Kids

Ever since I arrived, I have felt that my kids are the most obnoxious ones around. To be fair, they are probably among the most obnoxious kids anywhere they go, but here it's definitely a stark contrast considering Japanese 3-year-olds know how to bow properly and can use chopsticks already. That takes an amount of concentration I rarely ever see in kids of that age. People are also much quieter in general here than in the states, children included. So my loud as hell boys definitely don't fit in.

But here's the weird part - while kids are more reserved and quieter in general here, the preschool the boys go to is the LOUDEST place ever. I mentioned before about the teacher getting off the bus in the morning and having all the kids line up, bow, and say "good morning," right? Well, when I said that they "say" good morning, I really meant that they SHOUT IT. And if you go to the school in the middle of the day, it's completely deafening. I am thinking that maybe people here just know to compartmentalize stuff better than we do. Like, at school they yell a lot, but on the train they know to not speak at all? I'm not sure, but this is my latest theory.

Also, while in some ways I am always feeling like I need to shush the boys and say "excuse me" for them ("su-mi-mas-sen", if you are interested), at the same time, the Japanese LOVE them. Well, it's actually that they just think all Western-looking kids are adorable, for some reason, but anyway... our neighbors already pat their heads everytime they see them. 3 different neighbors have given them presents in the 2 months we have been here --- one gave them persimmons yesterday, another matchbox cars, and another gave them Halloween buckets of candy this week. Also, people (usually women) regularly stop on the street to say "cute!" ("Ka-waii!") about them to me. Oh, and if the boys are cooperating and say "Konichiwa" to these people, they pretty much jump for joy.

Another thing I've noticed is that while people are definitely always really sweet and kind to children in general here, they also do not treat them like they are fragile, as we do in the states. There are no car seat laws here. Zero. You can just throw your kids in the car like it's 1975. And moms often have not one, but TWO baby seats on their bikes, riding around doing errands like it's nothing - and no one is wearing helmets:

I also mentioned the kid running into the street after the ball the other day - let me elaborate: it was not a side street - it was a busy 4-lane street. And there was a lot of traffic! I can't imagine a kid in America doing that without severe consequences from a parent or teacher. I mean, that's just dangerous! But no one really seemed to be bothered by it.

And again, the preschool. There are SO many things that are so different (aside from the uniforms, of course!!!) Take the bus - I mean, there's a bus! And all the preschools have them! A few people from home have been somewhat shocked that I let my 3-year-olds get on a bus and ride off into urban Japan. But it seems to be a safer thing to do here than it would be in the states. I'm not sure why. Maybe it's that the bus is specifically for the young children? I imagine in America it would be 3-year-olds mixed in with 8th graders throwing spitballs or something? I don't know. Also, in their lunches I have to pack wet washcloths in plastic bags so they can make sure they wipe their hands before and after eating. So polite and dainty!!!

I can't get my head around how it works ---- on the one hand, kids here seem to behave better and not really cause scenes like they do in other countries, as if they are conditioned and monitored closely all the time. But on the other, they are given a lot more independence here, in a way. Another fascinating thing about this place!

I'll end with a great intercultural experience I had the other day involving kids. We found a small park in our neighborhood, and the boys and I went to play on the slide. There were about 5 Japanese kids playing with a soccer ball. Anthony started to get really upset because he wanted to play but didn't know how to ask them if he could. He kept sort of running along side them for a minute but then getting shy and coming back to me. So I said, "Why don't we go get our own ball and you can come back and see if they will play with you if you offer?" So we did just that, and immediately there were 3 or 4 kids kicking the ball with him. He had a great time! Jackson couldn't tear himself away from the slide long enough to kick the ball, naturally. But he had a great time too. And the other moms were nice as well! All in all, a successful foray into kids' Japan.

I didn't have my camera with me that day, but here is a picture of the park on another day. I think the boys are trying to bury their cars in the dirt?