Fat Jelly Bean

Picked up JR from school yesterday and out of habit, I asked him how his day was.  “Good,” he replied.  Not his normal, “good!” that I’m used to.  Then JY piped up from the back seat, “someone called JR fat today”.

JR bowed his head. A metal stake went through my heart.  “What happened, buddy?” I asked, trying to keep my emotions at bay.

“It was at recess and she kept coming in my space saying I’m a fat jelly bean. I asked her to stop and she wouldn’t.”  His body was deflated.  He wouldn’t look at me.

The metal stake in my heart became engulfed in flames.

“Did you tell someone?” I asked.

“I told a teacher.  She gave me a hug.”

I changed the subject and drove the rest of the way home with my heart on fire.  When we walked into the house I asked JR to walk the dog.  As soon as he walked out, I walked into my room and did the ugly cry.  How could I have let him get this way?  Why are kids so mean? What more can I do?  I’m going to CRUSH that 9-year-old girl!

I called the hubby and tried to convince him that my parenting career was a complete disaster and my child was going to be scarred forever.  I updated my Facebook and solicited pity and got some really good advise in return.

The last piece of advice I happened to read before JR walked back in the door was from my Uncle.  All he wrote was: sticks and stones.

I looked at JR, he sat on the couch, Indian style, chin on his hands, watching tv.  He saw me watching him.  He looked up at me and smiled.

Instead of a full fledged attack on the 9 year old girl, her parents, the school system, the teachers and the counselors…. I did what I knew would make me and JR feel better.

“Get your shoes, JR.  Let’s wod“.

We only did three rounds

JR held for 5 seconds

JY held for 18 seconds

Then he held for 12 seconds!

I stopped the wod at three rounds 1: because I was tired, 2: because the kids were over it and 3: we broke into dance to Gangnam Style (Kids Bob version)!

Can’t touch this.

Words will never hurt us. 

Tootles-

jess