A WTF Moment...

[Tino]

Today I had a HUGE "WTF Moment".

My daughter loves poetry/nursery rhymes, and I've taught her a lot of them. One of her favorites, especially since she just started school is:

"I don't wanna go to school no more more more. There's a big fat bully at the door door door. He'll hang ya by the collar, and make ya pay a dollar, I don't wanna go to school no more more more."

Cute, I know. Silly, absurd, perhaps even a little inappropriate, depending on the company.

Today, she got in the car after school, and informed me that a little boy in her class said that's not how it goes. She then recited for me the "correct version", that Jose so graciously taught her today:

"I don't wanna go to Mexico no more more more. There's a big fat priest at the door door door. He'll make you touch his rocket, and use you as a socket, I don't wanna go to Mexico no more more more."

I don't know whether to be amused, or enraged. My daughter has no idea what she's saying, of course, and thinks it's funny, and clever. My first reaction was to be appalled that this was coming out of my child's mouth, and then it was anger. It would've been hilarious if Min had said it, or anyone else but a child. Now I have to go talk to her teacher. I don't want Jose punished. He is just repeating what he's heard. I want someone to investigate where he learned this. It's an inappropriate thing for a child to hear, much less know by heart, and teach to the rest of the kindergarteners in his class.

Tell me, am I overreacting? I have a tendency to do that sometimes, but right now I am just pissed.

I think enraged is overreacting. This is normal kid stuff, but following up is appropriate. Do you know Jose's parents? I'd suggest calling his mom. She should know about it so she can understand who's teaching it to him. If your daughter was the one with the song, would you want to know? The point of the call is not to complain to Jose's mom, since obviously she doesn't condone this behavior.

The best thing you can do as a parent is have a strong network with other parents.