| The father of one of my son's classmates apologized | | | | important to be honest with me because honesty |
| to me today as I was getting out of my car in the | | | | builds trust and that we are nothing without our word. |
| school parking lot. He felt badly for reprimanding me | | | | What was my responsibility as a mother? Should I |
| the day before after hearing from his daughter that | | | | have immediately assumed that my son was telling a |
| my son had given her a pinch. | | | | lie because another 4 year old said so? I certainly don't |
| The day of the alleged pinch I immediately apologized | | | | want to be one of those mothers in denial about her |
| to the man and his daughter for my 4 year old son's | | | | child's bad behavior. I am supposed to promote and |
| behavior. I asked my son to apologize to the girl, but he | | | | reinforce good behavior. |
| said that he hadn't done it and wouldn't apologize. We | | | | As I buckled my son into his car seat after preschool, I |
| got into our cars with me saying a final apology. | | | | told my son about the man's apology. My son quickly |
| In the car I questioned my little boy about the incident | | | | asked whether I told the man that he hadn't pinched |
| and then listened to his side of the events. I assured | | | | her. I said that I hadn't. I told him exactly what I said to |
| him that I just wanted to know the truth and that he | | | | that father. |
| wasn't going to get a time-out. Again and again he | | | | I was glad that he had spoken out on behalf of his |
| proclaimed his innocence: he did not pinch her. | | | | daughter. She was really lucky to have such a great |
| I knew that the way I handled this episode could have | | | | daddy who cared and loved her enough to defend her. |
| a potential impact on my son. This was his first | | | | I told him that the daddy was a great role model and |
| experience of "he said/she said" and of being | | | | was teaching his daughter how decent men behave. |
| reprimanded in front of me by a stranger. I wanted this | | | | "Oh, okay." |
| to be a positive teaching moment for him with some | | | | I hope that my son learned something from this |
| sort of take-away. | | | | experience. I hope that he learned about honesty, good |
| I told him that because he had never given me reason | | | | behavior, trust and decency. Maybe he learned about |
| not to believe him, I believed him. It was a case of his | | | | keeping his cool, maintaining composure and defusing |
| word against hers. His teachers hadn't reported the | | | | an uncomfortable situation. I hope he learned that I am |
| incident to me while I was picking up my kiddo, and | | | | his advocate and that he can trust me. |
| they report everything. I told him that it was very | | | | |