not a stellar mommy moment

Playing reading games on the computer last night and 6 comes up with a rhyme that her friend at school told her. He's a funny guy - this is a funny poem she says.

"Me Chinese. Me no dumb. Me stick finger up dad's bum."

Flames shoot out of the top of my head. Instant reaction. I remain calm(ish) for a few minutes.

"I don't think that's funny. I think it's offensive", I say. "Do you know anyone who is Chinese? How would they feel if they heard that?"

"He's not trying to be offensive. He's funny."

on a roll now "What if you change Chinese to Jamaican - how do you feel?"

"I'm Jamaican. I don't care. Ok it's offensive. It's still kind of funny."

"No it's not. It's not funny when it is making fun of someone's heritage"

I am sure at this point I had gotten my point across. This is the kid who would vote NDP. Her social conscience is strong.

Still I persist until I am sick of hearing myself harp.

Is this just a normal kid thing - working out what is funny from what is not? I am sure the funny thing about it all is the word 'bum'. Don't quite know when this type of humour dies down, but we are still in a time when poo jokes rule the world...

I know I did not handle this well. The reaction was immediate and strong. Sure hit a nerve!