The Queen's Rambles

I don’t know what happened, but I guess I didn’t hit publish on this last week. I didn’t notice since the events of this post have caused me to have even less free time. I can no longer let Erik go outside on his own at all, even though it feels dumb for me to just stand around, trying to entertain Elsa while Erik plays with the nice kids. I thought we lived in a safe neighbhorhood and I guess it isn’t “unsafe” but Erik doesn’t need to be left alone with jerky 13 year olds.

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Ugh. So remember the girl who called Erik Hitler?

That wasn’t even half the story.

On the way home from school yesterday Erik piped up, “Mommy, you didn’t need to be so mad that that girl called me Hitler. All the big kids call me Hitler.”

Yes, I about had a seizure right then and there.

“They do? Like who?”

He named some names, and I found myself getting angrier and angrier. I thought some of those kids were good kids. I even bought stuff from one of them because I thought he was nice.

Mike came home early and took Erik to karate, so I started making phone calls. The parents were all mortified, outraged and appalled. There are several grounded middle schoolers in the neighborhood.

After the phone calls, the parents started stopping by to apologize in person. I was surprised by that and really appreciated it. They were all very supportive and thanked me for letting them know, telling me that as the kids get older it is imperative for neighbors to keep an eye out on things and report to the parents.

I certainly agree with that attitude.

The most appalling thing, of course, is that it was such big kids picking on a little five year old who didn’t even know he was being picked on. We had to have a little chat about Hitler, but I didn’t get too deep into it. I explained that he was a very bad man who only liked people with blonde hair and blue eyes.

One of my other neighbors is kind of weird. She has two boys, ages 7 and 4. She has been on my ass about sending Erik to school early (she did with her 7 year old and she is pissed that her 4 year old doesn’t meet the deadline for early testing). She is also always up in my grill about teaching Erik to read.

Dude.

It’s great if you want your kid to read early. If my kid expressed an interest I would foster that interest. Honestly, though? If he’s not interested I don’t give a flipping froufrou. Research shows it doesn’t really matter when they learn to read, as long as they learn by the time they are 8. I am sure Erik will learn by then. He already has some sight words and can sound out some simple words.

ANYWAY.

She told me I had to give Erik an explanation about why Hitler was bad and suggested I show him Valkyrie and Inglorious Bastards. That’s what she’s shown her sons.

Wha????

I know I can be pretty overprotective, but no way in hell am I showing my five year old a rated R or PG-13 movie. I don’t even let him watch Cartoon Network.

So that was weird.

In other news, Elsa had her spring pictures taken. It was a nightmare, as usual.

I am really irked at the photographer because she didn’t listen to me or use any of the props I wanted to use. I told her that Elsa doesn’t like strangers in her face or loud noises, so she got right in Elsa’s face and made weird shrieking noises, causing Elsa to freak out. I posted the pics on FB and need to get them on Flickr. You can see she is pretty red in the face in a lot of the pictures, poor baby. The lady just didn’t want to take any time with us and didn’t even want me to pick out pictures. I had a $50 gift certificate and she suggested I order a CD. I never get the CD, but with a coupon and the gift certificate I ended up buying it b/c it was obvious the photographer was done with us.

And now I’m being attacked by two over-zealous children so I suppose this entry is done.