Haggard – thanks for apologizing for her, I accept. : )

And Spatula and Sis – so far no more pushing. Crossing my fingers that it won’t happen again.

I also witnessed my son get kicked in the nose by another child his age ( at the time I think he was 4) on the playground at the daycare. The kickee had boots on and because my son was in his way he kicked him. After the incident I talked to the little boy who kicked and asked him if he would like it if someone kicked him in the nose. He shook his head no and from that day forward when he would see me, he would say ” I didn’t kick anybody today.”

I think you handled the situation the best you knew how.

When I was a kid, I threw a rock in a kid’s face who was annoying me on my playground. I fought my brothers a trillion times, I dissected insects and played with fire…basically, did things boys do. I’m a normal citizen today.

Moms tend to forget that boys are well, boys. I try to explain that to my gf who gasps in horror everytime she hears about her son pushing another kid in school or whenever he plays soldier with his buddies and scream about massacre and whatnot like mad men.

You can ground him, you wouldn’t want an agressive bully for a kid. But remember he’s a boy and it will get worse as he grows up.

In my personal experience, guys wihtout father figures tend to be even more agitated when it comes to stuff like that.

So better get used to it. Just do your best and he’ll come out all right

I thought if this when you mentioned how the mom rebuffed you when you approached her out of concern. . .you know, you did everything right but it happens. (the mom at my party was so reasonable when she showed up and heard the story)

Certainly kids do learn that “pushing” is effective in its own crude little way (!). . .hmm, some adults still do it. . .and ya know, he probably just had to try it!