Uh-Oh....

Life in a Nutshell
....here come the Mama-bear claws again!

Remember the old saying, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me"? I remember yelling this at my neighborhood bullies with all of my might, because, you know what? Those words do hurt.

And so, the latest installment in the battle of the across-the-street bullies.

DS#2 came home after spending two minutes across the street with said bullies. When I asked what was up he said that they were showing my boys some disgusting-looking dolls with blood, gore and knives sticking out of them, saying that these dolls come to life at night and would kill them. Harmless, right? And then, these two bullies said that if my sons said anything mean to them, then they (the bullies) would come over and kill my sons with a knife.

I hauled their butts home.

I spoke to my boys about the difference between being mean and being scapegoats. I coached them on what to say the next time these kids (one boy, one girl) say anything inappropriate to them or any of their siblings. They are to say, "I'm sorry that you feel the need to be mean, we are leaving now..." And walk away.

At this point, though, I highly doubt there will be a next time any time soon.

Although, I just had to interrupt my typing to answer the door...it was the Bullies, wanting my kids to come out again. What for? I wanted to say, so you can scare them half to death again?

But, I know the answer. They actually like my kids. They either have no siblings, or the one they have doesn't play with them. But over here, it's a built-in playgroup! I like that about us too. We can circle the wagons, re-group, do some things together, or separately, as the case may be. (right now, the girls are out back inspecting an orange dragonfly that keeps appearing and the boys are listening to James and the Giant Peach on tape in their bedroom.)

I sent the bullies packing. My kids and their dignity are worth more to me than the boredom of some neighborhood bullies on a summer afternoon.