Black Friday

I must apologize - I meant to write this post a number of weeks ago.  It's about something American's refer to as "Black Friday", which has nothing to do with it being the 13th of the month (in fact this type of Black Friday could never land on the 13th).  The Black Friday I'm referring to is, strangely, the day after thanksgiving.  It is the day when there are massive sales on in all the major department stores, one where people queue up for hours to be among the first few in the door.  It is similar to the boxing day sales in New Zealand, only prior to Christmas, which is really helpful (interesting side note: there is no such term as Boxing Day here - if you mention it, people just stare at you all confused...).

Black Friday is an American tradition, and one that seems to be growing each year.  I learnt about it last year, and this year thought I should give it a go.  After our thanksgiving feast (shared with our neighbor Rob and his family) I braved the cold and went out with my shopping list just before midnight.  I arrived at Target (one of the bigger department stores around here) right on midnight, which was their opening time, only to find a queue to get the door that was about 150 meters long.  It took about 20 minutes just to get in the door of the store.  Once I got in the store, I couldn't believe my eyes.  Without exaggeration, every third or fourth shopping trolley being pushed around the store had a 46" TV in it.  Some had two of them.  Apparently the deals on Black Friday are that good.

I resisted the temptation to even go near the electronics section, and headed over to the toys aisle to see if I could grab a couple of small things for the kids on special.  Having quickly made my selections, I proceeded to the checkout line, which, when I walked in the door was only a few people long.  Now however, the checkout line stretched all the way down the front of the store, weaved in and out of a bunch of aisles and all the way down to the back corner of the store.  And this is a department store that makes the Warehouse store in Te Rapa look small.  So I took my place in the queue and shuffled slowly around the store towards the front for the next half an hour or so.

The deals were really good, and it was fascinating to see what all the hype over Black Friday was about.  I'll probably even go and do it again next year just to save a few $$'s on Christmas presents (if we are still here for Christmas next year that is).  It feels really weird being out in a massively busy shop at 1am though...

yes...ma'am

So I was left feeling rather confused the other day when I asked my kids a question and they all responded in unison "yes ma'am"!  I found myself taking a double take and for a moment replaying what I had said and the tone that I had said it in to see if I had in fact come across as being a ma'am!  However I had asked them a simple question and my tone was I thought reasonably neutral.   

So then I smiled and realized that the public school system was having an impact.  The teachers all request that the children respond "yes ma'am" when being asked a question of.  In many ways I am relieved that the kids have picked up on this, as we are wanting our kids to be like little shining lights down there at the school (showing an extraordinary amount of grace and love to those in the playground, lunch room and classroom), however it's not much good if they're on the other hand being rude and disrespectful to the teachers by not using the appropriate expressions.

I go down to the school every tues and thurs for 1/2 hour and read with the kids in Sam's class.  When you ask a child if they would like to read to you, there is nothing more sweeter than seeing the child look up at you and say "yes ma'am".  If any parent were to ask Sam if he'd like to read to them he would no doubt say "yes".  He would not know their name to use their name and therefore he would be left saying "yes" period.  For some reason using the two words ma'am and sir seem to complete the response.  You may or may not agree if you have not experienced a culture that uses these expressions but it is starting to catch on for me and i like it.  All family and friends beware...our kids will without a doubt call you sir or ma'am at some point in your lives.  And maybe even I might too!!  It's weird (I know) but adults use these expressions too when responding to children and to other adults! 

Sonia xo