thanks for the reminders!
I do generally handle tattletaling in Girl Scouts in that way, but I think I'm caught off guard, knowing that, in the past my child has been the "bad kid" and I think this label is persisting in Kid A's mind...Kid A does do things like point out others faults to deflect from her own bad behavior.
I asked DD if Kid A has been mean or bossy in the past, etc, but DD says no. I disagree and I would say this is an UPSIDE of having an emotionally detatched kid is that this behavior doesn't seem to be bothering her.
We had a rash of tattletaling last year with the kindergardeners and that's how I handled it, "Is anyone hurt?", "Is someone breaking the rules?" etc or even just holding up my hand and asking "Are you going to give me useful information or are you just tattle taling?"
So I'm going to go back to that...it IS exhausting and I think you are right DeHe, about the mom. I have brought up other issues with her DD before and I don't know if she just ignores me or what...there was another incident last year involving the two of them and a third child and Mom A dressed Kid A down on the playground before school where everyone could see and TOLD ME that I needed to straighten out my kid too. I chose to ask my DD quietly, then discuss it in more depth at home. I don't think Mom A agreed with my perspective on what happened, especially when I told her I thought she had been too hard on her kid that time...
