boycotting a business, small or large, because of one man's (or woman's) opinion. It is about that business sending a portion of their profits to groups that I do not support. (So in a round-about-way...my $5 is passing through the clerk's hands and into the treasurer at an antigay group.) I'm not saying that I'm boycotting Chick-Fil-A on purpose. It's not necessarily a total conscious thought on my part...I just all of a sudden, don't want chicken. I want a steak. ;-)