Bad Guy

So, when Danny was a sweet innocent baby boy, I remember imagining that he would always be so kind and angelic. Though I knew he was a boy, I thought with careful parenting I could be sure he never got obsessed with swords and guns and "Hi-ya!" kicks. I still remember, however, the first time he found a toy laser gun at his cousin's house. They don't even have a lot of toy weapons and have pretty strict rules about how to use the light sabers and stuff. But down the stairs comes Danny, shooting up a storm with the one laser gun in the house. Where did he learn that!?

Not too many weeks after that I became a little more concerned when we were eating waffles and he bit a piece into the shape of a gun. "Look - gun!" Followed by gun sounds. I explained I didn't like him shooting his waffle at the dogs. That's a conversation I never planned for.

We also try to read the picture scriptures every night before bed, but again I started to feel a little nervous about this routine when instead of requests for the stories of bravery and righteousness Danny just got excited to read about, "Sticks mommy. Bad Guys!" I've continued to try and explain that although it's generally not good to cut off arms or murder people with swords, that Ammon and Nephi were really good guys. Not sure how much of this is sinking in with my two-year-old.

Matt has continued to reassure me that none of this means our son will be the next unabomber or grow into an overly violent teen. It's just typical boy stuff. I try to reassure myself that I'm not a bad mom while continuing to teach Danny the difference between good guys and bad guys and the danger of the weapons he's so keenly drawn to.

I had to laugh the other day though when my precious, innocent, angelic two-year-old pulled out this one. I had been cleaning out my closet (the joyous swapping of regular clothes and maternity clothes) when out of the back comes this guy. "Look mom. I a bad guy."


My little thug. Can anyone relate?