And If That Doesn't Work...
A week ago, my hubs took the two oldest kids to Chuck E Cheese for an afternoon. I had some work to do, and the kidlets had been monsters all morning. When the hubs suggested he take the kids and go, I was delighted, although I loathe that loud, greasy, seizure-inducing pit of disease. I waved good-bye cheerfully from the front door, while muttering "and don't let it hit yer ass on the way out heh heh heh."
That afternoon, the kids arrived home exhausted and slightly hoarse from the revelry. Not much was said about the experience until yesterday afternoon, when I was asking about aggressive older kids on the playground.
"Yeah, I'm not scared of big kids," said my kindergartener. "Oh?" I asked with raised eyebrows. "Me either," offered my four year old.
My daughter said "I just ignore 'em, but if they are really obnoxious, I do like Chuck E Cheese."
Okay. Um? What? "What do you mean, like Chuck E Cheese?" I am trying to be casual, but I'm freaking out a bit.
"Two mean big boys were bothering us in the tunnel, and they called him a baby and me a baby, too. I asked them to move so we could get by, and they just said baby, baby. So we turned into dinosaurs and growled at them. We scared 'em, and then we chased them all the way down the tunnel."
"Oh, uh, oh. Well, I'm glad you were able to work that out for yourselves."
I called my hubs at work and asked him about this. He said "Oh, yeah, I heard them growling, but I figured they were just being obnoxious."
When I filled him in on what had really gone down, we were in hysterics. I wonder if those kids were really scared? I'm betting they were just floored by my two weird kids pretending to be dinosaurs. Who needs to be tough when you've got mad pretending skills?
When growling doesn't work, they should try the head shaking, arm flapping and laller-laller-laller thing. Of course, my son has spent the last hour scuttling around on all fours at top speed, saying "I'm an armadillo! Mommy! Look!" and then abruptly stopping and curling himself into a tight little ball.
Those crazy Circus kids. They'll weird ya into submission.
Comments
I would say, that is the best strategy I ever heard.
Those bullies were even scared of the two little "lunatics" or honestly amused with their inventivness.
Tell your son that the Armadillo trick only works if he can hold the tight little ball position for a couple of hours, that will give you some respite, he he he...
Posted by: Blex | October 5, 2004 8:08 AM
Gosh!
I had a Bush moment.
I meant to say "either" instead of "even".
Grrrrrr.....
Posted by: Blex | October 5, 2004 8:11 AM
Ha-Haaa! That'll show them meanie big kids!
Posted by: Lindsey | October 5, 2004 10:03 AM
It works for me ;o)
Posted by: Liz | October 5, 2004 10:21 AM
Okay, your kids have incredible imaginations!! So far, the Girl Terror has been a bunny (for 3 days) and then she turned into a monkey. Been a monkey for over a week now. A nice lady in the store asked her what her name was the other day, and she shouted in her face "MONKEY!".
Posted by: Tammy | October 5, 2004 1:27 PM
Okay, your kids have incredible imaginations!! So far, the Girl Terror has been a bunny (for 3 days) and then she turned into a monkey. Been a monkey for over a week now. A nice lady in the store asked her what her name was the other day, and she shouted in her face "MONKEY!".
Posted by: Tammy | October 5, 2004 1:28 PM
Hello, I hope you don't mind me stopping by off of another blog. (I like to blog hop at times) Anyways, I must say your children have such wonderful Imaginations! I too am a mom of 3! and can relate with you and your children! I hope it is okay to blogroll you.. and please feel free to stop by mine anytime.
Posted by: Cat | October 5, 2004 1:46 PM
ah! So that's what Chuck E Cheese does!! :lol:
Posted by: Bec | October 5, 2004 2:03 PM
Be afraid. Be very, very afraid!
Posted by: Mir | October 5, 2004 5:20 PM
I love your new site! It's beautiful! And I also abstain from the Chuck E Cheese outings. The last time I was there was for my son's birthday, yet I can still hear the ding-ding-ding in my head.
Posted by: NotDonnaReed | October 5, 2004 7:38 PM
Jeez, your kids weren't those two little hooligans I saw PHYSICALLY ASSAULTING Chuck E., were they? Nope, I guess not - those kids were about 11.
I'm not kidding. You know your CEC might be getting a little redneck when . . .
Posted by: Clare | October 5, 2004 9:14 PM
I love your new site Jenny. Great lay out, I think you're very brave changing your site, as I am just juggling the template at blogspot still. Good for you. Oh and my son loves monkeys and those guys are soo cute :>)
Posted by: maria | October 6, 2004 1:22 AM
I love your new site Jenny. Great lay out, I think you're very brave changing your site, as I am just juggling the template at blogspot still. Good for you. Oh and my son loves monkeys and those guys are soo cute :>)
Posted by: maria | October 6, 2004 1:24 AM