Our Trip to the Zoo with the Animals Not In Cages...

Hey everybody!!! Guess who!

Long time no see...I know,  I know, well here let me make up for it *sucks in a huge breath and...* HappyThankgivingMerryChristmasHappyNewYearHappyMLKdayHappyValentinesDayHappyStPatricksDayandHappyEaster... *huge exhale* Ok, got that out the way so...we good? Well hell, so what if we are not I just said happy everything I've had stuff going on and so have you (lol). Surely you can understand that?! AAATTTTTTTTTT any rate, I have thought about you guys...well things I should share with you but based on my laziness/lack of a decent laptop I just haven't. Before you ask no still no decent laptop just making due with the ol netbook :)

This past weekend was Free Day at the zoo here in Kansas City.  Sounds awesome right?! ENNNHHHHHHH WRONG!!
The trip yesterday to the Zoo with my daughter was hooooooooorrible.   The zoo was already packed which was to be expected because honestly whenever something is free people tend to flock. 







 You go expecting to see cute and cuddly stuff like this:

But we ended up seeing this, seriously:

Now the crowd was one thing, inching along and everyone wants to try and see the various animals and exhibits but to be honest that wasn't it.  *SIGH*  How can I say this, the whole experience took me through three emotions. 

Visual of the three stages I went through...

• Humor
• Sadness
• Frustration/Anger

Let me just tell you about some of what we experienced. From the time we go through the front entrance gates to the time we sat down for a snack and went to several exhibits etc. One group was prevalent black folks hangs head low oh dear sweet baby Jesus clenches fist like an old lady in church, MY PEOPLE MY PEOPLE!! we wonder why we have a such a bad name…of course not everyone was acting up but I am not exaggerating when I say about 70% were cutting up.  I mean it was everything from parents cussing out their kids, to encouraging them to climb on stuff that had no business (exhibits), chasing some of the free roaming animals. In one instance, a little boy was chasing a free roaming goose to hit it. The mother was laughing and videotaping. 
The thing is if that goose would have come after the little boy she would have been wanting to sue the zoo. 

We were riding the tram back up the entrance and a group of teenagers were walking along the path well one of them (had to be anywhere from 16-18 yrs old) decided he was going to run alongside the tram and jump on while rapping Lil Wayne. So here this lil fool is right at our row standing hold on the tram. Mini me was like o_O seriously?! So on our row was another black mother and her two twins about the same age as mini me.  She shook her head and said so ignorant! SO then the zoo officials walking on the path saw this fool hanging off and yell get on or get off you shouldn't be no there! So he decided he was going to try and crawl in on our row. I said with a serious ASS face! Oh not today you not! You will not be coming in on this row. So he said well they told me to get on or get off…I said oh well try to get on and I will push you off and the other lady said and I will help her.  So he maneuvers up a couple row and jumps in with some preteens.  Of course you know I would include an illustration :)

This is the Tram

The dude was there shown in blue and we were sitting oh about here (where the finger is pointing)

Next thing we knew he ran up and jumped on

Notice in this reenactment my face...yup this is about right

Now, by the time we go to the tram station, he gets off and was twirling his twists (hair) while … (get this no lie) sucking his thumb and grabbing his saggy pants. Now he's looking silly because his friends were way back.  This was only some of the disappointment we witnessed on our free trip to the zoo!  There were people in club attire, one lady had on a see through top boobs hanging all out, see through pants with thongs.  THERE ARE CHILDREN HERE GEEZ LOUISE!!!!! There were also a couple fights because someone cut in line! Really PEOPLE…really?!  Think I am exaggerating of course I have included a clip. It was an overall loss yesterday, however, of course it was a good teaching tool I used with my daughter. Then people get mad when they are treated liked clowns and heathens...well stop acting like it then! 

http://news.yahoo.com/video/police-break-fights-kansas-city-231819276.html

Ok well, gotta run!! TTYL I'll be back this week there is this awesome game and book I was exposed to recently that was pure comedy and fun!

Laters!!

Kids Who Need a Long Talk in a Dark Corner

This week I have had the pleasure of being on vacation from work.  Well my time off has been an adventure all its own.  My daughter had her first sleep over and we did some awesomely fun kid stuff….yay right?! Yeah, well somewhat…in all my kid friendly outings this week, I have observed some commonalities in kids’ personalities while out in public.  Are any of these your kids?

Whiner/Pouter:

This is the kid that whines and complains the entire time they are out with their parent/s.  This is usually accompanied by a high pitch voice. This is actually most annoying.  Situation goes something like this…the parent will say, “Ok, well Johnny what if we just go here first then we will go there.”  Johnny says “*high pitch voice* no but I don’t want to I want to go there now…now…I don’t want be here blah blah.”

Mistake: You gave Johnny the power.  Don’t do it…if you fall for this little Johnny will always whine to get on your nerves and get what he wants.

Solution: Take little Johnny to a dark corner and have a long talk in a low voice. That’ll do the trick! J

Screamer:

This is the kid that will scream if they don’t get what they want…the goal of the Screamer is that of the Whiner coupled with grabbing attention as well.  This one is no bueno because the parent/s usually will go into panic mode to divert attention and get the child to stop screaming.  Usually that means giving into the childs’ demands.

Mistake:  Again, the child has the power. Don’t do it.

Solution: You could again take the child to a dark corner and have a long talk or with a screamer perhaps pick the kid up  and walk outside or to a bathroom and let them just scream and you stand with a blank stare and then say “yeah are you finshed?” OOOORRRRRRRRRRRRRRR if you spank now would be a time to give the classic response “do you want me to give you something to scream about?”

Potty  Mouth:

This is the child that you wonder what do they hear at home…sweet Jesus o_O the mouth on this kid will make you blush! The conversation with the Potty mouth goes like this…”Jane, I said no you cannot have that so put it back now !” Jane: “No you &%#^ I won’t effin put it back but you can &^*$&%#% yourself mom!”  Mom: “That language is not appropriate young lady”  Bystanders thinking..”KNOCK HER OUT KNOCK HER OUT!”

Mistake: You are letting your child be exposed to this language or you are using it yourself in anger and they have totally picked up on it and are using it against you! Also, you don’t discipline strict enough for this behavior to cease.

Solution: You need a long talk in a dark corner for allowing this to happen! However, it has so now you need to nip it in the bud! Spank, strict punishments etc are necessary in this case! The child should know they are smart enough to use a better vocabulary as well as they will have some RESPECT for you as their parent and other elders around!  BOTTOM LINE! NIP THIS IN THE BUD because this is a reflection of you!

UFC fighter:

This is the kid that wants to use fist and force to get what he or she wants.  This type of kid right here is the type that will end up on Maury Povich or some talk show.  Never is this ok! I’ve seen it this weekend as well… conversation goes like this… “Davie we are not doing that right now, please have a seat.” Davie yells: “NO!” Mom: “ok Davie lets not do this today please have a seat right now young man!” Davie: “*Smacks mom * I said NO I want to go over to the slide now!* Mom: “That is not nice Davie you shouldn’t do that but we will go over for just a few minutes and that is all!”  Bystanders: o_O WTH?!

Mistake: Well in this instance there are several…for one what if the child being exposed too that says its ok to hit.  Or what situation goes on at home that makes him think that is a way to get his way…hmmmm.  Also, like all the others the kid acts a fool and the parent gave in…never the thing to do then that tells the kid that this is the way I can get what I want!

Solution:  You know the standard answer long talk in a dark corner. In this instance, spanking probably isn’t best well maybe a lil but the whole point is that they shouldn’t be hitting so by hitting them how does that provide a solution.  In some instances UFC fighters may need some sort of counseling pinpoint and work out their anger and aggression.

Crier

This is the kid that will cry if they don’t get what they want…the goal of the crier is that of the Screamer & Whiner.  This is the kid that can and will cry at the drop of a dime.  Don’t get what they want…they cry, parents tell them no to something…they cry etc.

Mistake:  Giving into the crier, they feed off of this but when you give in the child has the power. Again, don’t do it.

Solution: See the same solution of The Screamer and the Whiner

The Starer:

I think this is America’s favorite.  I have fun messing with the starers . This is the kid that just blankly stares at strangers, over booths at a restaurant, in line at the grocery store etc …their facial expression never changes nor do their eyes move and they never say a word.  Just stare.

You notice a little pair of eyes staring at you…

Kid: 

You: Oh well hello there. How are you?

Kid: 

You: Oooook are you lost where is your mom or dad?

Kid: 

You: Look side to side and even behind you, only to turn and see...

Kid: 

You: (Hmm OK now we are feeling a bit awkward) OK, well do you like my shirt?

Kid: 

You: BOO!

Kid: 

You: 

They end up winning because you just walk off typically or turn around.

Mistake:  There really isn't one here.  I think all kids go through this phase it's just hilarious that's all.

Solution: Just grab their attention and let them know if not really polite to stare.  I usually jokingly say to my daughter when she is staring at someone having a coversation...ummm sweetie are they talking to you?

Now these were just a few of some stand out personalities I observed and know you are probably familiar with. There were a lot of well mannered normal kids as well but of course I had to laugh a little at those above.  Well this is my last blog of 2011! So in that case..God bless, be safe and...

Blog ya in next year!!!