Cool Hand Newt and Agent Elfie

– Posted in: Bright Side of Life, Bullying, Kid Friends, Mean People, Mouths of Babes, Newt's Story, Parenting, Personal Insanity

There’s always something to worry about when it comes to your kids. When they’re infants, it’s the high fever thing. When they start moving around, you almost feel like putting them in knee pads and a crash helmet. And then when they start interacting with other kids. . . well that just makes you want to go back to fevers and head bonks. So with school-aged kids, there’s nothing quite as satisfying as watching them excel in social situations. Especially the same ones that may have caused you to seek therapy. Or at least drink a lot at parties.

I’m chronically guilty of underestimating my kids when it comes to holding their own in a group. So the other day, when we were playing in the front yard with some of the kids’ friends, and suddenly one of them decided Newt couldn’t play with their ball, I thought we were in for major devastation. Newt turned away from them and walked back to our open garage. So I nonchalantly followed, headed into the house, and ended up not being able to find him anywhere. Because, I’m thinking, he’s in his room, hiding and crying. Or he’s out in the backyard, throwing rocks. Who knows. But by this point, I’m stressed. So I head back out to the garage, and there he is. . . smiling and holding a golf club. I tell him I was looking for him. And this is what he says:

“Yeah. I came in because they wouldn’t let me play with the ball anymore. It’s their ball.  They’re not really used to sharing.” Then he gives me a shoulder shrug and a Whatcha gonna do? look. “So I’m gonna play some golf.”

A couple of minutes later, one of the kids came over with a different ball and offered it to Newt (I’m still unclear on this). And Newt, who has absolutely no idea that he’s being cool and manipulative when he does these sorts of things, replies, “No thanks, I’m gonna play some golf.” Complete blow off.  If he keeps this up with any consistency, there will be chicks all over him.

And speaking of cool and manipulative, Elfie told me yesterday that she was eating lunch with three other girls who told her they didn’t like Dora. Elfie likes Dora. But she apparently told them that she didn’t like Dora either. Now, on the surface, this is one of those moments that if you witnessed, you’d be holding your breath and wincing over the fact that your daughter had just compromised herself in order to fit into “the group.” But we need to look and see what lies beneath. . .

Apparently, Elfie quickly devised this ruse in order to “get more information out of them.” Not kidding. She pretended to dislike Dora so she could get the inside scoop on these girls (my husband said she sounded frighteningly like me — not sure how to take that). And what reason did the girls give? Dora speaks Spanish.

Elfie’s reaction: “Why wouldn’t you like someone just because they speak Spanish?”

My reaction: “Exactly who were these girls? What were their names again?” Because apparently I need to make a mental note to avoid political discussions with their parents. And perhaps not leave you alone at their houses where there may be loaded fire arms.

So at least for now, it looks like Newt and Elfie are surviving in kid land. I suppose the only places that are uglier are middle school and Capitol Hill (because little kids are amazingly more reasonable and pragmatic than pre-teens and politicians). But then, if they end up thriving in those environments, I don’t necessarily know if I could chalk it up to being a good thing or not.

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15 Comments… add one

Veronica Lee May 22, 2010, 12:10 am

Hi! Stopping by from MBC. Love your blog.

Have a nice day!

Sunny May 22, 2010, 9:13 am

Thanks Veronica!

Tina Peterson May 22, 2010, 7:30 pm

Very well written – and you can definitely be proud of your kids! I'm following you from MBC and I'd love it if you'd follow me too! http://www.familyliteracyandyou.blogspot.com

Tina “The Book Lady”

Dr. Heckle May 22, 2010, 9:41 pm

Yeah, we definitely don't give our kids enough credit sometimes. They may not have the experience, but they can sure amaze us with their intelligence. I find that's the case with mine anyway!

Tennessee Mom May 23, 2010, 3:09 am

Sounds like your kids have a better grasp of reality than most of the adults I know 🙂

Stopping by from Blog Flow and added to your followers.

http://daysonthecreek.blogspot.com/

S Farrell May 23, 2010, 7:08 am

I always feel so over protective of my kids and they amaze me sometimes too! Following from blog flow. BTW, you have great taste in your blog design 😉

http://sfarrell27.blogspot.com/

Blommi May 23, 2010, 7:11 am

I hope my daughter does half as well as these two when she hits their age.

PartlySunny May 23, 2010, 11:41 am

Tina: Thanks! I actually told Newt I was proud of him. I believe I told Elfie she was very “trixie” (we get that from Golem in Lord of the Rings).

Dr. Heckle: You have kids? Are they just complete smart asses? I bet they outsmart you all the time;).

Tennessee: The older I get, the more apparent it becomes that adults are just children in larger clothes (hmm, that may go in my “In Short”).

S Farrell: I guess at some point, you and I are either going to have to learn HTML or put a crowbar in it and hire a designer. But, yes, great minds. . .

Blommi: Thanks! If she's anything like ours, I'm sure she'll be all too happy to either amaze you or completely freak you out on any given day.

Emily May 25, 2010, 12:07 pm

Sounds like you are raising 2 really great kids.
Stoping by from blog flow, looking forward to reading more.

PartlySunny May 25, 2010, 8:55 pm

Thanks Emily! They're a little crazy, but I'll keep 'em:).

She Said May 31, 2010, 8:45 pm

Great post! After reading the “I need to make a mental note to avoid political discussions with their parents” comment, I laughed! And then I cried. I understand that statement ALL TOO WELL. *sigh*

PartlySunny May 31, 2010, 10:00 pm

She Said — We REALLY need to get together for coffee so you can explain that one. And I need to hear all about China, baby!

Wanderlust June 1, 2010, 7:48 pm

Hi, here from blogflow. As someone transplanted into the midwest I know these situations all too well and can only say “face, meet palm”. Let's just hope Dora doesn't take a wrong turn on one of her adventures and end up in Arizona. I think your kids are going to do okay.

PartlySunny July 13, 2010, 11:56 pm

@Wanderlust: Don't know if you've seen that Dora wanted poster for Arizona. It's hysterical. And more than a little disturbing.

PartlySunny July 13, 2010, 11:56 pm

@Wanderlust: Don't know if you've seen that Dora wanted poster for Arizona. It's hysterical. And more than a little disturbing.

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