High Maintenance Bitch

I originally posted this on Saturday and then thought better of it, thinking I was maybe opening my mouth when I should really really keep it closed, but since then I've read both Steph and Mel post variations on the theme, and because I am nothing if not willing to spout off on parenting issues when the closest I've ever been to it is bottle-feeding a puppy and therefore an EXPERT, here it is... again (for those who may have been reading between 7:30 and 9pm Saturday evening and saw it the first time).

I don't know if you read this, but there's a dog accessories store in Seattle that's in hot water for having a sign with, well, the name of the store on it: High Maintenance Bitch. One of the people complaining is a mother who notes "Walk by there with your 5-year-old and try to explain why that sign is there. Half of the sign is made up of the word 'bitch.'"

Now, I'm not a parent which will automatically negate for a lot of people this next comment and will undoubtedly garner me some eyerolls, but I'm just going to put it out there..

Here's what I think: First, if your five year old can read the sign: congratulations, you have a very intelligent kid! I was at least six before I could read A Fly Went By so since you have such a smartie, how about teaching your child that the word "bitch" means an unspayed female dog? If your child already knows that "bitch" is used by half the world as a derogatory term for a woman that someone doesn't like, why not focus on that problem instead of targeting someone who's using the word as it actually means? Really. Is that so hard? (ducking) .

I just don't see the point in perpetuating the misuse of a perfectly innocent word just because other people do it--teach your kid what it means and tell them that some people use it in a way that' s not right and that's a bad thing. ... I can feel the waves of derision already: "You expect me to explain social insult patterns to a five year old?? What happens when little Emma says the B-word in kindergarten class, huh? What then?"

Well, let me tell ya, if she's talking about a dog, I'd tell the teacher to get a grip and buy a dictionary. Come talk to me if she uses the N-word or "faggot" 'cause then, my friends, we'd have an actual problem.

I am now going to sit here and see which one of my sisters emails me first to tell me what an idget I am. The rest of you can just wait.