Bullied at the Playground
Sophie had her first bullying incident this morning!
Our little one was minding her own business, standing at the playground when a 3 yr old boy came up and pinched, pulled and scratched her on her cheek!!!!!! I was just there but he came by so fast, I didn’t quite realised what he did until I saw the "NAIL MARKS"! He drew BLOOD!
I scolded him in the HOW COULD YOU HAVE DONE THAT voice. I quicky grabbed Sophie away and by now she was really crying. I was so angry! His grandma and a person that looked like his mum but quite young looking, scolded him and she told me to beat him so he’ll know it’s wrong. ?!?!? Beat him! What has it gotta do with me? I wasn’t going to be the one disciplining him. He was still smiling by the way. Anyway I told him in front of them that he shouldn’t have done that and it hurt, in the fiercest way I could. The boy was still smiling. By now, I was furious. I gave him a glare. But after that, I told his "mum" that it was ok, don’t worry about us coz she looked so terrified and confused. I must have looked really fierce.
The mother in me ROSE to the occasion.
Now on hindsight and after praying, I realised that it could have been accidental and he wanted to play with Sophie and I should have responded in forgiveness in the end and got Sophie to turn the other cheek and sayang the boy, telling him it hurt but I forgive you. But… of course that was on hindsight. I was really really furious and was caught off guard, doing that on the spot would have been hypocritial. But really, I was more furious at the fact that the caregivers of the boy hardly did anything and expected me to discipline him.
Poor Sophie, now she has two marks on her left cheek. Took a photo but will post later.
October 6th, 2007 at 12:13 am
Oh dear poor Sophie! Actually I don’t think he realised what he did if after you gave him such a shelling and looking so fierce he is still smiling? I think you acted rightly by not ‘beating’ him. Later, kena accused of harrassing and abused and get sued?? Maybe he was never scolded by his caregivers before? Any kid who is scolded by a stranger would certainly cry!! What a strange kid.
October 7th, 2007 at 9:30 am
Ya…. strange kid, still smiling. Actually i think they just beat him or scold him but never teach him. That’s the norm here i guess, just scold n beat, it’s reactive discipling not active. That’s what got me so frustrated. But i guess it’s also because they are not aware. Just have to keep praying for these families. I see a lot of it around the neighbourhood. Apparently my neighbour’s son got hit by a kid at the playground too.
October 7th, 2007 at 3:26 pm
The playground in the neighbourhood is a good ‘fishing’ place. Some parents can get very impressed by how your children behave and do ask how you teach or discipline them. That is where there is an opportunity to share with them some of these principles and Christian values that you practise. We need to be bold to share or point out mistakes – much easier to do tht with strangers than with people you know/close to you. I find that when you do tht to people you know, they can get defensive and makes your relationship with them awkward whereas with strangers, you say your peace and move on…
October 7th, 2007 at 8:13 pm
ah…. good idea…