Karen's Bunny- Part 3
Hey, loves! Hope you're all doing well. Here's more of this loveliness.
Chapter 11- Born to be Wild
Karen and Andrew bring the bunnies outside, on leashes, which seems like a good idea. Spot somehow gets off his leash and poor Andrew is really upset. This part gives me anxiety because if I lose sight of my dog outside I basically forget how to breathe. After a long afternoon of searching, he is found in a neighbor's garden and ate her garden show entry, which Lisa is pissed about, and says they need to have a talk... sorry that was boring but there wasn't much to snark
Chapter 12- Free Bunnies to a Good Home
The family settles down for a talk. Karen and Andrew love the bunnies, but ultimately they are causing trouble. They are probably acting like ordinary rabbits except that Karen and Andrew are small children who are really too young to care for them and Lisa and Seth don't know enough about rabbits to properly train them either. This is why spontaneously giving rabbits to kids is a bad idea. Planning is involved.
Lisa mentions that they previously had a new puppy that they didn't keep because it was too much trouble. I was a pretty avid reader of the Little Sister series as a child and I don't remember them having a puppy other than Seth's dog Midgie. I must have missed that book.
Anyway, Andrew and Karen figure out that Lisa is implying that they have to get rid of the rabbits.
Karen is surprisingly mature and agrees that they need to find new homes for the rabbits. Poor Andrew is sad because he is four and he doesn't understand, which is another reason why it was a bad idea for him to have a rabbit. He is mature about it too, though.
Karen is sad, but also relieved because Princess is an exhausting pet. Reasonable reaction. Enjoy the Karen goodness now because shit goes down later.
The pet store won't take the rabbits because they have too many other pets that were given as pets in Easter baskets and didn't work out. If you're going to give an animal as an Easter gift, or any gift, educate yourself about the animal first! Maybe don't give them as a surprise and discuss the pet with your child to see if they want it, and then buy the supplies and be willing to take care of it and not put it all on your child.
Karen says she had found homes for kittens in the past, and now she will find homes for the bunnies. Lisa says "that would be wonderful" and "please hurry" and it sounds like she really expects Karen to do this all herself; which is a lot of responsibility to put on a seven-year-old. She can at least just ask Karen to help her do it instead of having Karen do everything. Finding homes for them clearly isn't an easy job.
Chapter 13- Making Plans- and when Karen starts acting like the bratty and conceited child we all know
Karen invites Nancy over. While they play with Princess, Karen tells Nancy she needs her help with...
Andrews food drive. Because God forbid Andrew get to do a school project himself without Karen intervening. She tells Nancy her stupid idea that Andrew should collect more than three cans so he can be the best in his class. I have already snarked this to death, but I get mad just reading it again. She said Andrew is "planning" to ask only three neighbors. No, Karen. Andrew's teacher said to ask three neighbors. And you're going overboard so he can be "the best in his class" when he is a mature and good kid and doesn't CARE about being the best. He just wants to do his assignment, while also learning the lesson his teacher is implementing that some families are in need and giving the students an opportunity to help them by collecting food. Maybe Karen can turn her own assignments into a contest, but projecting this on her little brother is unhealthy and disturbing.
Anyway, Karen tells Nancy:
"I thought that if we collected a lot of cans, then Andrew can take them to school. Maybe he would even win a prize for collecting the most food."
Where to start? First, she says "we" should collect a lot of cans. Karen, this is ANDREW'S project. I am not saying there is anything wrong with helping him, but Andrew didn't ask for help, she's making plans for his project without even involving him, and she's not even planning to include him in the food collecting.
Next, ANDREW DOES NOT CARE ABOUT BEING THE BEST. He said that a million times. This is not about competition and being the best and winning prizes. It's about helping the needy. We know Karen loves winning stuff, and often does because the universe bends to her will. But Andrew doesn't care about that stuff. And it would be pretty obnoxious to come in with a huge thing of food (other than the fact that it would help the needy, but Karen's eyes are on the prize, not the idea of helping others), when the teacher specifically said to bring in three cans. It's like when the teacher asks for a three page paper, and someone comes in with ten pages.
They make a plan to go around the neighborhood the next day to collect food and screw Andrew over.
Chapter 14- Mountains of Food (oh, that's just great)
See, I don't want to complain about the amount of food they're going to get because I am glad it will feed the homeless, but it is the principle of the matter. And mainly the fact that Karen really doesn't give a shit about the good deed. She only cares about the completion she has created out of the whole thing.
They decided not to tell Andrew so that he can be surprised. Oh, I am sure he will be surprised, but not pleasantly.
They go all around the neighborhood and collect lots of food.
Karen says Andrew will think she's "the best big sister ever." Ha- excuse me *cough.* Best big sister my ass. You're projecting poor ideals on your baby brother and taking over his whole project, which he was really excited about doing himself, and you're not even doing it correctly.
Best big sister my ass.
Sure enough. This part is actually great because for once Karen's behavior isn't encouraged and her ass isn't kissed. Andrew comes home PISSED (and rightfully so) because he tried to do his project, which he was excited about, and collect food but none of the neighbors had any cans because they gave everything to Karen already.
Karen presents the food, and Andrew yells, "You ruined everything!" This is great. Normally, Kristy or someone would have been like, "Oh! That Karen! Trying to take over Andrew's project! She's so charming and creative. Andrew is lucky to have her as a big sister!" But not this time! I am glad the ghost author is actually writing Karen as she really is and not having her behavior praised and making the kids reading this book think it's okay.
Andrew tells Karen it was HIS project and Karen butted in. THANK YOU. That is what I have been saying this WHOLE time.
Andrew was excited about the project. He was proud that he had work to do and he wanted to do it. And he didn't care about being the best. But Karen intruded on the entire thing and took over with her competitive ideas in mind. I am SO GLAD Andrew tells her off.
And Lisa isn't doing her usual ass-kissing either. She agrees with Andrew, by saying "Ms. Jewel gave this assignment to Andrew, not to you. It was not fair for you to take over."
Yes, yes, yes!! Thank you! Finally good parenting. Karen defends herself by saying "Oh now Andrew will have the most food" because she completely didn't listen earlier when they were talking about the play and Andrew said he didn't care about being the best.
Lisa says Andrew was not supposed to have the most food, and that it was important he do what he could, by himself, and that Karen wouldn't like it if someone took over one of her special projects. I like this Lisa, and she's basically rehashing everything I said earlier. I just hope Karen learns her lesson this time instead of saying a half-hearted "I'm sorry" and then going to her room and inner monologuing about how she did nothing wrong and she was just trying to be a good big sister and Lisa sucks.
But surprisingly, Karen does seem to feel bad. She tells us that she feels bad about butting in and tells Andrew she doesn't have to intrude on the play anymore either if he doesn't want her to, which he doesn't, haha.
She's disappointed and "crushed" and annoyingly points out that she is an expert so she will still help if he changes his mind, to no avail. Sorry, Karen, I really don't feel bad. I did when your stuff got ruined by Princess, because you're a little kid and can't take care of a rabbit alone, but I'm glad you were told off this time.
Chapter 15- Dress Rehearsal
Two days go by and Karen mopes about Andrew not asking for help. No means no, Karen. Give your ego a rest and go do something else. But no, she chooses to drop hints to Andrew about how she wants to help with the play, instead of letting it go and respecting what he wants.
She feels nervous because it is is Wednesday, the play is Saturday, and Andrew's costume isn't together. Okay. Karen, why are you so preoccupied with this damn play? What second grader is this absorbed in their sibling's preschool play? She even says "Andrew's play is practically all I thought about." Wow. I appreciate that she cares about him, but she needs to lighten up. This doesn't seem healthy to me. Also, I doubt Lisa and Andrew's teacher are going to let him go without a costume. He's four, obviously he's not going to think of such things and put it together independently. Well, this is Stoneybrook, so I take that back, but still.
Karen takes her mind off of her ridiculously unhealthy obsession by looking for a home for the bunnies. She puts up a sign in the vet, which is actually a great idea. She should take them to a rescue center.
The next day, Andrew asks Karen for help with his costume. Nooo! Don't indulge the obsession! She'll never learn her lesson that way! But in all fairness I really don't think she ever does. I am pretty sure Karen's Yo-Yo, which I have definitely snarked before, came after this one, and she was extremely and disgustingly competitive in that one too.
Karen actually says she felt like she could breathe again after Andrew asked for her help. This obsession for control is ridiculously unhealthy.
Karen gives Andrew a pair of her tiger-striped pants for a costume. Andrew says they don't fit but Karen freaking insists that he wear them anyway and safety pin them. See, this is the other problem. She thinks her ideas are beyond fantastic but this is a bad one. He is a lot smaller than you, Karen. How is him wearing your pants a good idea? But I digress. She also puts the pin on them, but it falls off. I sense trouble in the future, all I am saying. I really wish Lisa would intervene. My mom would have asked to see my costume and told my sister (if she was like Karen, which she wasn't) that I am not wearing those pants because THEY ARE GOING TO FUCKING FALL DOWN. But this is a BSC book, and adults rarely intervene (save Lisa's awesomeness with the food situation), which is why Karen is stuck finding homes for bunnies by herself and why Andrew is being forced to wear pants that don't fit for a school performance.
The rest of the chapter is cute. They rehearse for the play and Andrew is adorable as a cat.
Karen tells him he is prepared for the play and ominously says "nothing can go wrong" which obviously means something will.
Stay tuned!
Chapter 11- Born to be Wild
Karen and Andrew bring the bunnies outside, on leashes, which seems like a good idea. Spot somehow gets off his leash and poor Andrew is really upset. This part gives me anxiety because if I lose sight of my dog outside I basically forget how to breathe. After a long afternoon of searching, he is found in a neighbor's garden and ate her garden show entry, which Lisa is pissed about, and says they need to have a talk... sorry that was boring but there wasn't much to snark
Chapter 12- Free Bunnies to a Good Home
The family settles down for a talk. Karen and Andrew love the bunnies, but ultimately they are causing trouble. They are probably acting like ordinary rabbits except that Karen and Andrew are small children who are really too young to care for them and Lisa and Seth don't know enough about rabbits to properly train them either. This is why spontaneously giving rabbits to kids is a bad idea. Planning is involved.
Lisa mentions that they previously had a new puppy that they didn't keep because it was too much trouble. I was a pretty avid reader of the Little Sister series as a child and I don't remember them having a puppy other than Seth's dog Midgie. I must have missed that book.
Anyway, Andrew and Karen figure out that Lisa is implying that they have to get rid of the rabbits.
Karen is surprisingly mature and agrees that they need to find new homes for the rabbits. Poor Andrew is sad because he is four and he doesn't understand, which is another reason why it was a bad idea for him to have a rabbit. He is mature about it too, though.
Karen is sad, but also relieved because Princess is an exhausting pet. Reasonable reaction. Enjoy the Karen goodness now because shit goes down later.
The pet store won't take the rabbits because they have too many other pets that were given as pets in Easter baskets and didn't work out. If you're going to give an animal as an Easter gift, or any gift, educate yourself about the animal first! Maybe don't give them as a surprise and discuss the pet with your child to see if they want it, and then buy the supplies and be willing to take care of it and not put it all on your child.
Karen says she had found homes for kittens in the past, and now she will find homes for the bunnies. Lisa says "that would be wonderful" and "please hurry" and it sounds like she really expects Karen to do this all herself; which is a lot of responsibility to put on a seven-year-old. She can at least just ask Karen to help her do it instead of having Karen do everything. Finding homes for them clearly isn't an easy job.
Chapter 13- Making Plans- and when Karen starts acting like the bratty and conceited child we all know
Karen invites Nancy over. While they play with Princess, Karen tells Nancy she needs her help with...
Andrews food drive. Because God forbid Andrew get to do a school project himself without Karen intervening. She tells Nancy her stupid idea that Andrew should collect more than three cans so he can be the best in his class. I have already snarked this to death, but I get mad just reading it again. She said Andrew is "planning" to ask only three neighbors. No, Karen. Andrew's teacher said to ask three neighbors. And you're going overboard so he can be "the best in his class" when he is a mature and good kid and doesn't CARE about being the best. He just wants to do his assignment, while also learning the lesson his teacher is implementing that some families are in need and giving the students an opportunity to help them by collecting food. Maybe Karen can turn her own assignments into a contest, but projecting this on her little brother is unhealthy and disturbing.
Anyway, Karen tells Nancy:
"I thought that if we collected a lot of cans, then Andrew can take them to school. Maybe he would even win a prize for collecting the most food."
Where to start? First, she says "we" should collect a lot of cans. Karen, this is ANDREW'S project. I am not saying there is anything wrong with helping him, but Andrew didn't ask for help, she's making plans for his project without even involving him, and she's not even planning to include him in the food collecting.
Next, ANDREW DOES NOT CARE ABOUT BEING THE BEST. He said that a million times. This is not about competition and being the best and winning prizes. It's about helping the needy. We know Karen loves winning stuff, and often does because the universe bends to her will. But Andrew doesn't care about that stuff. And it would be pretty obnoxious to come in with a huge thing of food (other than the fact that it would help the needy, but Karen's eyes are on the prize, not the idea of helping others), when the teacher specifically said to bring in three cans. It's like when the teacher asks for a three page paper, and someone comes in with ten pages.
They make a plan to go around the neighborhood the next day to collect food and screw Andrew over.
Chapter 14- Mountains of Food (oh, that's just great)
See, I don't want to complain about the amount of food they're going to get because I am glad it will feed the homeless, but it is the principle of the matter. And mainly the fact that Karen really doesn't give a shit about the good deed. She only cares about the completion she has created out of the whole thing.
They decided not to tell Andrew so that he can be surprised. Oh, I am sure he will be surprised, but not pleasantly.
They go all around the neighborhood and collect lots of food.
Karen says Andrew will think she's "the best big sister ever." Ha- excuse me *cough.* Best big sister my ass. You're projecting poor ideals on your baby brother and taking over his whole project, which he was really excited about doing himself, and you're not even doing it correctly.
Best big sister my ass.
Sure enough. This part is actually great because for once Karen's behavior isn't encouraged and her ass isn't kissed. Andrew comes home PISSED (and rightfully so) because he tried to do his project, which he was excited about, and collect food but none of the neighbors had any cans because they gave everything to Karen already.
Karen presents the food, and Andrew yells, "You ruined everything!" This is great. Normally, Kristy or someone would have been like, "Oh! That Karen! Trying to take over Andrew's project! She's so charming and creative. Andrew is lucky to have her as a big sister!" But not this time! I am glad the ghost author is actually writing Karen as she really is and not having her behavior praised and making the kids reading this book think it's okay.
Andrew tells Karen it was HIS project and Karen butted in. THANK YOU. That is what I have been saying this WHOLE time.
Andrew was excited about the project. He was proud that he had work to do and he wanted to do it. And he didn't care about being the best. But Karen intruded on the entire thing and took over with her competitive ideas in mind. I am SO GLAD Andrew tells her off.
And Lisa isn't doing her usual ass-kissing either. She agrees with Andrew, by saying "Ms. Jewel gave this assignment to Andrew, not to you. It was not fair for you to take over."
Yes, yes, yes!! Thank you! Finally good parenting. Karen defends herself by saying "Oh now Andrew will have the most food" because she completely didn't listen earlier when they were talking about the play and Andrew said he didn't care about being the best.
Lisa says Andrew was not supposed to have the most food, and that it was important he do what he could, by himself, and that Karen wouldn't like it if someone took over one of her special projects. I like this Lisa, and she's basically rehashing everything I said earlier. I just hope Karen learns her lesson this time instead of saying a half-hearted "I'm sorry" and then going to her room and inner monologuing about how she did nothing wrong and she was just trying to be a good big sister and Lisa sucks.
But surprisingly, Karen does seem to feel bad. She tells us that she feels bad about butting in and tells Andrew she doesn't have to intrude on the play anymore either if he doesn't want her to, which he doesn't, haha.
She's disappointed and "crushed" and annoyingly points out that she is an expert so she will still help if he changes his mind, to no avail. Sorry, Karen, I really don't feel bad. I did when your stuff got ruined by Princess, because you're a little kid and can't take care of a rabbit alone, but I'm glad you were told off this time.
Chapter 15- Dress Rehearsal
Two days go by and Karen mopes about Andrew not asking for help. No means no, Karen. Give your ego a rest and go do something else. But no, she chooses to drop hints to Andrew about how she wants to help with the play, instead of letting it go and respecting what he wants.
She feels nervous because it is is Wednesday, the play is Saturday, and Andrew's costume isn't together. Okay. Karen, why are you so preoccupied with this damn play? What second grader is this absorbed in their sibling's preschool play? She even says "Andrew's play is practically all I thought about." Wow. I appreciate that she cares about him, but she needs to lighten up. This doesn't seem healthy to me. Also, I doubt Lisa and Andrew's teacher are going to let him go without a costume. He's four, obviously he's not going to think of such things and put it together independently. Well, this is Stoneybrook, so I take that back, but still.
Karen takes her mind off of her ridiculously unhealthy obsession by looking for a home for the bunnies. She puts up a sign in the vet, which is actually a great idea. She should take them to a rescue center.
The next day, Andrew asks Karen for help with his costume. Nooo! Don't indulge the obsession! She'll never learn her lesson that way! But in all fairness I really don't think she ever does. I am pretty sure Karen's Yo-Yo, which I have definitely snarked before, came after this one, and she was extremely and disgustingly competitive in that one too.
Karen actually says she felt like she could breathe again after Andrew asked for her help. This obsession for control is ridiculously unhealthy.
Karen gives Andrew a pair of her tiger-striped pants for a costume. Andrew says they don't fit but Karen freaking insists that he wear them anyway and safety pin them. See, this is the other problem. She thinks her ideas are beyond fantastic but this is a bad one. He is a lot smaller than you, Karen. How is him wearing your pants a good idea? But I digress. She also puts the pin on them, but it falls off. I sense trouble in the future, all I am saying. I really wish Lisa would intervene. My mom would have asked to see my costume and told my sister (if she was like Karen, which she wasn't) that I am not wearing those pants because THEY ARE GOING TO FUCKING FALL DOWN. But this is a BSC book, and adults rarely intervene (save Lisa's awesomeness with the food situation), which is why Karen is stuck finding homes for bunnies by herself and why Andrew is being forced to wear pants that don't fit for a school performance.
The rest of the chapter is cute. They rehearse for the play and Andrew is adorable as a cat.
Karen tells him he is prepared for the play and ominously says "nothing can go wrong" which obviously means something will.
Stay tuned!