That someone openly admits on the internet that they’re afraid of toys. I had this story emailed to me by Sue, then I saw that Uncle had already beaten me to the punch (figures). Anyway, the gist of the entry is that this woman was cruising around the Farmer’s Market in Palo Alto, CA and saw a family with a child. That in itself isn’t really remarkable, but the child had a (gasp) toy gun and was pretending to use it! SHOCK AND HORROR. Thankfully for me, her nigh hysterical blog entry is full of gems.
Or maybe you tell him that guns are not appropriate for a four year old to be carrying around, and focus him on something else, like Lego’s.
You know, funny story about that. When I was a young warthog, my mother (initially) did not want us playing with toy guns, and instead directed our attentions to Lego and Construx. You might be able to guess what happened from there. My brothers and I, being the boys that we were, fashioned toy guns out of Lego and Construx (note: including a sweet-ass home made M-16), effectively circumventing the rule. While that story provides a microcosm of why gun control doesn’t work, it’s also worth noting for the hysterical mom as well.
But when I saw your four (maybe five) year old son on your shoulders, carrying a toy gun (gosh, I certainly hope it was a toy gun, and not REAL!) and pretending to shoot everyone in the crowd, I just had to judge you.
…
Cause Parents of this kid, I was not the only one staring at (and judging) you and your kid. I am just the only one blogging about it.
This is what was so awesome for me about this blog entry. The author, a self describe Silicon Valley Mom basically admits that she’s close minded and judgmental. The mere sight of a toy gun is enough to send her into hysterics and start judging people who weren’t doing anything dangerous, illegal, or immoral.
Good job there, lady. Who needs to see a psychiatrist?
When I was little, we had basic rules about toy guns. The only ones we had were obviously not real (neon colors, etc.) and the ones we did have had a “don’t point them at people” policy. It was never really a problem, seeing as my brother wasn’t born yet and my sister and I were more interested in My Little Pony.
Aww…
I emailed it to both you and Uncle.
I would have posted it myself but I’ve found those mommies to be a particularly hateful gaggle of hens clacking nonsense.
I tried to take Adam’s first gun away but gosh, that would have left him with only eight fingers.
Sorry I can’t be a good Mom like her.
*giggle*
Ooh and keep in mind that this nonsensical bullshit is coming from a woman who is worried about who would possibly take care of her children should they be ill and need to stay home from school.
http://svmomblog.typepad.com/silicon_valley_moms_blog/2007/09/child-care-logi.html#comments
For fucks sake have her ovum shriveled to the point where they’re no longer necessary?
I see that her husband’s been snipped to a eunich but sheesh….
Gotta say, I’m in favor of the moms who teach that guns are tools, not toys.
Never had to worry about it, being the mom of a girly girl who wasn’t into them, but did come across an annoying toy gun incident.
In a restaurant (a “real” restaurant, not a fast food place) a kid around the age of four was pointing a cap pistol (complete with caps) in the faces of people (the hostess, a waitress, other patrons, etc.) and yelling every time he pulled the trigger “You are DEAD!”. He did it about three or four times and neither of the adults with him told him to stop. He got up and ran over to an old lady and pointed it right upside the back of her head and pulled the trigger. She jumped and gasped “Gracious!” and scowled at him, then his parents(?). Finally, my spousal unit got up, took the gun away from the kid, laid it on the table in front of the man, and said, “You either put this in your car, or put that kid in your car. Either way, if it goes off one more damn time it won’t be in one piece after that – and you owe these people an apology” The other patrons all started clapping and the man stood up and ushered his family out. My man apologized to the waitress for losing her potential tip and started to open his wallet to compensate, but the restaurant owner said that his dinner was on the house.
SOooooo….I can see the value in two things here:
Guns are tools (teach that they are).
If you have to have them in toy form, leave them the heck at home.
Wow talk about memories. But I had to wait until I was like 8 or so till my Mom gave me my first gun. It was a Winchester 77 and really wouldn’t feed for love or money but it was the thought.
Annie: BRAVO to your SO. So few people will stand up that way any more.
I wonder if one could build an actual gun out of Legos or other construction kit… albeit it would still require metal (and only handle weak ammo).
Annie, go smooch that hubby!
Forget the gun issue, if your kids aren’t ready to eat in a restaurant then please leave them at home.
Clearly those are parents who have abdicated all sorts of responsibility.
I probably would have stopped the dad and kid and given an impromptu lesson on safety. I’ve done it before when a little tyke was running around in the store pointing his toy at people and going “BANG, BANG.” Got a little bit of a strange look from his mom but the kid was listening to me explain how that could gcreate a problem if some overzealous policeman saw him pointing his toy (which looked quite real, not having the orange tip on it). I think my words made the mom think, too.
Hope I didn’t scare the little bugger or his mom.