I went down to the park with my older daughter, (it is still very cold, but I am running out of things to do indoor). Anyway, to my surprise the place was rather busy. There were kids everywhere, on the swings, on the jungle gym and in the sand pit.
My daughter likes to climb onto the jungle gym and pretty much get on with her own things, I follow her around to make sure she doesn't crack her skull, but, for the most part, she is quite good, (not bragging, just saying).
In this particular jungle gym there is a little 'house' and she was playing there, (and I can't really see her inside). While she was inside, a little boy came running in, (not in a bad way, just doing what little boys do... running), I moved closer to the door because I know she gets nervous around older kids, especially boys.
I saw him talking to her, and the next thing I know, she comes running out saying that that boy had been 'ugly to her'.
My immediate response was to look at the boy, but he looked just as surprised as I was, it really didn't look like he had done anything wrong. So I held my daughter and asked her what he had said, but she wouldn't tell me.
So I assumed/thought that she just misunderstood the boy, by now she wanted to go and play somewhere else and within a minute or two, she was fine again.
But I cannot help thinking that I was wrong, I should have been more supportive, maybe. Maybe I should have said something to the boy, even a token gesture or something.
Was the boy 'mean' to her?, I really don't think so, but maybe she will remember that her father did not take her side..
What do you think I should have done?
What would you have done in that situation? ...
|