He doesn't know what he is teaching him...

Believe it or not I am learning a lot about anger these days. Yeah, some people have more of it than others, some are sneaky about it, some are rageaholics, some are repressing it....It's pretty scary how common anger is in today's world.

I am glad to know though that they are trying to teach some skills in school on how to manage anger and trying to get kids to use their words and not hit. It really does start at as young an age as possible. My 2 year old daughter has taken to swatting her brother when she is not happy with him. Funny too because she doesn't hit anybody else. Just him. It's true with adults too, notice how someone could say something that really pisses you off whereas another person (that you may like more or less) says the same thing and it doesn't affect you quite as bad? I recognize that no one can piss me off more than my husband. He really has all the game.

Ya know the other day I ran into a dad at the park, ironically it was the day after I wrote this post, and he told me that his son was getting picked on at school, mostly on the bus, hit and what not from other kids. He said he talked to the school to try and get it worked out but that he also told his son he should hit back. And not only hit back but hit even harder than the kid that originally hit him. "Lovely," I thought in my head. "Great, another one teaching his child to solve aggression with more aggression."

There was another man standing there with me and immediately he started shaking his head too. I was glad to know that I wasn't the only one thinking that was a bad idea.

First off, this man's child is in my son's class. He seems fine, has some health issues, a bit nerdy but a nice boy. I can tell too from looking at his father that he had probably endured some teasing as a child himself. Also on the nerdy site and not very "people-friendly," I think he worries that his son is getting the same treatment he had.

It breaks my heart that any kid would tease another kid or feel the right to bully, but I do not agree with the whole hitting back...unless it is the last possible course of action after many other courses have been taken. As we were standing there, myself and the other man tried to point out why hitting back (harder) would not be a good solution. Number one, we are talking about kindergartners! These kids are constantly supervised...why can't an adult intervene? Why can't the child defend himself verbally? It is too young for kids to be castrated by others, kids move on so fast at this age. One day a boy might hit another boy and say he's mean and the next day they might act like best friends. It's a whole different realm. That is why it is the best chance to cash in on teaching kids how to react better and nip bullying in the bud.

This parent should get involved, closely, with the school and make sure that the teachers and staff are doing their job and on the lookout for things like this. I can tell you while standing there watching my son play with his son on the playground, I began to get nervous that should my son even accidentally bump him, he would get a big fat punch back in the face. I know (somewhat unconsciously) that is why I left a bit earlier than I would have. This man doesn't know what he is doing to his son teaching him this kind of mentality! Kids don't know when to turn it off. What happens when they are 10 or 15, are you then going to say, "uh, no...it might not be a good idea to hit back (harder)"...after they get expelled from school!

Like they say, telling someone to hit a punching bag when they are mad, may seem harmless but it does teach one thing...to hit when you are mad. One day the punching bag won't be there and a face will...and you are already trained (unconsciously) to hit. What do you think will happen?