Well, it happened. Jen and I knew it would, but so soon? Let me explain. I came home for lunch to eat with my family on Monday like I do often, however, this day allowed me the opportunity to take Caleb to school. We arrive around 12:20 or so and Caleb saw some of his friends standing at the door, so he wanted to walk on up. This was different for me, see, we used to stay in the car until the teachers came out and he would sit in the front seat and we would talk, but now, well, his friends are out and I have been trumped.
That's not what finally happened
We walked up to the door and in a flash he was gone. This was the first time that I did not get a kiss before got in line. No kiss! Not even a wave goodbye. No thank you. No see you later daddy. Ugghhhhh!
That's not what finally happened
For some reason the teachers were running late and several kids were standing together. I knew they were playing, so I just stood off a distance and talked to another dad. We shared how hard it is to let them grow up and go. It was a bonding experience.
That's not what finally happened
Suddenly, I heard something and looked to see my son with backpack on his back down on the ground. Everyone was laughing, he was laughing and he got up. It was then I realized. A class "bully" was picking on my son! NO! Right in front of me. Oh and did I mention, right in front of his mom who did NOTHING ABOUT IT! Well, what do I do? I watched as this "bully" started to push him again. Over and over, until WHAM, he was down again. AHHHHHHHHH! I did what every dad has to do. I said, "Caleb, please come over here." He said, "nah" and so I was unsure what to do next. Could I allow this kid to push my Caleb? Should I go to his mom and ask her to stop him? Should I go tell the Principal? At last, Caleb ran over and said to me, "what daddy?" I simply said to him, "Caleb, it is not nice when they push you around and make you fall, so next time they do that, don't laugh and make sure you say, PLEASE STOP."
You guessed it, he went back and was greeted by A GANG of Kindergarten bullies. I am not kidding you. They all started to push him around, he was like a ball in a pinball machine. They were all laughing and I could hear his sweet little voice saying: "Stop please, stop please." At this moment, it was like I went into a phone booth and came out with a SUPERDAD cape around my neck. As Popeye was quoted as saying: "that's all I can stanze, I can't stanze no more"
The next moment I was standing over the LEAD GANG MEMBER and giving him a lecture about how he should treat people and why he needed to stop picking on others when they ask and how I wasn't going to stand back there and watch him hurt my son. It was then that a grandma of one of the other kids did step in and make her kids apologize. Where was the "bully mom" you ask? She never moved. She never stepped in. She just blew her little boy a kiss and told him to have a great day. SOMEONE DEFINE PARENT TO ME?
I know that "bullying" will happen. I know that Caleb might even be a big target for it. I expect to hear about it in Elementary school, but KINDERGARTEN?!?!? It finally happen, and it broke my heart!
In closing, I need to let you know that the school got right on it. When his teacher heard about it, she made the kids all apologize. The discipline leader called the house and talked to Jen. They were fair and prompt. Way to be leaders. The truth of the matter is, if a certain "mom" would of been brave and concerned enough to intervene and teach her child, it would of never had to get to the school. I could preach about discipline and parenting, but I have already written enough for tonight. If you think about it, say a little prayer for Caleb and his friends!
B OUT!!