Duct Taped Weaponry

I think the shiny silver and gold duct tape was originally 

to keep the gun from falling apart...

and then progressed into a fashion statement.

It's like Gunshot Residue

Sometimes I find myself responding a certain way, interacting in a mindless manner, and I have realized that I'm not being myself. I've fallen into habits that I don't even consider changing. It just doesn't even occur to me.

I fell into a serious relationship at an awfully young age.  And I think I stopped growing.
I went into some sort of freeze.
Maybe I felt trapped?
I take responsibility for myself.
I don't blame it on anyone else.

But, I don't think that relationship was healthy for me.  For either of us.
I don't feel like we brought out the best in each other.

And so, I've decided that relationships leave behind an invisible footprint, somewhat like gunshot residue
It coats you.
It identifies you...but it can be washed away.

I'm trying to wash it away at the moment.
And figure out who I am alone.
Who I want to be..

It's scary..and yet exciting..
It's overwhelming...and yet freeing.

I love metaphors.

WMDs in my Living Room

Boys.

My house has become a danger zone.

Annie and I have gone into hiding.

I think he's seen too many action movies

This is Donny, my 12 year old,
who is a straight A student in the 6th grade.
Sometimes the hormone brothers pop in,
but otherwise he's a laid back kid.






Last September, I posted a letter of warning about him.
Because of his new bebe gun.

He's been very responsible with it all year.
Until last week.

He came home on the bus, as usual.
but couldn't find his keys.

My husband, who's been working from home,
had left to go pick up our younger son from school.
And my elderly father was home, but couldn't hear the door.


Donny was locked out.

So, he had the brilliant idea to go to the backyard,
where he'd left his bebe gun.
(he's not supposed to leave it outside)
and then...

he used to the gun...

TO SHOOT AT OUR BACKDOOR LOCK!

How many times have we seen shows or movies where the hero shoots the lock?!




Good Lord have Mercy, a seriously lack of judgment there.

We had a loooooooooong talk about it.


BTW, he says he shot at an angle, so the bebe wouldn't ricochet back and hit him.
And he hit the door, so he has good aim...
we have a dent to prove it.


Should I be proud of his ingenuity

or

horrified?!!

(have you seen this amazing corn art?)

Not even pretend?

I read this post recently about a mom blogger, Shamelessly Sassy, who gave out candy cigarettes for Halloween. I thought that was funny but apparently she had a parent RETURN the candy at the end of the night.

I don't approve of smoking. I think it's horrible, and I've never touched one myself. But, that doesn't mean I think candy that looks like a cigarette is bad. It's pretend. And if anything, it provokes conversation with our children about the subject of smoking.

And I think kids get the difference between real and pretend.

Her post reminded me of something I saw on Halloween.

I saw a little boy dressed up like a policeman...but without a gun.



In fact, I heard his mother commenting that he wasn't allowed to have a gun with his costume.

I was shocked.

If he'd been a ninja, would she have not let him carry sword? If he'd been a lion tamer, could he not carry a whip? A pirate? A soldier? A Jedi without a light saber? Costumes are all about the props.

What about water guns? Are those inappropriate?

My son Remy was a Star Wars Storm Trooper, and I bought him a blaster gun that made authentic noises. He loves it. He knows it's not real...but we still teach him not to point it at people unless they're playing pretend with him. We teach him real gun safety.

I also have noticed most kids, when playing with pretend weapons, are usually fighting the bad guys. They aren't trying to shoot the good guys or the women and children. Wanting to protect the good and fight the bad is normal...and a good attitude to promote.

The thing I've noticed about boys...they turn everything into weapons. And I think the key to dealing with this, in my opinion, is to teach them safety.

What do you ban from your kids? Girls or boys.

Letter of Warning

Dear Furry Friends, Feathered Friends & Small Children,

It
might
be
time
to
find
a
new
neighborhood
to
live
in.

The older son
bought
a
BB gun
with his saved up money.

Run
for
your
LIVES!!

Sincerely,
a concerned mama.





*** no children or animals were harmed in the making of this post.***

And, to all weenies out there:

I buy my children toy guns.
I will allow my children to hunt.
We teach the boys gun safety.
We eat meat.

(The boys are not allowed to shoot animals or people with the new bebe gun.)