Life lessons

Today, with this unbelievably beautiful 65 degree day, we took the kids to the park. One boy came to the playground with a small ball in tow (approximately 4 years old). Two other boys saw him and his ball and asked if they could play with him (approximately 5-6 years old). I thought this looked like a great opportunity for Liam to join in on a game so I encouraged him to play with these other boys as well.

Immediately the two boys who asked if they could play with the boys ball hijacked the ball and just began kicking it only to each other. Liam did not hesitate at all and started running after them and tried to dive for the ball himself. And that's when it happened, "Hey, you cheater! You're a cheaterhead!"

Now let it be known that I remained calm. I did not jump in but wanted to see what Liam would do when called a name (unfairly, I might add). Liam got up, watched the boys as they ran away with the ball and then looking very sad, hid behind a tree.

Doesn't that just make you so sad? It did for me but again I waited. When Evan asked where he had gone and I showed him where he was hiding because apparently he had missed the name calling so I filled him in. I think the other parents overheard me telling my husband that our kid wasn't sure if he wanted to play with those boys anymore because they just called him a cheaterhead. And they finally got up from where they were sitting and told there boys to give the ball back to the kid they stole it from and that they were going to go get there own ball from home and come back. Never asking there children to apologize for the name calling. Thumbs up.

It was time for us to leave anyway so on the way home Liam and I were discussing what had happened. I told him next time someone called him a name to say that that was not a nice thing to say. Or that he could have said I just want to play with you.

Tonight at dinner Evan wanted to address the incident. (because he was MIA when Liam and I had already talked) Evan's advice? and I quote: "Just take the ball from them put it over your head and say THAT'S RIGHT! I'M A CHEATERHEAD!  and laugh a whole bunch."

And this is my parenting partner. His recommendation when put into a difficult situation is to tell our son to act like a maniac. *sigh*