For about two weeks, Cal would NOT STOP peppering me with dark and disturbing questions like, "When the bad guys come into our school, we're going to hide in the corner away from the door or under our desks, but where do we hide from bad guys at home?" And, "Where's our safe place to meet up when the bad guys come and we all have to run away?"
I was all, "WHEN DID YOU TURN SO MORBID?" Golly.
One night last week, Cal and Emmett were talking about school and Aunt Rooter? I wasn't sure who she was but she seemed to have made QUITE the impression at school; these boys were darned excited about her. Emmett was telling Cal that when The Aunt Rooter came, he was in gym class and he hid behind a tree. Cal praised Emmett, "Great job, Em! That's what you're SUPPOSED to do if Aunt Rooters come when you're outside!"
I was very confused.
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| Cal unearthed my old boxing stuff from my previous life. He loves punching the paddles. |
"What are you guys talking about?"
"Aunt Rooter drills, Mom. Aunt Rooter drills at school today," they explained like DUH. My mind was picturing a tough old woman who was teaching children to use power tools.
Or, this is what I was hearing since I had NO CONTEXT in my mind for what they were actually saying: INTRUDER DRILLS.
Ok, ok. OK OK OK. I get it. Right? This is America. Home of the free and the brave and the heavily armed. I'm not naive to all of it but this detail of our reality hit me like a sucker punch.
ONE: I wished the school had warned us so at least I would have been prepared for Cal's questions every evening.
TWO: If schools are doing intruder drills district-wide, could they at least call them something ELSE, at least at the Elementary Schools? Like "Purple Drill" or something? And teach the kids what to do during a Purple Drill, or a Purple Incident, prepare them without educating them so?
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| I told him I'd take his picture and he struck this pose. Tough guy. Watch out Aunt Rooter. |
11 comments:
Our kids have "Lock down" drills... not to be confused with "Hold and Secure" drills. Lock down has them under desks or in the corner. Hold & Secure just locks the door and the children stay quiet.
Oy.
Seriously? That's what it's come to? Intruder drills? Wow, this depresses the hell out of me.
AGREE. There should at least be some kind of info to the parents when these things go on. Dang, it's just as depressing as when our parents were taught to hide under their desks during the Cold War. (Cuz that would've helped SO much when an atomic bomb descended on their school.)
A parent heads-up would have been very, very helpful. Aunt Rooter is a hilarious interpretation of a pretty rough reality.
I don't actually mind the use of the term "intruder", even at a young age. They are so concrete, it makes more sense. I feel like calling it something else makes it sound benign and maybe the kids wouldn't take it seriously. I think of it along the lines of a fire drill- we need to call it what it is. (Although I know many hospitals use codes over their PA system, I think mostly so that people don't go into widespread panic).
Anyway, I agree that it is a harsh reality for such a young age and that parents should have been informed in advance. But I also think that using serious language lets the kids know that, heaven forbid, something like that happen, there is a plan and they need to follow it.
In spite of all this, I'm still laughing about Aunt Rooter...
Jane, very insightful and wise, as usual. Thanks for the comment, it helps put it in a different light for me.
Because my first comment wasn't long enough- early in the year, our schools were on lock-down due to an incident in the closest small city. Our school isn't right in the middle of things but several of the schools are. And last year, someone dangerous was in a neighborhood right near our school, carrying a machete...ugh! At least he was caught quickly and nothing bad happened. Still- it's just sad the things that kids need to handle.
Glad to hear the boys have Aunt Rooter drills. I've conducted them for years . Parents should know the protocol to reinforce & in case of emergencies.
Sad reality: our kids are not safe in this world..
What the what?! I just can't even believe...
Oh my- takes me back to the ideas of air-raid sirens & fallout shelters. Yes, I was VERY good at squating under my desk- always a safe haven from atomic contamination. I guess intruder drills are better than no plan at all, but it sure makes me sad. I actually thought this blog might be about an incredibly encouraging Aunt...like me!
Aunt Suzy
These comments that I posted were more real than even I realized at the time. As the boys' grandma Mimi , I am very glad the drills are so meaningful to them.
Through dialogues like your blog people can spread more knowledge about them.
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