Playground Politics – VI – bullying cont.

Parent – Did you want me to talk to the principal about the detentions he gave you?

Child – No.

Parent – I thought you were upset about how unfair he had been with you?

Child – I was.

Parent – So what’s changed?

Child – I walked into detention and saw that Mr. Luce was in charge.

Parent – How did that feel?

Child – I guess I was a little embarrassed. He’s my science teacher.

Parent – I know. So what happened?

Child – He waved me up to the front up to his desk and asked me, “What crime did you commit this time?”

Parent – Did he ask you about the “Group W” bench?

Child – Huh?

Parent – Never mind. What happened?

Child – He was really cool. He wanted to hear the whole story about what happened.

Parent – Good.

Child – And he said he was sorry I got punished.

Parent – Good.

Child – And then he asked if I would help him get his printer working.

Parent – Ha! I like this guy.

Child – He said, “I need you to get in trouble more often.”

Parent – Only at school. We run a much harsher jail here at home.

Child – Dad. You’re about as tough as Mr. Luce.

Parent – I’ll take that as a compliment.

Author: ahbtest

Dr. Beitel has decades of experience as a therapist, teacher and parent since earning his Ph.D. from the University of Illinois. As a member of the University of Illinois medical school faculty, Dr. Beitel supervises psychiatry residents in training. He is married to "the other Dr. Beitel", a family physician. He and Joyce have two grown children.

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