Anonymous wrote:Good for your son!
Seriously. You did what you could to counsel pacifism, but honestly there are some bullies who need to be stood up to before they'll knock it off. Too bad the coach didn't do more to coach the kids on being good teammates.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your son did the right thing. I've been a coach and we can't see everything 15 kids are doing kwim..

If you cannot supervise that many kids, you should not be a coach or at least coaching alone (though I do think the kid was right).

Anonymous wrote:Next time he should make sure no one's watching.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Next time he should make sure no one's watching.

+1.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is what boys have done forever. You just saw it close-up because activities are now so structured.

Chill out and stop thinking you can control your kid's every move.

It's not abou controlling his every move, though. It's about being consistent about imparting family values.

Anonymous wrote:OP, I understand what you saying and it is tough.

My son (a little older) has been in martial arts most of his life. His instructor tells them all to be respectful and be peaceful, don't look for trouble, and try to walk away from it when possible. But if feel you are in danger of bodily harm or someone has attempted to harm you, your are entitled to protect yourself. That comports nicely with our family values which is resolve peacufully if possible. If that does not work, don't strike first, but make sure you strike last.

DS is the most mild mannered kid and was physically bullied in upper grades of ES. Turned the other cheek and kept getting bullied. He finally told the boy that he would break his knee cap if he did not leave him alone. Bully scoffed at the threat but was smart enough to ask around. A martial arts classmate of DS confirmed DS' skill and that DS had just won an age level sparring competition. No further problem.

Long story short is that I thought the instructor's advice is right on for kids of any age.

GL

ThatSmileyFaceGuy wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your son did the right thing. I've been a coach and we can't see everything 15 kids are doing kwim..

If you cannot supervise that many kids, you should not be a coach or at least coaching alone (though I do think the kid was right).

Just remember that statement when your kids can't play because they don't have enough coaches. We volunteer for no pay several hours a week so that your kid can have the opportunity to learn a sport. For this we are rewarded with having parents thinking we are babysitters, dropping off their young kids and then running off to do errends or have dates; having our ass chewed off because Johnny played 2 less minutes than Billy; and parents telling us how to run our team, but when we ask them to "help" out they are always too busy.

But we put up with all the BS because we enjoy whatever game it is and love teaching kids to play it and play with right and as good sports.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I understand what you saying and it is tough.

My son (a little older) has been in martial arts most of his life. His instructor tells them all to be respectful and be peaceful, don't look for trouble, and try to walk away from it when possible. But if feel you are in danger of bodily harm or someone has attempted to harm you, your are entitled to protect yourself. That comports nicely with our family values which is resolve peacufully if possible. If that does not work, don't strike first, but make sure you strike last.

DS is the most mild mannered kid and was physically bullied in upper grades of ES. Turned the other cheek and kept getting bullied. He finally told the boy that he would break his knee cap if he did not leave him alone. Bully scoffed at the threat but was smart enough to ask around. A martial arts classmate of DS confirmed DS' skill and that DS had just won an age level sparring competition. No further problem.

Long story short is that I thought the instructor's advice is right on for kids of any age.

GL

As a "martial arts mom," this makes me smile.

Anonymous wrote:I would have bought my kid a prize for standing up for himself. You tried talking to the coach, your son told the kid to stop and the other kid didn't. Watch at the next practice, the bully will move on and be physically aggressive toward some other kid.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I understand what you saying and it is tough.

My son (a little older) has been in martial arts most of his life. His instructor tells them all to be respectful and be peaceful, don't look for trouble, and try to walk away from it when possible. But if feel you are in danger of bodily harm or someone has attempted to harm you, your are entitled to protect yourself. That comports nicely with our family values which is resolve peacufully if possible. If that does not work, don't strike first, but make sure you strike last.

DS is the most mild mannered kid and was physically bullied in upper grades of ES. Turned the other cheek and kept getting bullied. He finally told the boy that he would break his knee cap if he did not leave him alone. Bully scoffed at the threat but was smart enough to ask around. A martial arts classmate of DS confirmed DS' skill and that DS had just won an age level sparring competition. No further problem.

Long story short is that I thought the instructor's advice is right on for kids of any age.

GL

As a "martial arts mom," this makes me smile.

I second that. Martial arts mom and future black belt. Exactly how we'd handle it.