By Melissa Littles
With LEO kids, there are certain behaviors and expectations that become a huge part of who they are as little humans. Many times, it’s easy to find the humor in the LEO kid’s thinking ways. Other times you are left with some “‘splaining to do” with teachers, neighbors and even friends. And, on occasion, these little beings can break your heart.
1) They like to play crime fighter, and sometimes it gets a little intense.
Six months later the school calls with the news that your kindergartner arm cranked Little Billy on the playground for “Grand Theft Swing,” and promptly delivered the “suspect” to the playground monitor while yelling, “Nothing to see here, move along people,” to all the other kids. This same scenario will tend to play out quite a few times before your LEO kid remembers to keep his/her crime fighting skills on the homefront. Although, you’ll learn they can still point out a “bad kid” in a crowd of strangers for years to come.
2) They begin every game of Hot Wheels by singing the theme song to COPS.
3) They may play with Barbie, but the scenarios are more complicated.
Barbie is also not interested in becoming a model, dentist, or veterinarian. No, in many LEO homes Barbie has every intention of learning how to “shoot like a girl.”
4) Their concept of dinner might be a little non-traditional.
5) They learn to love Chick-fil-A.
6) Even when playing sports, their vocabulary is LEO-inspired.
(Photo/ Flickr.com) It’s perfectly normal for your sports age children to say things like “He stole the ball...like a felon.”
7) Hide and seek will always involve invisible weapons.
(Photo/flickr.com) And they’ll use strategies like “pieing the corner,” as you know you can’t trust something you can’t see.
8) You’ll periodically catch your child commenting on worldwide events...like a cop.
9) It’s a given to hear your cop kids ask what day Christmas or other set date holiday will be celebrated this year.
10) They do their own background checks.
11) LEO kids will use ten-codes and other police codes to describe everyday life occurrences.
LEO Kid: “10-4”
LEO Kid (to sibling): “Let’s clean before she goes 5150 on us.”
12) Teenage LEO kids learn real quick that there are no special favors for being a cop kid
13) Most LEO kids grow up fiercely protective of their LEO parent
14) And sadly, they’ll ask that heartbreaking question.
It is in those moments that you look at all the other “abnormal normal” truths of the LEO child, and put it all into perspective. LEO kids – they truly are a different breed.
