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May 14, 2009
I totally could have taken him!
Today was Katie's last day of preschool for the year, and I'm pissed. And maybe feeling a little guilty, too.
See, for the last year and a half, Katie has been complaining about this kid in her class. Let's call him Heath(en). Heath is something of a wild child, disruptive, uncooperative and according to Katie, a bit mean. She would tell stories of him hitting or biting other kids (generally boys), although when I questioned her closely, never her. That didn't keep her from worrying that he was going to mistreat her, to the point that I actually asked a couple of the other parents if they had heard about any of Heath's misdeeds from their own kids, and if the other girls shared Katie's fears. None of the other kids seemed to have any major concerns, so I figured Katie was blowing things a bit out of proportion.
Meanwhile, I made sure Katie knew to tell her teacher if Heath ever hurt her in any way, and told her it was perfectly acceptable to use her TKD training to block him and protect herself FIRST. He was a frequent topic of conversation, and for that reason I felt like we were on top of the situation. Of course, with Heath being such a worry to her, I've also resolved to make sure they're in different classes next year.
Today, Rex and I were at the school for the end of the year party. We brought (UGH!) more cupcakes. Anyway, after eating, the kids listened to a story about bubbles, and then we all went outside so they could blow some themselves. After the fun, they all lined up to go back inside, and son of a bitch if the little boy in front of Katie wasn't repeatedly kicking her in the ankle! I told him to stop, of course, but I really wanted to take that kid behind a woodpile and have a few "words" with him.
When we got inside, I took Katie aside and told her the next time someone hurt her to yell STOP HURTING ME as loud as she can. I really wanted to tell her to punch the kid in the nose, but with my luck she'd get kicked out of school for protecting herself (although honestly? The teachers think she's SO SWEET they probably wouldn't believe anyone who said Katie hit them.)
And ironically, the kid that finally hurt her for real? Wasn't even Heath!
Posted by me at May 14, 2009 9:38 PM