The Howell Family Blog: A Vent from Momma Bear...

Yesterday when we got home from school we did what we do on every nice day…. Went outside to play with neighborhood kids. On most days, we pull up and the kids are already outside running to our car begging for Parker to come out and play. Our house is kind of the “go to house” at times and the kids like to come in garage and bring out all of Parker’s toys (basketball hoop, bike, car, golf clubs, bubbles, chalk) and play with them. Totally fine and I actually prefer it that way. We live in kid filled cul-de-sac and most of the kids are a little older. The age ranges of the kids that come out to play are from 2 to 7 years old. Unfortunately, the two other 2 year olds don’t go outside much, so Parker is usually the youngest. For the most part, the older kids are really great with him and include him as much as possible. I totally understand when they don’t want to play him though, I mean he can’t communicate like they do and he physically can’t do everything they want to do. So, I want to be clear that I completely get that and it doesn’t bother me. What does bother me though is what occurred yesterday. One of the boys (age 4) and one of the girls (age 4 or 5 I think) were tossing this huge ball back and forth. At one point Parker tried to join in on the fun and pick up the ball. The girl yelled “no, you can’t play with us”. I didn’t think too much of it because like I said, sometimes the older kids just don’t want Parker in on their game. I get it. However, at one point in the “game” Parker merely walked by (he wasn’t going for the ball or anything). I’m pretty sure he was actually walking by to pick up a stick. Out of nowhere the little girl yells to the other little boy “Don’t let Parker touch the ball. Whatever you do NOT let him get near it.” She said with a devilish laugh and in such a mean-spirited tone. Um, excuse me? What I wanted to say is that he isn’t interested in playing your stupid game and how dare you talk to him that way when just 5 minutes ago you were playing with ALL of his toys; however, I held my tongue and calmly replied to her “Now that isn’t very nice of you”. I was so pissed. I scooped up Parker and took him in side while he kicked and screamed the whole way in. He wasn’t upset at what she said because honestly he didn’t understand what she meant by it, but he was mad at me for taking him away from the outside world. As I got inside, Matt was calling. I told him what just occurred and his response was, Amy, come on, she is like 5. Yeah, that is the whole point. She IS FIVE… she knows the difference between what is mean and what is nice. She said it in such a mean-spirited way, and that is what made me so angry. I’m sorry, don’t come over to my house and play with all of Parker’s toys, and then when he even comes close to what you are playing with tell the other kids not to let him touch the damn ball. Am I crazy??!!! I guess this is my mamma bear in me, and my claws are coming out! Oh dear, what the hell am I going to do when he enters grade school? And even worse, the dreaded middle school years. They are seriously going to have to institutionalize and de-claw me if anyone is mean to my sweet boy. Kids are just mean. I can only hope to raise Parker in way where he is nice to everyone, and take other’s mean-ness with a grain of salt. I feel better now that I’ve vented, and I’m pretty sure my other momma friends would feel the same way. Am I wrong? Am I really just a crazy momma bear?