Mother and child learning moment
A 6-year-old boy sits by the window in front of me, with his Grandma next to him and his Mom in front of him in the seat by the door.
"M-O-R-S-E, Morse!" He exclaims proudly.
He continues to amuse himself, sitting back on his legs, talking about what he sees.
Next I hear him spelling another station stop: "G-R-A-N-V-I-L-L-E, Granville," he announces proudly.
His mother snaps. "Don't you say another word! You better keep that mouth of yours buttoned shut before I slap you silly, boy!"
He straightened up and kept a quiet misery the rest of the way into the Loop.
Besides, we don't want our 6-year-olds to know how to read or spell.
Wow. That is definitely to be filed under "Scary shit".
Posted by: Michael | April 17, 2007 at 11:37 AM
That is just the saddest! :(
Posted by: katie | April 17, 2007 at 01:16 PM
I wonder if he was on his way to school... ironic.
Posted by: ryan | April 17, 2007 at 03:54 PM
Just sad. And they wonder why many kids can't read or spell. That lady should have been proud of her son.
Posted by: Carl | April 17, 2007 at 05:08 PM
Were they black?
Posted by: joe | April 18, 2007 at 04:38 AM
I think the mother was right. Kids should just shut up on the train.
Posted by: Mark | April 18, 2007 at 11:45 AM
I wouldn't have minded if I heard that boy spelling. It's much better than screaming or running down the aisles.
Posted by: Joe | April 18, 2007 at 02:45 PM
Not me. When I hear kids spelling or singing those educational songs, it really angers me. This one kid I saw was singing that Old MacDonald song and I wanted to smack his face clean off. I mean like there would just be a blank face left - no nose, mouth, or eyes.
Posted by: Mark | April 19, 2007 at 11:26 AM
I wonder if that's the same mom I saw on the train years ago:
Kid: [pointing to signs] What's that say? What's that say?
Mom: [yelling] Don't read things!
I always thought that was an especially broad phrasing. I mean, kids can be annoying and all, but she probably set her kid back a grade right there.
Posted by: J Cubed | April 19, 2007 at 03:53 PM
I also remember this one time I was on a brown line and a ton of kids were on it that I am pretty sure just saw that "Wicked" musical. They were all singing and pretending to be the characters and the teachers were so tired that they just sat there. I had a really bad hangover from a case of PBR's I had the night before too. Luckily I was on and off in a few stops, because I was about to wade into them and just start swinging wildly.
Posted by: Mark | April 19, 2007 at 04:26 PM
Carl, what does that have to do anything. Lets keep your bigoted views off of a transit site!
Posted by: stop | April 19, 2007 at 09:04 PM
It's entirely possible that Grandma is illiterate and embarrassed by grandson's behavior. Still doesn't make her actions right, but provides an explanation...?
Posted by: NA | April 20, 2007 at 03:08 PM
That's hysterical, Mark! I have the same feeling when several different groups of girls have gotten on and broken down their versions of popular R&B songs.
Posted by: Kimberli | April 20, 2007 at 03:44 PM
O, that is nothing about a two months ago I was on the EAST 63 greenline and a mother and son got on at Madison and sat in the seats with their backs to the wall; while I was in the seats facing them. The lil boy was very excited about it being the weekend.
Son: "I want to go over Uncle Ty's house"
Mother: "IF you can't go over Uncle Ty's house do you want to go over your Daddy's house"
Son: "WHo Slim"
Mother: "Slim is not your Daddy"
Son: "Who "D"
Mother: "Boy 'D' isn't your Daddy"
Son: "Are you talking about Big somebody"(Can't remember the name)
Mother: "Just be quiet"
Son: "Well, I don't know who my DADDY is so can I go over Uncle Ty's house?"
Talking embarrassed for her. Ole I was.
There wer other riders who were right out laughing and she sat there like nothing was wrong.
Posted by: Bug | April 20, 2007 at 03:47 PM
I remember overhearing a child and his mom going over what he had learned that day in school. it warmed my heart. :D so cute.
poor kid. D:
Posted by: Lauren | March 21, 2008 at 02:03 AM