The Bully and The Tooth

So my post yesterday was prophetic in a way, since there was a LOT of action with Kieran.

He lost his first tooth at school. They gave him a certificate, made sure it was in a bag and he got a sticker. He was the first one in his class to lose a tooth. He's very proud. So proud, in fact, that he required me to write a note to the tooth fairy apologizing, but saying he wanted to keep his tooth to remember. The tooth fairy thought that was a very nice thing, so she gave him $5. Hey, it's a first tooth.

After school, as many of you know, Kieran goes to an aftercare program called Fitness Fun and Games. He'd been having a lot of trouble keeping his hands to himself and showing off his martial arts skills (inciting others to not keep their hands to themselves) but that had mostly gone after a new director took over.

There is another after-care program that runs from the recreational center attached to the school. Yesterday on the playground one of the rec center kids came over to where Kieran and his friends were playing. This kid began stating that while "everybody else likes Gracie, I don't." (Gracie is one of Kieran's best friends) Kieran and his friends walked away but this kid followed them and then started saying "Stop following me." but Kieran retorted "You're following us." It sounds like the kid came over and bothered them off and on for awhile. Finally, the kid was looking at the friends and said "I could beat you and you and you.." pointing at each one. Kieran got up and basically told him to prove it, because he did not think that the kid could beat him.

The director told me she had to 'pull Kieran off' the other kid. She was not angry about the incident, stating that if someone had bothered her that much she'd probably react in a similar manner. After talking with Kieran about it the only thing I asked he do differently next time is to talk to an adult. He did everything else right. He tried ignoring the kid, he tried walking away, and finally he stood up for himself. He said he blocked the other boy's kicks and was able to kick him (from the description it was a front kick about waist high on the other boy).

Kieran originally told me the other boy 'started it' but while talking with me, he realized that he was the one who began the physical confrontation, however, I'm not entirely sure I blame him for the way he reacted. He had done everything (mostly) we asked of him and he was really just trying to get the kid to leave him and his friends alone.

The director has promised to keep an eye out for this kid and asked Kieran to come find her or another adult if that kid bothers him again.