It happened Saturday.  I was riding my scooter home from Hobby Lobby.  I was in my parking lot, and turned on to my strip.  I was going slow.  I remember specifically thinking, “Wow, I’m actually going slow.”

That’s when it happened.  Out of no where.  A girl was there.  She couldn’t be older than 5.  She walks out from behind a car, and yells, “SLOW DOWN PUNK!!” Then, part 2 happened.  She quickly raised her right hand, and to my surprise, her middle finger.

I was shocked.  I didn’t know what to do.  (A few years ago, I may have laughed a little.)  I came to an almost complete stop, with it in my right mind to go talk to her parents.  Then I realized.  This girl is around 5 years old.  She didn’t just… learn it.  Someone had to teach her.

It made me sad.  I realize that some one taught her to say that.  A: I wasn’t going fast. B: she flipped me off.  She pretty much said “F-U” with her hands.  ugh.

I write this because I’m in shock.  Does it just take learning something for a child to do it?  When will she realize it’s not polite, or it means something that can be hurtful?  Who taught her that?  Would her parents punish her?  As a parent, how do you confront that issue?

I don’t know.. It’s sad to me.