From: Ellen K. 

I've heard the expression "rug-rats" too but "yard
apes" somehow sounds more pejorative to me, I don't know why.   I
don't like either one.
Children should be treasured, not denigrated.

On Thu, 6 Oct 2005 07:53:58 -0400, "JaneL" 
wrote in message :

>"Ellen K." wrote:
>
>> Ugly expression IMO regardless of the meaning.
>>
>
>No more so than rug-rats.  Now I'll grant you that she was pretty tone-deaf
>to use it in that setting just like the guy was who lost his job for using
>the word niggardly.
>
>I'm just grateful that the author she references in her supporting
>statements, Beverly Cleary, was born in Oregon and lives in California.  I
>get a little tired of the South being a dumping ground.
>

--- BBBS/NT v4.01 Flag-5