Shhhhhh
Today was Peanut’s Award Ceremony for Second Grade. I for once was actually early so I got a good seat to take photos. I sat next to her friend’s mom who is very strict with her children, a good role model. She is also overweight and not one to take to other people saying anything rude. She can be quite scary if you cross her.
Behind us was a very young mom with two teenage girls. As each teacher announced the children’s names, their award (if they received one) and gave them their promotion certificate, most of the families and friends politely applauded for each child. I felt badly for the children who didn’t have anyone there for them, the moral mom and me me decided to clap for all of the kiddos.
When it was almost young mom’s son’s turn, she asked one of the teens to go up and take a photo. The girl went up near the front where the children were. Meanwhile, other children’s names were being called. The ceremony didn’t stop becasue young mom wanted her son’s photo taken.
She was yelling at the girl to get closer, to focus the camera, to move her butt, to….whatever….so I turned around and said, shhhh. It was as if I had humiliated her, tarred and feathered her, put handcuffs on her and carried her away in front of everyone. I don’t know what set her off, but for the next 30 minutes I was subjected to insults, shushing and just down right rudeness.
At first she called me a “wench” LOL. So moral mom turned her head around so fast I felt the breeze, and asked her with her teeth clenched, “What did you call her?”. When she learned it was just wench she said, “OK, just don’t curse in front of my kids.” Oh great, there went my protection. I was starting to get a bit scared now. Would this woman attack me after the ceremony, call me names, taunt me?
All I could think of was what her son was being taught by her. Was this her normal frame of mind? Did she do this when someone said, “Excuse me” in the supermarket or accidentally bumped into her? Did she egg her son on to fight? And poor Peanut, what does she have to look forward to in her adult years?
I’m not that old where I think that all kids are rotten or teens need to get a life. I don’t hate their music (well most of it). But really what has happened to civility? Or am I just having a bad day, or was I rude to say shush someone?
