Don't Shoot Your Sista

A few weeks ago I took my 4th grade class to the Lincoln Presidential Museum in Springfield. It is a truely amazing place. The night before we went, Phil had the gun safe open at home and was showing Bubby his guns. I didn't grow up with a lot of guns around, but as Phil did I tolerate this little issue. He has always taught Bubby safety and actually rarely takes them out of the cabinet (which begs the question of why we actually have them, but that is a whole other story). Bubby was fascinated this time looking at the guns.

Back to the field trip...while there I was touring the gift shop and came across a wooden toy pistol for a mere $12.99. I bought it for Bubby and then snuck it on the bus in my bag because I am well aware of all the rules for schools. That night we got home and I pulled it out of the bag and Bubby was amazed. We were outside in the front yard that night and there was flag football practice going on at the park. This traslates to a large amount of cars on the street in front of the house. Bubby would wait in the yard while cars stopped at the stop sign, then when they got in front of our home he would jump up and shoot them. This led to explaining about no drive by shootings. We discussed only shooting animals, "Like Gus and Shiloh" he said. This led to a explaining we don't shoot dogs either, just birds, squirrels and deer. I thought we were safe...

Until bedtime that night. As we were trying to calm down for bed, Bubby pulls the toy gun out again. As the Princess comes parading down the hall he jumps out and "shoots" her. Daddy yells down the hall, "Don't shoot your sister either." The princess yells to Bubby, "Yeah Bubby, don't shoot your sista!" And now everytime the toy gun comes out of the playroom, the princess announces, "Don't shoot your sista!" Perhaps I should have re-thought the toy gun in the first place!