Adult Interference

Whenever possible, it's always healthier to let kids work out their differences without the intervention of adults/parents.
Q
My nine-year-old son came home upset and crying because another boy on the bus (who is also our neighbor) was showing a disgusting picture. I told my son that I do not want the neighbor boy at our house ever again and that I will talk to his parents about the inappropriate picture. I called the parents and told them that I wanted to make them aware that their son had an inappropriate picture at school. My husband felt that talking to the neighbor was inappropriate.

I also had a talk with my son and told him that I was glad that he told me about the picture and I was glad that he was able to tell me how he felt about it. I was able to calm the tears and anxiety that he was feeling.

Is there anything else that I should do or say? This neighbor boy has also been inappropriate in other ways. He talks back to adults and teases other kids.

A
Your son's ability and desire to share his unsettling experience with you reveals his trust in you. My response is based on not knowing the subject matter of the picture.

I would not have encouraged you to contact the boy's parents about this incident. Whenever possible, I think that it's always healthier to let kids work out their differences without the intervention of adults/parents. Unless an adult is witnessing an interaction between kids where there is legitimate cause to fear considerable physical or emotional harm to a child, I prefer to let kids learn by themselves.

Even if this boy never plays with your son at your home again, your son will have to encounter him in the neighborhood, on the school bus and in school. At nine years of age, a boy does not want the reputation of being a "Momma's boy." The fact that you told this boy's parents about the picture and your son's tearful response to it may create some social problems for your son. He may now be taunted by his peers as a "squealer" and a "Momma's boy."

As opposed to banishing this boy from your home and condemning him, I might have taken the position of trying to discuss how sad it is that this boy seems to be so troubled and angry. I understand that this kid has earned a bad reputation but sometimes our children learn more when we use these situations to show them our compassion. I understand your good intentions. Maybe you and your husband might discuss how to handle future incidents with other kids (I guarantee you there will be future incidents) and seek to offer your son some practical tips on handling them (and the aftermath of this incident). Thanks for writing.

Carleton Kendrick has been in private practice as a family therapist and has worked as a consultant for more than 20 years. He has conducted parenting seminars on topics ranging from how to discipline toddlers to how to stay connected with teenagers. Kendrick has appeared as an expert on national broadcast media such as CBS, Fox Television Network, Cable News Network, CNBC, PBS, and National Public Radio. In addition, he's been quoted in the New York Times, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Boston Globe, USA Today, Reader's Digest, BusinessWeek, Good Housekeeping, Woman's Day, and many other publications.

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