The Hand That Rocks The Cradle

So, how many of you remember the movie The Hand That Rocks The Cradle"? I do! It was one of my favorite movies when I was younger and I am still a fan of it...for those who know me, this comes as no surprise...I love scary movies. Anyways, thus I digress. Do you know where the movie title comes from? It comes from a poem - a poem that is actually mentioned in the movie; here it is:

Blessings on the hand of women!
Angels guard its strength and grace,
In the palace, cottage, hovel,
Oh, no matter where the place;
Would that never storms assailed it,
Rainbows ever gently curled;
For the hand that rocks the cradle
Is the hand that rules the world.

Infancy's the tender fountain,
Power may with beauty flow,
Mother's first to guide the streamlets,
From them souls unresting grow—
Grow on for the good or evil,
Sunshine streamed or evil hurled;
For the hand that rocks the cradle
Is the hand that rules the world.

Woman, how divine your mission
Here upon our natal sod!
Keep, oh, keep the young heart open
Always to the breath of God!
All true trophies of the ages
Are from mother-love impearled;
For the hand that rocks the cradle
Is the hand that rules the world.

Blessings on the hand of women!
Fathers, sons, and daughters cry,
And the sacred song is mingled
With the worship in the sky—
Mingles where no tempest darkens,
Rainbows evermore are hurled;
For the hand that rocks the cradle
Is the hand that rules the world.

It can be hard to believe that such a scary movie came from this beautiful poem. But for those that remember the movie, it makes sense. Anyways, do you remember this line in the movie??:
Peyton Flanders: [to schoolyard bully] I got a message for you, Roth! LEAVE EMMA ALONE! Look at me - if you don't, I'm gonna rip your fucking head off!

Now, being the good person that I am, the good social worker that I am, I would never dream of saying this to a young child. But from the moment I saw this movie, I thought, "Boy, if anyone ever messes with my kid when I grow up, I will take care of them like Peyton did for Emma."

Now, even though I have never said anything like this to a child and again, I never will, I am a very protective mother of Riley. I have NO patience for bullies (gee, do I have some unresolved issues? Well, kinda, I was picked on by this she-male named Spring...or Summer...or something like that, when I was in Jr High...anyways, I digress again). Okay, where was I? Oh, yeah, I have NO patience for bullies or bullying. So, being the protective mother I am, there has been a time or two when at the playground I have "gotten after" a few kids for being too rough or rude to Riley (or Jaylene for that matter). I will never touch another person's kid, but I sure will step up and say something if they mess with my kid and their parent's don't intervene. Now mind you, things have to be pretty bad for me to get involved...

Herein lies my story for the day. So, for the past several months there have been a group of girls at daycare giving Riley Hell. It's a long story, but the short of the long of it is, they won't let Riley make anything that looks remotely like what they are making. I can't tell you how many days Riley has come home upset because "Hailey and Savannah won't let me make nuggets." Well, I have talked with the staff and have had mixed feedback. Some of the teachers are like "no, this is unacceptable" while others are not quite so "proactive."

Well, today was the LAST STRAW! I arrived at daycare (after a good day at work) to find Riley crying because one of these little "angels" told my daughter she was stupid and again, would not let her make "nuggets." To make matters worse, I see a sign, posted on the desk where you clock the kids out, made by one of these little "darlings" that says: "Don't copy our nuggest - it makes us mad!" So, I ask the teacher about this. Mr Fernando says "well, some kids don't like their stuff being copied." My response: "I pay $300 for her to go here, she can make whatever she wants...I'll be talking to Brenda about this."

Brenda...she is the daycare director...I just LOVE her. She is loving and gently with the kids, but also firm with them...all the kids respond very well to her. So, off we march to see Miss Brenda since Mr Fernando is obviously and enabler. Thank God, Miss Brenda agreed that this was bullying and that the teachers are not responding appropriately, so she agreed to talk to the staff and those kids on Monday.

Meanwhile, I spend the next hour at home trying to calm down Riley who keeps saying: "I'm not stupid, I'm not, I'm not!"

Times like this, I chanel my inner Peyton.

Again, I would never say the F**k word to these kids, or harm them, but believe me, if the staff doesn't take care of this, you can bet I will be talking to these kids...and their parents.

Whew!!!...I feel a little better I got that out...thanks for listening.