Taylor got in trouble at daycare yesterday. Not big trouble really...he got into a heck of lot more with mom later. He and another one of his friends decided to torment a little boy that Taylor has been best friends with since he was 2. I am not really sure how bad it was but apparently they made this Little boy cry, and tell his mom he didn't want to come back. Apparently it all started with an innocent game of batman and robin. For punishment Taylor was grounded for the night, had to tell me what he said to this little boy, and then write him an apology letter to him. After all this I asked Taylor how he thought his friend felt? Would he still want to be your friend? Taylor felt horrible for what he did and even asked me if this boy would still want to be his friend. I told him that was up to the little boy, and that if you kept picking on him then no he would not want to be your friend. He also has to apologize to him to the face today at daycare. Do you think I did the right thing?? Just don't know....
I think you taught your son a valuable lesson. Now he understands better what his impact on this boy has been. Next time he will think first, and maybe he will understand even better if it happens to him some day, and maybe foregive his own tormentors, knowing how easy it is to "go along with the crowd" and hurt someone. When you taught him to face what he has done and apologize, you taught him a lesson in being a person of character, to admit his mistakes and take responsibility. There are not many adults any more who will do that, much less teach their children.
ReplyDeleteAnd hopefully he has learned to recognize that little voice inside, that gnawing in the stomach, that comes when we know we are doing wrong, but "go along" with a crowd, feeling popular or safe.
I am so proud of both of you.