Deprivation

by Marinka on October 26, 2010

On Saturday morning my daughter told me that she had a research project for school and wanted to go to the public library. (By the way, why do people say “public library”? Is it to avoid the confusion of people thinking that you were referring to Her Majesty’s personal collection?)

At any rate, I’m one of those parents who springs into action the second that her children mention books, learning or Haagen Dasz, so I was all “yes! We shall go to the library! And we shall take Young Ladrinka with us!”

Young Ladrinka saw this as a death sentence and immediately filed an appeal with a stay of execution.
“That doesn’t really work for me,” he explained. “I’m not a reading person.”
“Well, that’s just silly,” I faux-laughed. “You love to read.”
“I hate to read,” he reassured me. “But I’ll go if we can stop at Game Stop afterwords.”

And then we had the World’s Longest Discussion about how we’re not going to Game Stop and the reasons why not, which ranged from I don’t want to to it’s not in our budget.

Young Ladrinka did his best to try to convince me.

He’d use his own money to buy a new DS game.
It’s not fair because he has no new DS games to play.
And then, in a moment that I’m sure he will regret for the rest of his life, he told me that he really needed a new DS game because he and a few friends were going by limousine to a Medieval Times birthday party in New Jersey later that night and if he didn’t have a new DS game by that evening, he’d have nothing to do in the limo.
That’s right, NOTHING TO DO IN THE LIMO.

I hope that the Red Cross stops focusing on trying to help the cholera epidemic in Haiti and pay attention to the deprivation going on at our home.

And if you think that I’d been tested by him more than Job by God, just listen to this.

A while later, my daughter comes into my room and tells me that she has something to say but she’s afraid that I’ll get mad.
So of course I lie and I say that as long as she tells me the truth, it’s all good, and I won’t get mad.

And then she tells me that she was doing her homework and sort of playing with her mechanical pencil and a piece of it broke off and flew somewhere and she thinks that she may have swallowed it. (Note: She’s 12 years old.)

I tried to remain calm.
“YOU SWALLOWED LEAD?” I failed.
“No, graphite. They don’t use lead anymore,” she explained. “And I’m not sure where it flew.”
“YOU SWALLOWED GRAPHITE?” I was willing to learn.
“I knew you’d get mad! The only reason that I told you is if I died you’d know what happened.”
“Thoughtful.”
“I know, right?”

Fortunately, she’s ok.

I’m still recovering. Perhaps a limo ride to a nice asylum would help me.

________________________________
Today is Tuesday, which means I’m still on a high from yesterday’s The A-List. Don’t miss my recap here!

One year ago ...

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{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }

CSY October 26, 2010 at 1:13 pm

You and I may need to find an asylum where its warm and beachy…with cabana boys named Paulo and Bob to bring us drinks and flirt with us! THAT’S the kind of asylum I’m going to…hopefully! ;c)~

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the mama bird diaries
Twitter:
October 26, 2010 at 1:22 pm

They don’t put lead in pencils anymore?

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Pauline
Twitter:
October 26, 2010 at 1:30 pm

Can you stop and pick me up on your way to the asylum?

My son cut the top of his finger off with my $50 craft scissors yesterday. Fortunately, he’s okay. But I need that ride Marinka.

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Awesome dude October 26, 2010 at 1:40 pm

Asylum is a very right word for the situation.

The books have very hard time competing with the games.
Who knows, if I would be exposed to the games in my youth, I could not be literate at all. I am sure that he is smart and sybaritic enough to discover pleasure of reading. Just give him a couple of years.

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Jenni October 26, 2010 at 3:42 pm

Young Ladrinka and my 8 year old have to be the same kid! Anywhere we go, he finds a way to see if we can re-route the trip so that we go by a Game-Stop. I’m thinking of not taking him anywhere with me for a long time, there are Game-Stop stores everywhere! I’m tired of the discussion every single time!

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Yuliya
Twitter:
October 26, 2010 at 4:11 pm

Mother-dictator unwilling to allow child to spend own money in support of crippled economy!

Must I be the only one to defend him from the tyranny?

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MommyTime
Twitter:
October 26, 2010 at 6:40 pm

It is honestly impossible to imagine how your children survive, deprived as they are. I hope you are happy in their misery.

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Ann's Rants
Twitter:
October 26, 2010 at 10:57 pm

So the graphite chunk *might* have gone in her mouth…

LOL

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Lindsey October 27, 2010 at 1:06 pm

Don’t quote me on it, but I think the Public Library now has games/movies available to check out. Apparently, they are now catering to a larger audience!

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Alexandria
Twitter:
October 27, 2010 at 2:52 pm

Yes because it’s perfectly reasonable to stop at the video game store AFTER you leave the library. LOL.

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Helena
Twitter:
October 27, 2010 at 3:46 pm

“Is it to avoid the confusion of people thinking that you were referring to Her Majesty’s personal collection?”

I can always count on you for a well-written, funny-as-hell post.

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