I listened with growing shock as he told me the following story:
Austin and one of the neighborhood boys were playing out back. Another little boy ran by and Austin asked him why he was running. Other little boy replied that he needed to get home so his dad wouldn't spank him. Austin answered that he got spankings all the time and that they weren't so bad. Other little boy started punching and kicking Austin. Austin tried to hold other boys arms down. Other little boy pushed Austin down and climbed on top of him. At some point neighbor boy ran inside to get his mom. Meanwhile Austin was yelling, "I give up! I give up!" While other little boy scratched at his eyes.
I was in shock and near tears. I am sure some of you know that feeling of helplessness and shock when something happens to your child that you can't undo and you can't make better. I wanted to leave work right then and go and hold Austin in my arms. (A separate part of me wanted to leave work and go fight other boy! Thankfully that was a small part of me.)
Layla ran inside and got Jason. He went and talked to other boys mom and they discussed the whole situation.
Austin is over it, and I will be soon too, but it is a hard thing. And I know it will just get worse as the kids get older. Below: Austin enjoying a mini ice cream cone, you can see the scratches under his eye.
5 comments:
FIGHT?! FHE defense skills next lesson? I am thinking through my boys' experiences, the bullies they have dealt with, the tears, the battles with words. Suzanna said it helped in high school knowing that everyone knew her older brothers and wouldn't dare pick on her.
Mothering through the phone while you are at work (been there, doing that) is a helpless, frustrating feeling. I try and make up for it when I see them again. Thankful for good husband who seems to know exactly what to do in the situations. Glad we are a team. Glad I am not alone in parenting.
I looked over at you and your sweetie last Sunday during the "roles" of mothering/fathering lesson and saw his arm tightly around you and felt a surge of love for you and what you are doing. You are brave and powerful and wonderful, and doing an amazing job. You are a good team.
We will survive, and our children will keep getting hurt and we will cry a little inside when we can't do anything about it but kiss them and love them in the end.
Holy cow! Poor kid. Maybe it's time to get him in a karate class. ;) Big hugs!
Don't you hate it how as a mom you feel your kids' pain x10?
I hope Jason showed that boy's mom what he did to Austin's face.
I know of a fantastic tae kwon do place if you need recommendations. :)
I am speechless. dumbfounded. What in the world?????????? Do you have any more insight to this story? It is so bizarre. He was trying to get home so he wouldn't get in trouble and then he pounces on someone --- like that won't get him in trouble? Is this kid often a trouble maker? Hard family life? Gosh, he has some kind of issue obviously. Poor austin obviously, poor other little boy for being so disturbed at such a young age. This is AWFUL!!!!!
Yeah--is there more to the story? Having read this, I'm glad Will and Isaac are in kung fu. If anyone ever attacks them, I want them to be able to take care of themselves. Poor kid...
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