--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My dear children!\" Nellie whopped him…" description: "\"My dear children!\" Nellie whopped him upside the head with her backpack. \"Ow!\" Uncle Alistair curled over, cupping his hand over his good eye. \"Nellie!..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ad/rick-riordan-27_amy_my-dear-children-nellie-whopped-him-upsi_1658064.jpg" --- # My dear children!" Nellie whopped him upside the head with… ![“My dear children!" Nellie whopped him upside the head with her backpack. "Ow!" Uncle Alistair curled over, cupping his hand over his good eye. "Nellie!" Amy said. "Sorry," Nellie muttered. "I thought he was one of the bad guys.” quote by Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ad/rick-riordan-27_amy_my-dear-children-nellie-whopped-him-upsi_1658064.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ad/rick-riordan-27_amy_my-dear-children-nellie-whopped-him-upsi_1658064.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ad/rick-riordan-27_amy_my-dear-children-nellie-whopped-him-upsi_1658064.jpg) > “My dear children!" Nellie whopped him upside the head with her backpack. "Ow!" Uncle Alistair curled over, cupping his hand over his good eye. "Nellie!" Amy said. "Sorry," Nellie muttered. "I thought he was one of the bad guys.” [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A child mistakenly attacks an adult, thinking he is a threat, highlighting fear and misinterpretation of danger. **In simple terms:** A kid hits someone he thinks is dangerous. Key Takeaway Think before acting on fear. Themes mistake fear misunderstanding Mood anxious regretful Type narrative cautionary When to use this quote - schoolyard - family gatherings - conflict resolution Key Concepts perception impulse control Questions to Reflect On - How could the child have verified the threat? - What steps can prevent snap judgments? A Different Perspective Actions based on fear can harm innocent people. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bad guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-guy/) [Bad guys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-guys/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) ## Related quotes > [Caught in a bad romance. Whoaaa-oh-ooooh!" Nellie wailed along to the XM radio blaring from the enormous speakers. "Can I uncover my ears now?"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/caught-in-a-bad-romance-whoaaa-oh-ooooh-nellie-wailed-along-to-the-xm/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [“ "Whoaaaaa–AARRRGGGGGGGHHHH...shove two fingers down my throat and pull out my heart...to prove that you love meeee...!" Clutching her iPod, Nellie emerged from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-lerangis/whoaaaaa-aarrrggggggghhhh-shove-two-fingers-down-my-throat-and-pull/) [Peter Lerangis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-lerangis/) > [“Amy turned to Nellie. "Can you create a diversion to draw the clerk outside?" The au pair was wary. "What kind of diversion?" "You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-korman/amy-turned-to-nellie-can-you-create-a-diversion-to-draw-the-clerk/) [Gordon Korman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-korman/) > [Cat tongues are awesome." --Nellie Gomez, The 39 Clues, Beyond The Grave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/cat-tongues-are-awesome-nellie-gomez-the-39-clues-beyond-the-grave/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Nellie grinned. "I always wanted to go to Venice. It's supposed to be the romance capital of the world." "Sweet," put in Dan. "Too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-korman/nellie-grinned-i-always-wanted-to-go-to-venice-it-s-supposed-to-be/) [Gordon Korman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-korman/) > [“Pony eyed the pitcher of hot fudge sauce Nellie had placed on the table. “And if you pass that pitcher, I will reveal a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jude-watson/pony-eyed-the-pitcher-of-hot-fudge-sauce-nellie-had-placed-on-the/) [Jude Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jude-watson/) > [Nellie Gomez awoke to a splitting headache. Worse, she was still hungry. "Where's my croissant?" she demanded of the person leaning over her. "Dear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-korman/nellie-gomez-awoke-to-a-splitting-headache-worse-she-was-still-hungry/) [Gordon Korman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-korman/) ## More by Rick Riordan > [“It made sense, and I felt kind of stupid. 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They will not stay with you if you go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/kids-if-anything-are-harder-to-write-for-because-they-are-a-more/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [“He started toward the entrance. Seriously, how could he not? He stopped when he noticed the girl. She was kneeling in her vegetable garden,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/he-started-toward-the-entrance-seriously-how-could-he-not-he-stopped/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [Hercules used noise! Brass bells! He scared them away with the most horrible sound he could-" said Percy "Percy... Chiron's collection!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/hercules-used-noise-brass-bells-he-scared-them-away-with-the-most/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [“When you take someone’s hand and lead them to Valhalla, you get a glimpse into their soul.” “Did that happen when you took me?”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/when-you-take-someone-s-hand-and-lead-them-to-valhalla-you-get-a/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [“he didn’t look as good as Piper had last night after she’d suddenly been transformed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/he-didn-t-look-as-good-as-piper-had-last-night-after-she-d-suddenly/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [There’s my baby!” I cried, quite carried away. “There’s my Poochiekins!” Ammit ran at me and leaped into my arms, nuzzling me with his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/there-s-my-baby-i-cried-quite-carried-away-there-s-my-poochiekins/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [“Leo plunked the cheese wheel in front of me. "Cut me a wedge of this, my good ma. Chop-chop!" I scowled at him. "Don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/leo-plunked-the-cheese-wheel-in-front-of-me-cut-me-a-wedge-of-this-my/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [It's all still about having a good story. You have to have a good story as your anchor, as your main focus. So for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/it-s-all-still-about-having-a-good-story-you-have-to-have-a-good/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [I disobeyed Ra's wishes, and so he ordered my onw father, Shu-" "Hang on," I said. "Shoe?" "S-h-u," she said. "The god of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/i-disobeyed-ra-s-wishes-and-so-he-ordered-my-onw-father-shu-hang-on-i/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [“Nico knelt and picked it up. He regarded Jason, as if waiting for an attack. "If the others found out-" "If the others found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/nico-knelt-and-picked-it-up-he-regarded-jason-as-if-waiting-for-an/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [Wouldn't that put a twist in your toga?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/wouldn-t-that-put-a-twist-in-your-toga/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [ \[Hazel\] hissed in frustration. 'I hate eidolons. I thought Piper made them promise to stay away.' 'Oh...' Frank said, like he'd just had his… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/hazel-hissed-in-frustration-i-hate-eidolons-i-thought-piper-made-them/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) [Explore all 2,993 Rick Riordan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) ## More Amy quotes > [By the time they were pulling into the parking lot of the A&P, the mood was fading, the moment gone. Amy could feel it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-strout/by-the-time-they-were-pulling-into-the-parking-lot-of-the-a-p-the/) [Elizabeth Strout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-strout/) > [You should climb around inside my brain, Dan. It's like this dark room surrounded by quicksand." "I know what you mean," her brother said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-lerangis/you-should-climb-around-inside-my-brain-dan-it-s-like-this-dark-room/) [Peter Lerangis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-lerangis/) > [Ridley Pearson also plays bass guitar and sings with the Rock Bottom Remainders, a band made up of such successful authors as Amy Tan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-penzler/ridley-pearson-also-plays-bass-guitar-and-sings-with-the-rock-bottom/) Otto Penzler > [I don't talk about Amy Winehouse as a 'singer.' She's a pioneer. I listened to her endlessly when I started writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-mvula/i-don-t-talk-about-amy-winehouse-as-a-singer-she-s-a-pioneer-i/) [Laura Mvula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-mvula/) > [I'm so hungry," Amy said sleepily. "Hey, you stole my line," Dan said.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-so-hungry-amy-said-sleepily-hey-you-stole-my-line-dan-said/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Amy Winehouse and Paul Weller are examples of poets, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jools-holland/amy-winehouse-and-paul-weller-are-examples-of-poets-i-think/) [Jools Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jools-holland/) > [I think Amy is a really difficult example. With any artist, none of us understands what it's like having the world's media scrutinising everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicki-chapman/i-think-amy-is-a-really-difficult-example-with-any-artist-none-of-us/) [Nicki Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicki-chapman/) > [Former Sony CEO Amy Pascal - they threw her out of the headquarters, but they gave her a new office on the lot. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sagal/former-sony-ceo-amy-pascal-they-threw-her-out-of-the-headquarters-but/) [Peter Sagal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sagal/) > [ The Doctor: This is bad, I don't like this. \[kicks console and yells in pain\] Never use force, you just embarrass yourself. Unless you're… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-moffat/the-doctor-this-is-bad-i-don-t-like-this-kicks-console-and-yells-in/) [Steven Moffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-moffat/) > [I will always have a very deep love for Amy Winehouse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gaga/i-will-always-have-a-very-deep-love-for-amy-winehouse/) [Lady Gaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gaga/) > [Amy Adams is the wish your heart makes…she’s wicked good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-travers/amy-adams-is-the-wish-your-heart-makes-she-s-wicked-good/) [Peter Travers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-travers/) > [“Take care of yourself, okay?” Sophie whispered. Her sister nodded. “And you keep . . . saving the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-messenger/take-care-of-yourself-okay-sophie-whispered-her-sister-nodded-and-you/) [Shannon Messenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-messenger/) > [River Song? Amy Pond? Hardly weak women. It's the exact opposite. You could accuse me of having a fetish for powerful, sexy women who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-moffat/river-song-amy-pond-hardly-weak-women-it-s-the-exact-opposite-you/) [Steven Moffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-moffat/) > [Once a quarter, Amy and I go off the grid and totally disconnect. It's totally doable and it will change your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-feld/once-a-quarter-amy-and-i-go-off-the-grid-and-totally-disconnect-it-s/) [Brad Feld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-feld/) > [There’s a lot I don’t tell my father when he calls asking after Amy. He wouldn’t understand that she has no interest in getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/there-s-a-lot-i-don-t-tell-my-father-when-he-calls-asking-after-amy/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) Browse all 264 Amy quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My dear children!\" Nellie whopped him upside the head with her backpack. \"Ow!\" Uncle Alistair curled over, cupping his hand over his good eye. \"Nellie!\" Amy said. \"Sorry,\" Nellie muttered. \"I thought he was one of the bad guys.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rick Riordan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/my-dear-children-nellie-whopped-him-upside-the-head-with-her-backpack/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Amy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/my-dear-children-nellie-whopped-him-upside-the-head-with-her-backpack/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ad/rick-riordan-27_amy_my-dear-children-nellie-whopped-him-upsi_1658064.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ad/rick-riordan-27_amy_my-dear-children-nellie-whopped-him-upsi_1658064.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ad/rick-riordan-27_amy_my-dear-children-nellie-whopped-him-upsi_1658064.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“My dear children!\" Nellie whopped him upside the head with her backpack. \"Ow!\" Uncle Alistair curled over…” — Rick Riordan", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Rick Riordan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "My dear children!\" Nellie whopped him...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/my-dear-children-nellie-whopped-him-upside-the-head-with-her-backpack/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/my-dear-children-nellie-whopped-him-upside-the-head-with-her-backpack/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```