Monday, November 17, 2008

He Called You a What???

My first grade son came home from school today and the following conversation took place.

First grade son: Mom, another boy in my class was calling me names today.

Me: What did he call you?

First grade son: He called me an agent. But not the kind of agent who spies and spies and stuff. The other kind of agent.

Me: (totally confused) What other kind of agent?

First grade son: You know, the kind of agent from Ay-ge-na.

Me: Oh.... You mean he called you an Asian from Asia?

First grade son: (almost in tears) yeah.

Me: (thinking this is not a good time to point out that my son actually is Asian) Well, that boy doesn't really know what he's talking about. He doesn't even know the difference between Asian and an Agent.

First grade son: (not looking convinced) I told the teacher.

Me: What did the teacher say?

First grade son: That if he does it again he'll get a yellow face. (They get a green smiley face if they stay out of trouble all day, a yellow face for misbehaving and red is even worse.)

Me: Ok, you let me know if he does it again. But try not to listen to what that boy says.

My son is half Japanese and half white. And he has dual citizenship. So he is Asian! It breaks my heart to see my kids so upset and hurt by other kids' teasing. But sometimes I don't know whether to laugh or cry!

4 comments:

Cathy said...

That's awful. I'm glad the teacher reprimanded the other kid. It's so hard to see your son get hurt, but also doesn't totally understand what's going on.

Michelle said...

Poor kid. Mister Man has come home with Marshmallow Head (last year). And thanks for explaining the yellow sticker. I was a LITTLE confused at first as to how the teacher thought that was an appropriate response.

Oh... and along those lines, one of my best friends is first generation American from Taiwan. Her birth certificate (literally) lists her as yellow. That would be her race. Yep. Gotta love the '70s.

girlytwins said...

Kids can be so cruel. I hope he has a better day tomorrow. I am gonna have the hardest time with seeing my kids hurting.

I too am happy to hear about the yellow sticker. My mind was obviously going to where Michelle's was.

Fire Hunt said...

Kids will be kids and I am doing this with my boys in preschool not fun.