6

I knew there was a problem when I got a long hug in the school yard.

Request to go see the teacher - brought 6 along. She dragged her feet, wouldn't tell me what happened - other kids might hear. We found a quiet spot and she filled me in on the day.

She was sent to the principal's office for stabbing another child with a pencil! The principal stopped me in the hallway and directed me to the teacher. Both the teacher and the principal were very kind to 6. I am surprised they were so gentle - she could have been suspended...

What happened?

Another child in the group was whispering. 6 assumed he was saying bad things about her. She was worried, hurt and angry about the perceived insult. Told him she was angry and felt like she was going to squash him. He continued to whisper. She took a pencil and pushed it into his hand leaving a mark and a red spot. She's strong. I'll bet it hurt.

So the teacher and principal have told her how to handle her anger in the future - like she has never heard at home that violent behaviour is completely unacceptable. We have never talked about what your body feels like when you are angry, how to calm yourself down, alternatives to hitting/kicking/punching/sctatching/biting...

Home. I am so frustrated/angry/hurt/saddened. My mutant DNA kicks in and I want to scream, yell, kick things, remove every privelege she has and confine her to an empty room for the next 50 years. Instead, I call 'the ear'. Need a voice of reason.

So, the punishment is:

• write letters of apology to the teacher and principal as well as the child she hurt
• no bedtime stories for a week
• no playing after school for a week

I know that the kid is overtired. Not an excuse, but a contributing factor. She is also reacting to the potential change for me. I sail through change compared to her. As much as I have reassured, there is still some fear I will be at work instead of at the school at 3:30 each day.

Hope I have made the right choices. I guess if there is another incident, we'll have to step it up.

What karma am I living here?

A life sandwiched by violent behaviour.