Let's see if I can re-tell this story in all it's glory:
First, the background. Bailey has been upset the last week or so that his friends who come and play everyday are listening to Emma more than him. Well, this is definetly not the case since Emma comes in crying many a day about the boys not playing with her. Apparently, when Bailey tries to ride Emma's bike, Malachi and Isaac try to get it back for Emma. Well, they only do this because as soon as Emma sees Bailey riding the bike, NOW she wants it. So Ben told Bailey to not give it up and just tell them to basically "back off." I guess this is boy speak as girls do not play this way and remain friends, but for boys it's nothing, just being assertive. Today, Bailey comes in crying because again, his friends are trying to take the bike. He says he did exactly what his dad said and it didn't work. I told him to keep trying until it does and that it isn't anything to really cry about and sent him back outside. About ten minutes later, Emma comes running back inside shouting "Bailey is going to give Malachi and Isaac a black eye!!!! He's chasing after them with a mean look on his face!!!" I told her no he wasn't, Emma and go back outside. Then, a few minutes go by and Isaac comes in "Bailey is going to give us bloody noses and a black eye." Hmmm, dilemma at this point, because I knew Bailey could not physically do this, nor did he really know what that meant doing. Although if something did happen, then.... Well, since I was dealing with a puking Nathan, I opted for the "work it out" answer. And that's what they did--no black eyes or bloody noses. It instead turned into a wrestling game on the grass. They were all laughing and taking turns fighting each other. (I did check through the window just to make sure) Bailey was as proud as a peacock when he came back inside and before he went to bed, proudly proclaiming that no one was going to mess with him. Thankfully, the Morgan boys also know that no one messes with them either and they aided Bailey in progressing in his boyhood:) No children were harmed in the making of this lesson.....
