Young kids picking on even younger kids.... and then their parents.

As you may know by now I have three young children, my oldest is eight and in third grade. My middle child is six and in first grade and my baby is five and in kindergarten. About two weeks ago it was brought to my attention that one of the neighbor kids has been making fun of my six year old. This is not just little name calling such as "meany" or anything like that. This eight year old is calling my son "grown up names" and calling our next door neighbors' five year old the same type of stuff. When I thought my daughter was done telling me about this stuff she said wait there is more. Turns out this child made a very nasty joke about my son licking his penis. WOW! What does a parent do? I could have gone to the other child's mother, but was hesitant since she has a history of confrontation with other parents. I marched, well walked angarly in to the school office. At this point I need to explain our school. It consists of about 150 students, preschool through eighth grade. One teacher per grade, and the principal is also the superintendent of the this one school, school district. Any way, I go to the school and talk first with the school councilor. She makes notes of what I say is going on. She also let it slip that she knows the child in question quite well. I think to myself, what is wrong with this kid, because something obviously is. When we are done talking we go the the principal. He is very busy at that moment but the counselor starts whispering to him and he instantly gets up and we head to his office. I retell everything again and his words are "that is grossly wrong". He has me write down every thing that this poor child (yes I feel sorry for him) has done, and say that this matter will be taken care of. I ask to have my daughter sit away from him on the bus, and in school if possible. Since we share the same bus, bus stop and they are in the same class some of that may prove difficult. So, I bet you are wondering where the child's parent comes into play with all this. I got a call from the child's mother shortly after my children got home from school. I now know where the child gets it from. This mother would not let me get a word in edge wise. In her eyes I am the root of all evil, and the cause of all of her problems to boot. Now, wait a minute, how can I be the cause of this persons problem if I have only ever spoken to her two time in my whole life? I know, I tattle on her child. As the conversation, one sided mind you, wore on she got louder and louder, and ended it with a threat. She said "Since you caused me problems, I will cause you and your family problems". At that I politely said good bye and hung up. How I kept my cool I will never know. It may have been the fact that my six year old was in earshot and knew who it was I was talking, or rather not talking to. Since all of this took place we (my husband and I) called a family meeting, we decided it was good time to talk about bullying.

crochet socks pattern

So, I hurt my back yesterday and I am taking the day off work and spending the day in bed with a heating pad under me, a bottle of Motrin at my side, and my laptop wherever I can use it and be comfy at the same time. I have had these patterns floating around for crochet socks that I have made for my kids. They are scribbled in this type of short hand for crochet patterns that I sorta made up as I went along. I have been wanting to put them on my laptop and in a form that anyone could understand, anyone that crochets that is. Well that is just what I have done and I am going to post it here. Please keep in mind if you use that pattern, it has only been tested by my and I wrote it as I went. If there are any errors, please let me know and I will fix it in the pattern. At this time I don't have a pic of the socks. At some point today I will add a pic for you all to see. :)



Camo socks

Fits 5 year old boy with a shoe size of 11 (I don’t know if its children’s or toddler’s)

Materials:

Worsted weight yard 1 skein of camo, 1 skein of black
Size G hook

Gauge:
I didn’t pay attention to gauge as I made this up as I went.

Abbreviations:
Ch – chain
Sc – single crochet
Sl – slip stitch
Rep – repeat
2 sc tog – decrease over 2 single crochets
Bl – back loop
*note: ch 1 does not count as a sc*
R – row

Pattern: make 2

Tube section of sock with camo yarn
Ch 21

R1: sc in second ch from hook, and in every stitch across. Ch1 turn (20 sc)

R2 - 23: sc in bl only in ever sc across. Ch1 turn

Here you will sl to join r23 to r1 and sl down evenly down the sides to join the sides together. When done you will have the tube section of the sock complete. Turn inside out and you will now have the right side facing you.

R24: sc evenly around the tube, one sc in each row. Sl to join. (23 sc) Finish off.

Heal
With seam in back, attach your black yarn at the 6th sc to the right of the seam.

R1: 1 sc in next 12 sc. Ch 1 turn. (your first sc is in the same sc you attached your yarn to.

R2 – 6: sc in each sc across. Ch 1 turn. (12 sc in each row)

R7: sc in next 4 sc, 2 sc tog twice, sc in 4 remaining sc.

R8: sc in each sc across

R9: sc in next 3 sc, 2 sc tog twice. Fold heal in half, with the wrong side facing you and sl each stich together to close the bottom of the heal ( 4 sl). Un fold heal.

Foot
Switch back to camo now.

R1: sc evenly down the side of the heal (10 sc) across the foot (12 sc) and evenly up the other side of the heal (10 sc) sl to join, ch1 turn.

R2: sc in next 8 sc, 2 sc tog twice, sc in next 10 sc, 2 sc tog twice, sc in next 8 sc. Sl to join, ch1 turn.

R3: sc in next 7 sc, 2 sc tog twice, sc in next 8 sc, 2 sc tog twice, sc in next 7 sc. Sl to join, ch 1 turn.

R4: sc in next 8 sc, 2 sc tog ONCE, sc in next 6 sc, 2 sc tog ONCE, sc in next 8 sc. Sl to join, ch 1 turn.

R5 – 14: 1 sc in each sc around, sl to join, ch 1 turn.
(you can add more rows for a longer foot here, at the end of the last row there should be just enogh space left of the sock for the toes)

Toes
Change back to black here.

R1: sc in next 3 sc, 2 sc tog, *sc in next 6 sc, 2 sc tog* rep * to * around. Sc in any remaining sc, sl to join, ch1 turn.

R2: sc in each sc around. Sl to join, ch 1 turn.

R3: *sc in next 4 sc, 2 sc tog* rep * to* around, sc in any remaining sc. Sl to join, ch1 turn.

R4: sc in each sc around. Sl to join, ch1 turn.

R5: *sc in next 3 sc, 2 sc tog* rep * to * around, sc in any remaining sc. Sl to join, ch1 turn.

R6: *sc in next sc, 2 sc tog,* rep * to * around. Sl to join, ch1 turn.

R7: 2 sc tog around. Sl to join.

Sl in sc by small opening at end of sock to close up toe completely. Finish off. Weave in any ends.

Time for a blog... really??

I start this blog wondering if I will really have time to do a blog, you know regularly. I found that since I do not have write for a grade, I kind of enjoy doing it. Whether or not I will keep it up or even have the since I am married, and a mother of three young children, is another story entirely. This blog may just have to wait until the kids are grown and out of the house. Considering the youngest is only 5 I have many years till that happens, so I will try write in this blog at least once a week.