You're such a good Mother, Aims.

Seriously

Thanks guys, but I have to give credit where credit is due - she was sent home with a coloring/activity book called "Hands are not for Hitting" from school. I was just reiterating what it said.

That's what a good mom does, uses every tool , hint, or trick.

Don't take it as a judgment of your mothering, Aimee. All kids hit/bite/push/kick on occasion. A 5 yo still doesn't have much impulse control. FWIW I think her tears and heartfelt apology when she realized what she'd done are more important.

Isaac did something similar a couple weeks ago. He punched me in the gut, just a week or so after my surgery and right on the surgical site. I don't think he had any idea he was aiming for it--my groin just happens to be at his shoulder height. Anyway, I yelped in pain and doubled over, and he burst into tears and started trying to comfort me.

Thanks guys, but I have to give credit where credit is due - she was sent home with a coloring/activity book called "Hands are not for Hitting" from school. I was just reiterating what it said.

If all it takes to keep parents from flipping the hell out on their kid is a coloring book I'mma go order a metric fuckton of those and toss them out of helicopters.

You taught her about more than what to do with hands today. You taught her about staying cool, about loving someone even when they hurt you, about consequences.

Most of all, I think, you taught her that she can trust you. You taught her respect by respecting her. She fucked up and you responded with compassion. Good Mommy.

I am going to the Holocaust Museum with The Girl's parents. Pray for me...!

Jerusalem yesterday was cool, although the effort to get me+wheelchair to the Church of the Sepulchre was NOT worth it. Many, many steps that I had to be bumped over! It was interesting, though. If rather weird.

Aims, sorry to hear about child stress. It sounds like you dealt awesomely with it, though.

I am going to the Holocaust Museum with The Girl's parents. Pray for me...!

Wear a pink triangle and glare at them? Or is that uncouth?

need to write cover letter. Tired. Can't focus. Yikes. must do before job app process is closed. Procrastination SUCKS.

I heart Trudy.

Of course, the parental guilt is there. The second-guessing of child-rearing methods, of the occasional spanking, of where in the world in our 5 years as parents and child did Joe and I somehow make her think that slapping anyone, let alone a parent, was an option when she was angry.

I think her reaction once she'd calmed down shows that she knows it isn't. You've taught her right.