That's just awful, AvoCado. Hurtful--I still remember a similar incident that happened to me in kindergarten, over 40 years ago! People need to stop and think about how vulnerable kids are. Even the nonconformist or noncompliant ones.

BSM--I saw a quote on FB recently, "Your child is not giving you a hard time--he's having a hard time." Another variation--your child is not a problem, but has a problem. Or the old standby: Children need our love most when they deserve it the least.

I know that's kind of schmaltzy stuff, but it would be nice to feel like the adults have better skills in place than the kids, wouldn't it? On a most practical level, this would be a good model of problem-solving for our kids when their coping skills aren't equal to their emotions.