It was my turn to bring Ben to his Sunday school recently (hubby and I took turns so that at least one of us get to hear the sermon) as the Sunday schools are conducted in a separate building from the main church hall.
Anyway, when it was time for snacks, I brought Ben to wash his hands and when we came back to the room, I let Ben played with this particular alphabet caterpillar toy while waiting for the other toddlers to come back from their hand washing routine.
(Image taken from Google search)
After a while, this mother and her son (younger than Ben) came and sat next to us and her son immediately grabbed the toy that Ben was playing with. At first Ben was quiet about it as his hands were still holding onto the string attached to the toy. Suddenly the younger boy yanked it off Ben's hands and decided to play with the toy himself.
And that's when Ben started crying.
I immediately tried to console Ben to share the toy (I read in an article that children under the age of 3 do not understand the concept of sharing) but I still tried that, well anything I can think of to divert his attention from the toy.
Ben actually paused his crying for a while when he heard me saying the word 'share' and then he tried to touch the toy (he really just wanted to touch the toy) but the younger boy pulled the toy further away from Ben.
And all this happened while the younger boy's mother just looked on and did NOTHING.
I thought of taking back the toy from the younger boy but I don't want to have a younger boy wailing over my actions. I don't want to take Ben away to a new spot as I feel we have done nothing wrong and we should be the one staying put! Ben's cries got louder as the younger boy continued playing with the toy and suddenly the younger boy's mother rudely pushes back the toy to us (as if we're the one trying to hog the toy!).
Ben ignored the toy that was now in front of us (maybe because he sensed it was not returned sincerely or without any apology? Who knows huh?) and continued crying.
I kept on telling Ben 'It's OK, let the younger boy have the toy. Mummy get you other toys or books OK?' And that's when Ben stop his crying.
Personally, I am not the person who likes to fight back over something. You might think I'm weak for allowing myself (or in this case, my son) to be bullied. Read: 1 Peter 3:14 (NIV), Romans 12:19 (NIV)
I don't want to raise my son to fight over everything and worse, to be a bully. But then, I also don't want my son to grow up being bullied or being walked over by others for the rest of his life.
(Image taken from Google search)
Now, my question is:
If you are in my shoes, will you accept the situation (let the younger boy play with the toy) or retaliate (taking back the toy or talk to the younger boy's mother about her son's action)?
What do you suggest I should do?
