Getting beaten up by a 3 yr old!

I almost got into a fight with a 3 year old this weekend. I thought I was 3 and almost fought this little punk.

At the gym where AB plays basketball, there is a little play area for small children. UB usually goes plays in while we watch AB play. Well, UB had come out crying saying that some boy had pinched him. I sent him back in to the battle zone and I stayed looking through the window.

I spotted a little boy with a dowel rod that is about 12" long and 3" wide. He was going around the room hitting kids with this stick. Not play hitting either. The kids were yelling and trying to get away from punk kid, but his short little legs would run fast. When I saw him hit a little girl and the little girl started to cry, I went in and approached him. He saw me, gave me an evil laugh and ran into the play house looking thing. I found him and asked him nicely, "please give me the stick", "please stop hitting kids" "pleeeeaaase give me the stick". He just hit me with the stick. Over and over. I covered my head and continued to ask (nicely through clenched teeth) for the stick. He would just laugh and hit me. I finally was able to grab the stick and pull it out of his hands.

As I walked away, he followed me and started beating me with his fists. PUNK! I was shocked. I stood there, looked down and thought, "this is not happening". I looked around to see if his mom or dad or someone was around, Nope. I really just wanted to get him by his feet and hang him upside down from the light fixture.

Finally, big sister or some chick, got him and carried him off, kicking and screaming. UB tells me that this was the punk that pinched him earlier. Apparently he was tormenting all the kids in the play area.

What amazed me about the whole thing was that this kid, this 3 yr old, had no respect for an adult.

I try to teach my kids to be respectful of adults. I believe that for the most part they are. They have some adult friends and they have a hard time drawing the line between playing with the adult friend or playing with the adult adult. But all I have to do is give them 'the look' and they settle down.

This kid didn't know the look. Because trust me, I gave it to him. Of course, it was probably more of an 'I wish I were your size so that I could beat you up' look. Just kidding. No, not really. But I wouldn't hurt a child.

Seriously though, it makes you wonder how much free reign they have at their house. It's no wonder teachers get no respect from kids at school. If they are not taught about it at home, then how are they ever going to learn. Especially if the parents make it a 'child-centered' home instead of a 'God-centered'.

The tween and her mom

Back when I was growing up, I was involved in a lot of activities. I was in band, track, volleyball, softball, basketball as well as our church functions. When I had practice, which was usually after school, I'd wait for for mom to come get me afterwards. If she was running late because she was working late, had a meeting or something else, It was OK because that meant I could hang out with my friends a little longer.

I was a little stubborn and had a little temper back then. And when I was upset at my mom for being late picking me up, my cheek would have a close encounter with the back of her hand. Especially if I talked back. Of course, that only had to happen once in order for me to know that my momma meant business.

These days, you see kids with cell phones. Kids as young as elementary age have cell phones. They talk and text their friends all the time. They get dropped off at practice then 'call' when it's time to be picked up.

I noticed an incident during basketball practice. There was a young girl, who looked to be in 6th or 7th grade. She was with her friends and was sulking for some reason. She had a phone in her hands and was texting some friends. She would even talk to some of these people. Her mom happened to be at the gym and saw that she was upset. She asked her what was wrong. This girl totally ignored her. The mom continued until the girl snapped and said in an ugly voice "I don't want to talk about it, just leave me alone."

The mom looked embarrassed and walked away. If I would have done that to my mom, I'd be in serious trouble. Of course, all mom had to do was give me 'the look' and I straightened up.

When the mom walked away from this tween, the girl gave her an ugly look then whispered something to her friend.

I started to think and ask myself, "If that were my daughter what would I have done?"
Would I have given her 'the look' then told her to get her stuff because fun with her friends was over? Or maybe I would have embarrassed her back. I'm not really sure what I would have done. I do know that I wouldn't have just walked away and let my daughter talk to me that way.

What would you have done if this were your daughter?

Together they can do it!

Adventure Boy is in a basketball program called Upward Basketball. He did it last year and wanted to do it again this year. This program has them learn a memory verse and then they receive a star to iron on their t shirts. They also receive a star after the game. Well, today was the first game. It's fun to watch 1st graders run around trying to get the ball in the basket.

One member of the opposite team would throw the ball in the court, but then would just stand there until his team came back from the opposite end. Then you have AB, who runs around his team mate that has the ball, waves his hands up in the air to let his team mate know that he's open. Only his team mate is eyeing the goal straight ahead as opposed to AB being behind him by the back court.

He's learning. When he dribbles the ball and loses it, he doesn't go fight for it, he just lets the opposite team have it. He even gets excited when the opposing team makes a basket. At least he's having fun.

What surprised me from this morning was not what happened during the game, but what happened after the game. I know that all siblings fight. (At least I hope that all siblings fight). There is an unspoken rule between siblings that they protect each other. I know that's true with these boys. They can fight all they want with each other and call each other names, but have someone else fight and call them names just does not happen here. They defend each other when needed.

One of the moms had taken snacks for after the game. When I notice AB getting ready to grab another one I ask him what he's doing, he's already got his snack. He looks at me and says he was going to get one for his brother. That's a Hallmark moment for me. ~sniff~

When we were in the car, UB was telling AB about a little girl that pinched him in the play area. AB got his chest puffed out, his head raised up and started asking questions.

"Where did this happen?"
"How old was she?"
"Was she taller than you?"
"Why did she do that?"

I thought he was going to make me go back, because he seemed to be getting more upset every time he asked a question. Then he said, "Well, next time just come get me"

That's my boys!!! Now, I'm not encouraging fights, I'm just encouraging brotherly love.