Sorry, I'm Just Not Sorry

I'm usually a mouth-shutter. I bite the inside of my cheek a lot. I bide my time, and wait for the right moment to address a wrong infraction. Very rarely do I fly off the handle - in public, that is - because I've been taught that cooler heads prevail (thanks you, James).

But last night was my exception. My volcanic eruption. My less-than-proud parental moment. All I can say in defense is: well, I guess everyone has their breaking point.

I have very distinct opinions on parenting (ya think?) and most have been documented. Most recently I spoke out on kids acting like lil pr*cks but quickly conceded they usually have parents that act like bigger pr*cks.

So there I was dealing with one of these parents.

The scene: a noisy, crowded local pizzeria where we were holding an end-of-the-year pee wee football party (here come the knowing nods: ohhhhhh...gotcha...football parents ...).

The facts (without any additional emotion or defense to either party):

1) Her kid was handing out a Sharpie, asking his teammates to sign the back of his tournament tee-shirt.

2) My kid, thinking he's a riot, scrawls "Kick Me" in little letters down at the bottom of the shirt by the kid's behind.

That's it. End of facts. Entire incident.

What happened next was ridiculous.

The boy's mother reprimanded my son. Okay, I'm cool with that. What he did was pr*cky for sure. He deserved it.

But then she continued with such venom that my son was literally shaking - and in tears. Naturally he apologized (pr*cky childish behavior does not necessarily make one a pr*ck) and yet she continued. Put a hand up to his face with a "You really pissed me off!" and "Whatever!" (all her words, not mine, to a 9-year-old) and proceeded to ostracize him from his own party and teammates.

There I sat, the consummate mouth-shutter, hearing my son's tearful tale of events.

• Yes, he did it

• He thought it was funny -- thought everyone would see it as a joke

• He tried to apologize

• He tried offering his OWN tournament tee-shirt in exchange

• And she told him to "get outta here" and now there wasn't even a seat for him down in the pizza-eating party area.

Really?

Paging Mama Bear.......

So here's MY non-apology: Sorry that take-the-high-road Tina took a back-seat to enough-is-enough-you-piece-of-trash-here's-what-I-think Tina. Shrug. Go ahead, take me off your Christmas card list.

And here's the back-story, which I might add is completely irrelevant but interesting as a side note. This parent has had numerous "incidents" this year alone. She was suspended from attending a game (due to a different verbal smackdown with a different parent) and was removed from her place on the organization's board for similar reasons. Throughout these "incidents" I have remained neutral -- almost befriending -- to her and have never weighed in on any of her controversies. But this time it was personal.

Kids are kids. They're not perfect but they need to learn and grow from bad behavior and bad experiences. This was not a balled-up fist to the face. This was not a derogatory or bullying slur. This was stupid, 9-year-old, childish, boyish behavior.

She had no right to treat anyone - let alone a child - like she did ESPECIALLY WHEN HIS OWN MOTHER WAS SITTING RIGHT THERE.

So I'm not sorry.

And I'm ready for backlash.

But I'm really, truly not sorry.

My friend, Mary, a fellow blogger, forwarded an awesome tweet to me yesterday: "Don't try to win over the haters. You're not the jackass whisperer." (BIG lols......)

But if I had my own bumper sticker it would surely read: "Be careful how you treat me.... I blog."