Tonight was Trey's first karate lesson. We tried a trial class in the summer, and he was too timid to do anything but stare at the class. This time was completely different. He was so into it and had a blast!
It wasn't a normal class - today was "Stranger Danger" where they learn tactics to fight off strangers. Mr. Chris talked about good strangers (doctors, policemen, firemen) and bad strangers who want to take kids away from their parents. The kids practiced yelling "STOP," "BACK AWAY I DON'T KNOW YOU," YOU ARE NOT MY DAD," STRANGER!!" Then he put on a hoodie and sunglasses and told the kids that he was a bad stranger and to practice yelling and staying away. The first to go was an absolutely adorable little girl, probably 4 years old, and I was sitting next to her mother. Mr. Chris, suddenly very sketchy looking, was talking quietly to the little girl from 15 feet away - "hi little girl. what is your name? that's a pretty name. do you like ponies? i have a pony in the parking lot and you can ride it. come with me and i'll show you the pony." As the girl hesitated I heard the mom whispering to herself "don't do it. don't go. yell. please yell." The girl walked. Now of course he is the instructor, and as much as he said to pretend he is a stranger, the girl knows him. But it was like watching a bad movie unfold that made me sick to my stomach. It just seemed real. And scary how interested the little girl was in the pretend pony. Of course each of the 3 other kids, including Trey, fell for it. Trey fell for a firetruck (big surprise), the other little girl for puppies, and another boy for candy. They practiced 4 times each, and none of the kids yelled when they were supposed to. The first little girl even looked back at her mom and said "but mom! she got puppies and all I got was a pony!" The mom turned to me and said - "she just doesn't get it."