tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21558474.post865202546449595603..comments2023-11-02T08:09:02.234-04:00Comments on Her Bad Mother: Janie's Got A GunHer Bad Motherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03535958887714152413noreply@blogger.comBlogger80125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21558474.post-84670224519662869032009-05-23T22:22:28.742-04:002009-05-23T22:22:28.742-04:00Yeah, I saw, you already worked past this in the n...Yeah, I saw, you already worked past this in the next post. And as a mother with only boys I don't know if I have the right perspective on all the girly stuff. But my own anti-gun protests were all left completely in the it-doesn't-matter-anyways heap when my oldest son, at about 2 1/2 years old, (never having had any kind of play gun before ever) turned the letter L from the fridge magnets into a gun. So I laughed, and threw my hands in the air in defeat, and we just have conversations about when it is appropriate, and when it is not.quarkwrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02402272582770543873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21558474.post-40728469093946197422009-05-22T13:53:55.378-04:002009-05-22T13:53:55.378-04:00I was feeling this way this week too. Alittle boy...I was feeling this way this week too. Alittle boy who comes to our daycare plays guns all the time. My dd didn't even know what a gun was until he started coming over. He made one kid cry when he pretended to shoot him dead and I had to tell him to stop (the crying kid's dad died last year so death is not the best subject to play around with). My daughter is starting to make guns out of lego now and I am recoiling and imagining she'll turn out to be a terrorist or something. I know I am over-reacting but my mind turns to homescholong at these times too. Kindergarden starts next year. Might be safer at home.... hmm. <br />Love your pic of the gun rack, btw. Helps put this all into perspective.Melodiehttp://www.breastfeedingmomsunite.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21558474.post-81412027223148728972009-05-21T07:24:30.012-04:002009-05-21T07:24:30.012-04:00Oh, and I meant to add the neither of my children,...Oh, and I meant to add the neither of my children, despite what I do for a living, ever played "guns"<br /><br />All kids are different, eh?Gunfighterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05762432006297768871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21558474.post-63346119862567828802009-05-21T07:23:06.512-04:002009-05-21T07:23:06.512-04:00My parents didn't own guns (although my dad had on...My parents didn't own guns (although my dad had one... he was a policeman). I wasn't raised in the gun culture... but I played soldier, I played cops 'n robbers, I made the gun sounds.<br /><br />I learned to shoot when I was a 12 year old Boy Scout.<br /><br />I joined the Marines when I was 17... they taught me to use a variety of guns, some that could spit death out to over a thousand yards.<br /><br />I am a professional firearms instructor. I tteach people how to efficiently kill other people<br /><br />I am wearing a pistol on my hip and one on my ankle as I type this.<br /><br />I've never shot at anyone in my life.<br /><br />Playing "guns" is fairly normal, as is playing princess, or firefighter, or whatever... I think that the key element in the discussion always has to be PARENTS.<br /><br />Oh, and I don't belong to the NRA.Gunfighterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05762432006297768871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21558474.post-84481117251176637582009-05-19T16:05:00.000-04:002009-05-19T16:05:00.000-04:00It's because she's 3 that it's freaking you out. I...It's because she's 3 that it's freaking you out. In a few years, it won't.Jennbattnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21558474.post-38781778559635540432009-05-19T15:44:00.000-04:002009-05-19T15:44:00.000-04:00We freak over things because we don't have the dat...We freak over things because we don't have the data.<br /><br />I suspect the data says that things a child likes to play as a child does not say that much about what kind of adult that child will be.<br /><br />I LOVED GUNS as I child. I am terrified by guns now. There's a little anecdotal evidence for ya. <br /><br />I asked for a bb gun every year and always got every kind of gun except a bb gun. <br /><br />Nor did fairy tales work some weird anti-feminist juju on my brain. <br /><br />Crucial thing, I suspect: Get the kid thinking for themselves.ozmanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21558474.post-78617766884683792482009-05-19T06:24:00.000-04:002009-05-19T06:24:00.000-04:00Yeah i too used to freak out, now do not react in ...Yeah i too used to freak out, now do not react in that way.....Blendhttp://www.kraakgeluiden.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21558474.post-68213996523027236692009-05-18T11:59:00.000-04:002009-05-18T11:59:00.000-04:00I may not be the best person to answer your questi...I may not be the best person to answer your question, as I am one of those, 'freaked out so much that we homeschool now' moms. I would just like to say that you'd make a rockin' addition as another face of homeschooling.Christinehttp://colormepink.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21558474.post-39042437943780500852009-05-18T09:02:00.000-04:002009-05-18T09:02:00.000-04:00Oh my. Things like this are what parents fret over...Oh my. Things like this are what parents fret over. I have a post coming up on somewhat the same subject, and I'll tweet it to you when it's ready. Talk about freaking out with your 3 year old pretending. Imagine if your stepdad bought your FOUR year old a .22 rifle? Oh yes he did.<br /><br />It's brewing in my head, and when I'm not mad enough to SPIT bullets I'll post.Kathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17634437675434992781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21558474.post-81686170576061188772009-05-17T23:55:00.000-04:002009-05-17T23:55:00.000-04:00We are gun-owners, so we've had to deal with discu...We are gun-owners, so we've had to deal with discussing guns and how to play pretend with guns. It's okay to pretend to shoot a gun, but we NEVER shoot people. I know it's hard to know where to draw the line and I think that differs by family.<br /><br />The bottom line is that you're concerned and you will do what is best for your family!Meghttp://www.sleepynewmommy.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21558474.post-65630903714273950662009-05-17T17:50:00.000-04:002009-05-17T17:50:00.000-04:00What about the swords? Are those fencing swords pr...What about the swords? Are those fencing swords propped up in the corner beside the guns? Do tell.<br /><br />PS you beautiful babies look just like you did as a baby!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21558474.post-28251009970706265582009-05-17T09:42:00.000-04:002009-05-17T09:42:00.000-04:00You know what? I'm coming around to the conclusion...You know what? I'm coming around to the conclusion that I wouldn't be much of a Mom if I didn't freak out over things. Gotta embrace that part of me and then it calms down and I don't freak out as much or as intensely.<br />And, BTW, my 9 year old son checked out a book at the library called "Your Personal Weapon." Talk about freaking out - I wanted to get him into therapy that very minute. My husband calmed me down explaining that ALL boys go through this phase and he'll chill out about it soon.<br />Hopefully, so will I! Peace...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21558474.post-72613014520617088212009-05-16T21:20:00.000-04:002009-05-16T21:20:00.000-04:00aak! guns! My little girl isn't old enough yet, bu...aak! guns! My little girl isn't old enough yet, but you're preparing me for what's to come... thanks for the shared wisdom in the comments :)EvaVhttp://www.musicforlife.typepad.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21558474.post-91328907984865273282009-05-15T10:27:00.000-04:002009-05-15T10:27:00.000-04:00Know what? I might freak you out a little bit more...Know what? I might freak you out a little bit more with my story... I freaked out when I noticed my son having pretend gun-play as well. And I asked his teachers about it.<br /><br />At his preschool (he is three, also), one of the kids there witnessed a shooting a few weeks ago. And they've been trying really hard to redirect him and try to explain that violence is <I>most certainly not okay</I> but have not been completely successful. So. Sometimes craziness does happen - I won't be taking my son out of the school, but we have begun having similar talks with him re: violence that his teachers have been having with his friend and their class.<br /><br />oy. Parenting.Brookehttp://babblingbrooke.typepad.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21558474.post-24581179496669625752009-05-15T09:46:00.000-04:002009-05-15T09:46:00.000-04:00I wrote about the same thing back in January. I us...I wrote about the same thing back in January. I used to freak out but now I just drink.All Starhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139261995642775747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21558474.post-44293368917764342752009-05-15T00:19:00.000-04:002009-05-15T00:19:00.000-04:00I didn't have the energy to read all the comments,...I didn't have the energy to read all the comments, so forgive a repeat. <br /><br />When I was growing up in the 70s, my mother decided my younger brother was not going to ever get a gun to play with. <br /><br />So, he used sticks, fingers, etc. Eventually he was given guns for birthday/Christmas gifts from friends or relatives, and then the capper was when he saved up enough allowance for a cap gun. <br /><br />Now, as a 35 year old productive member of society with no gun wielding tendencies, he seems to be okay. <br /><br />I'm willing to bet your kids will be okay too. After all, it's the parenting around the finger pointing pistols that counts, no?Mandyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14586323120994967027noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21558474.post-56914453336778269352009-05-14T23:57:00.000-04:002009-05-14T23:57:00.000-04:00Enjoying your new blog but HATING the platform tha...Enjoying your new blog but HATING the platform that it is on. I am attacked by advertsing every time i check it out and i really dislike that. not sure if it's just me, but it is a bit of a turn-off.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21558474.post-6745970344963640862009-05-14T17:25:00.000-04:002009-05-14T17:25:00.000-04:00We tell our four year old that he's not allowed to...We tell our four year old that he's not allowed to 'shoot' any people. So now he tells me that there's a battle droid behind me that he's shooting, to protect me.<br /><br />Can you tell we're a Star Wars household? The baby raised his little hand and made "zzzt zzzt" noises at his brother's lightsaber today, imitating how he "uses the force" to fend off attacks. Great.Lady Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13360693450146358247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21558474.post-10888075320357673292009-05-14T17:21:00.000-04:002009-05-14T17:21:00.000-04:00I grew up around guns - was given a BB gun for my ...I grew up around guns - was given a BB gun for my 10th birthday - often saw my grandfathers antique Colt 45's sitting around (bullets and all) and am still the liberal pacifist. I can't even stand hunting (which is so hypocritical because I am very much a meat-eater.)<br /><br />I'll probably freak out the first time I see my son pretending to "shoot 'em up" but I freak out about A LOT of things that aren't going to matter in the long run.<br /><br />I wonder what my son will blog about in 30 years with the caption "I can't Buh-LEEEIVE there was (insert object here) in my house!" I'm sure he's bound to find something!TheFeministBreederhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11202406381622825349noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21558474.post-72368510453892942392009-05-14T16:47:00.000-04:002009-05-14T16:47:00.000-04:004yr old: "Mom, if I put my finger and thumb like t...4yr old: "Mom, if I put my finger and thumb like this it looks like a '7' or an 'L.' But it looks like a gun, too, and I like that the best. Bang! You're dead."<br /><br />And so it goes around here, and some days I am tolerant and some days I think they'll be felons. Probably they'll okay. Right?Goldfishhttp://www.onthreekids.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21558474.post-79388764119982145402009-05-14T15:54:00.000-04:002009-05-14T15:54:00.000-04:00Cassie - vasectomy post coming. It's an, erm, touc...Cassie - vasectomy post coming. It's an, erm, touchy issue, so it's taken a while to get to ;)Her Bad Motherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03535958887714152413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21558474.post-54965702808300769562009-05-14T15:30:00.000-04:002009-05-14T15:30:00.000-04:00I would freak. majorly. i have 2 boys so i am ex...I would freak. majorly. i have 2 boys so i am expecting this eventually, but not from an almost 4 year old as the elder one is.Tina C.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21558474.post-31593399435853599712009-05-14T14:37:00.000-04:002009-05-14T14:37:00.000-04:00If it makes you feel any better, I grew up around ...If it makes you feel any better, I grew up around guns - both antique and not. Most family nuptials brought new meaning to the term "shot-gun weddings" and everyone had an obligatory picture of their children holding a decapitated deer's head. <br /><br />Despite - or maybe because of this upbringing, I'm now a gun-hating card-carrying liberal. So don't fret!<br /><br />On a side note, if you ever get to write about the vasectomy, I would be eternally grateful. I'm collecting stories to convince my husband it's the way to go. :)Cassihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02367914074900130522noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21558474.post-34728922016358520832009-05-14T12:04:00.000-04:002009-05-14T12:04:00.000-04:00This story portrays me in a really terrible light,...This story portrays me in a really terrible light, BUT it's the perfect forum for it.<br /><br />So, a couple years ago, I was in a shop somewhere and there was a small boy - about 4 years old - there with his mom as well. I was making faces and playing with the kid from a distance, which was fine and dandy, and then out of the blue, he made his hands into the shape of a gun and pointed it at me and shot.<br /><br />And said "BANG! BANG!" and laughed maniacally.<br /><br />Did I march right over to him? Yes. Did I lean down to his eye level, completely uncaring of whether or not his mother was right there? Yes.<br /><br />And did I tell that little boy that pointing a gun at a stranger, even a make-believe gun from your fingers, is not nice? Yes.<br /><br />And did I tell that little boy to NEVER do that again, that he hurt my feelings, and that I would like an apology?<br /><br />Yes.<br /><br />His mother was PISSED OFF, but you know? There are some behaviors that are just not okay. Some behaviors that are worth freaking out about.Sarah @ BecomingSarah.comhttp://www.becomingsarah.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21558474.post-3741659764971337842009-05-14T11:46:00.000-04:002009-05-14T11:46:00.000-04:00It's like you READ MY MIND and then blogged about ...It's like you READ MY MIND and then blogged about it.<br />Almost.<br /><br />I have never before had an issue with toy guns. Never.<br /><br />I was a kid once -- heck some people still think I am (those people being in the form of elderly ladies at the mall lecturing me about babies having babies -- gimmie a break.)<br /><br />Until last Thursday. I took my son to the park across the street from our house where he played contentedly on the equipment, going up the stairs and down the slide for what seemed like hours (of fun of course.)<br /><br /><br />Then, out of nowhere two little boys came around the corner shooting their cap guns (I think that's what they're called) No biggie. Whatev. As long as it doesn't scare the munchkin I'm cool with it.<br /><br />THEN they had the nerve to start screaming racial slurs and threatening a little African American boy. They proceeded to pretend to shoot him while they did this.<br />As soon as they noticed me coming up to them they stopped and took off. <br />Then I turned around to find them <I>threatening my two year old and pretending to shoot him execution style.</I>I cannot tell you how utterly disgusted and mortified I was.<br />Sick to my stomach.<br /><br />And I almost kicked a couple of six year old asses.<br />Excuse my language.<br /><br />I will never bring him back to that park and my son will never have a gun -- toy or otherwise.<br /><br />"Gun play as a child doesn't equate to being a homicidal gun nut as an adult.. " ..but I'm willing to bet their parents don't give a damn. They had to have learned it somewhere, right?Nicolhttp://blog.singlemominthecity.canoreply@blogger.com