the finger

Apparently, one of K's classmates was getting into trouble for brandishing the finger at school.  She was quite expressive about the finger so now N has picked up on it too.  It has been one of the main topics of conversation during supper-hour, snack-time and during bedtime rituals.  I reinforced that the finger was rude and using the finger would result in consequences (ie: potential loss of allowances to the finger-toll and/or loss of tv privileges).

Four-year old N was quite curious about the finger at bedtime.  She methodically went through the various finger combinations identifying and confirming which ones would get her into trouble.  I warned her not to use the finger at school or that she could find herself in the Principal's office.  "And you know what that means?", I asked.  Big-eyed, she nodded her head.  "Trouble", I replied.

N asked, "Does Mrs. J [preschool teacher] know what the finger means?" (and keep in mind that N sounds like a New Englander with her inability to pronounce her "r"s).  I assured her Mrs J did.

Six-year old K and N don't know what the finger means, just that it is verboten.  They know it is rude and not acceptable.  I told N that using the finger shows that a person lacks language skills to express his feelings and thoughts.

The excitement over the finger this evening has caused me to reflect on other incidents with the finger that have occurred during my life.  For example, I recall my mother driving (with me as passenger) in the 1980s when someone drove past her in annoyance and flipped her the bird.  She didn't react at all because she didn't know what the bird meant.  When I told her what it meant, she immediately reacted by throwing her index finger up in the air and shaking it in reply to the offender.  My mother had the darndest time figuring out which was the finger.

Another time, my younger sister was driving in Los Angeles (with me as passenger) and we were getting horribly lost.  She was annoyed with me and the crappy map that we had of LA.  Someone honked the horn behind her.  She flipped the bird.  I expected to die at that moment from gunshot wounds.  I slouched down in my seat for a little while after that incident.

How about you?  Any favorite incidents you'd like to share about the finger?