I'm more important than you....

A couple of mornings ago, I had an interesting experience. I was driving to drop off L at school and go to work. In our area of town, one road gets very crowded in the mornings. It's just beyond the elementary school and is the access to the highway. Most mornings during the school year, the wait is a good 10 minutes, which for us small town folks is just excruciating! But, like all good citizens, you just get in line and wait your turn...isn't this what we learned in kindergarten, people?!?

Well most of us did, but there is about 10% of the population who must have been absent that day. These Jerks (as I affectionaly call them) get in the other lane and then cut you off at the last minute. I've seen this happen the last 18 months and have been annoyed, but not much has happened.

Well, that all changed the other morning, when one of these "jerks" did this and rear ended me. I was furious! I had L in the car (driving Lance's smaller car) and the guy was driving a Yukon. Fortunately L and I were fine and so was the car, but...when I got out to investigate, I told the guy that he was very fortunate nothing had happened because what he did was very rude. I told him that he must be more important than the rest of us since he couldn't wait in line. He responded with..."yes, I am". Not, "I'm sorry ma'am", not "is your child okay, are you okay?" not, "I was a jerk", but... "yes, I'm more important than you".

Wow...what's sad is that he wasn't a kid, he looked to be about my age and with a wedding ring on and I would bet money he had just dropped his kid(s) at the elementary school.

Dude, I'm sorry you were running late, but you'd be a lot later if you had hurt someone or damaged their property! I was floored by his behavior. I called the police mostly to report that they really need to monitor this area more heavily. Hopefully, this guy will think about this from now on and not cut people off, but more than likely since he's more important than the rest of us he won't.

Once I got back in the car and calmed down a bit, I heard the little voice in the backseat say, "I'm going to tell my friends that I crashed into a jerk." I couldn't help but laugh, but oops! Momma forgot who was listening to her. I probably should have/could have handled the situation better. The cutting off thing is just one of my pet peeves! UGH!

What would you have done? I'm sure some of you would have handled it alot better than me!!

Pet Peeve

I usually reserve this blog for updates on my family and positive musings on life.

But, today, I digress.....

Last night, as N and I finished up with children's choir and were headed to pick up L, I heard some disturbing conversation coming from some elementary age children.

These kids were discussing how if Hillary Clinton is elected President it will be the anti-Christ having power. What?!?!? First off, where are they hearing this? My guess is at home and it really bothers me. Why? Several reasons:

1) Everyone is entitled to their own opinion on politics (I certainly have mine!) but we must be careful how we discuss politics around children. Should a candidate be described as the anti-Christ simply because we don't like them?

2) We should be teaching our children respect for others. In particular, respect for adults. If they don't hear it from us, guess what? they won't hear it or learn it.

3) I believe that God will place into power the person who is right at this time for the job. It may or may not be the person I think should be in power, but I should respect and honor that person. If for no other reason than because it's the right thing to do. God gives us authority in our lives and we are to honor that authority whether it is a President, Pastor, teacher, parent, boss - whomever..

4) Why not discuss the issues with your children in a very positive way? Discuss what are the most important issues for your family or for our country and have your kids research to see which candidates tend to line up with their opinions. Have them decide whom they would vote for if they were able to vote. (Not who the parents would vote for, but them) This could be a great exercise in learning as well as using their abilities to make independent choices. A skill they will definitely need later in life.

It makes me sad to see young elementary aged children already voicing the opinions I hear from adults all the time. Often, misinformed, paranoid opinions without much basis in fact.

Please vote. Please explain to your children the voting process and the issues. But, please, please, please don't tell your children that any of the candidates are the anti-Christ, a terrorist, or any other negative thing that just isn't true!

Thank you!