So here's the parenting dilemma ...
I have the two boys (S. had A. with her) with me down at S.'s folks. They're bored; and there's not a lot to do at her folks' place. So we head to McDonalds to spend some quality time on the playland. Gives the boys a chance to run around in the winter, unencumbered by coats, boots, etc...
Anyway, there's this little punk seven-year-old girl running around with her younger sister. These two are completely out of control. Every time they pass E., they push right past him, shoving him into walls, knocking him down, etc... The older girl even kicked this one African American girl right in the head and said absolutely nothing. Just out of control nuts.
So I'm down on the main level and this little seven-year-old slides out of a tube and comes up to me with a complaint that my son has taken his cup and smacked her upside the head. Now, please understand that I regularly box with my boys (we have these really sweet boxing gloves), so I KNOW that E. can pack a punch. So I have no doubt that this little punk girl took a shot upside the head. My issue is: law of the jungle hosebeast. You want to run around shoving little three years old around and kicking little girls in the head, you better be prepared to take a shot or two. On the other hand, I really don't want Ethan slugging other children, even if they are wrong.
So what do you do?
I have the two boys (S. had A. with her) with me down at S.'s folks. They're bored; and there's not a lot to do at her folks' place. So we head to McDonalds to spend some quality time on the playland. Gives the boys a chance to run around in the winter, unencumbered by coats, boots, etc...
Anyway, there's this little punk seven-year-old girl running around with her younger sister. These two are completely out of control. Every time they pass E., they push right past him, shoving him into walls, knocking him down, etc... The older girl even kicked this one African American girl right in the head and said absolutely nothing. Just out of control nuts.
So I'm down on the main level and this little seven-year-old slides out of a tube and comes up to me with a complaint that my son has taken his cup and smacked her upside the head. Now, please understand that I regularly box with my boys (we have these really sweet boxing gloves), so I KNOW that E. can pack a punch. So I have no doubt that this little punk girl took a shot upside the head. My issue is: law of the jungle hosebeast. You want to run around shoving little three years old around and kicking little girls in the head, you better be prepared to take a shot or two. On the other hand, I really don't want Ethan slugging other children, even if they are wrong.
So what do you do?
posted by Just a Few Things about Scott ... | 1:29 PM
2 Comments:
Punch? What punch. I didn't see any punch...
Growing up, I had to learn to deal with bullies. And to be honest, it even feels like I have to do so even today.
Self Defense is Self Defense... I'm turning the blind on this one...
And for that matter--aggressive boundary setting is fair game too. If a person has established a reputation of overstepping boundaries, then there's an acceptable president for pre-emptive boundary setting.
Thus called the Snyder doctrine.
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