Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Ugh

I'm beyond mortified. I got a call this evening from E's school. Today on the playground, E was throwing rocks (yes, he knows better) and he hit a kid in the back of the head with a pretty sizable stone! Yikes! The kiddy's mom took her to the hospital, and she ended up with a stitch to close the gash. I'm so embarrassed!

Now, I know that kids will be kids, and kids throw rocks, especially boy kids, and that kids have playground accidents all the time; and knowing all that, if E had been on the receiving end (and he has been, of much worse in fact) I wouldn't have been bothered at all, but I also know that all parents don't feel that way, some parents get seriously upset over things like this, which is totally understandable. And what must the Japanese parents be thinking? "Oh that little sandwich-eating gajin heathen!"

I wrote a long letter to his sensei, apologizing profusely, assuring her that Ethan had been punished and that it wouldn't happen again, and asking her to please extended my deepest regrets and apologies to the family. Ugh. There's a family strawberry-picking field trip next month, but I seriously don't think I can show my face.

Even nearly 10 hrs later, Ethan is still very upset about the whole thing. He can't talk about it all without breaking down into sobs and wailing "But it was axkadent! I said Gomen!" (I'm sorry). Poor boy, I feel bad for him, but he knows better than to throw things, especially rocks! So his punishment was no playing outside today, which is pretty tough for him, it was a beautiful day out, and there were probably 15 kids screaming and playing in the backyard and jumping on our trampoline. But he didn't fuss about it, he knew that he had done something really bad, so he accepted his punishment. He'll probably go to bed a little earlier than usual tonight as well. Ugh.
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4 comments:

shinshu life said...

Oh no. The Japanese way would be to buy a big box of cakes/ cookies (usually about 1500 yen worth) and go and apologise. I hate it as I think it makes a big deal out of a pretty small problem but that's what they seem to do. Maybe something American from your base store would have the wow factor?

Poor E, these things blow up so quickly.

Don't be embarrassed though- unless you were there hurling rocks, too? ;P

Bryn said...

Sigh. I was thinking something along those lines as well. But I don't know if the school will tell me who it was (in the U.S. they wouldn't). I'll give it try, maybe telling them what I want to do will help. Is there some kind of timeline? Will Monday, which will be nearly a week later, be too late?

shinshu life said...

Erghhhh. That's why I hate these things! Technically the longer it takes for you to get to say sorry the bigger the gift necessary. Is there a Japanese friend you can ask? I would still do it even if it's late. Maybe one of those little towel/ handkerchief things for the little girl or something?

HTH

Heather

Bryn said...

I did ask some friends, but all my Japanese friends are married to American guys, and they all said not to worry about it. But they've all become so 'Americanized', having spent their whole adult lives in the U.S.; maybe I'll ask one of my students.

I was thinking a beanie baby (they have some nice Sakura teddy bear ones, and other cute girly ones) and a bag (or 2) of Pepperidge Farm cookies, maybe some chocolate covered macadamiam nuts......