Fight!

Some days last week, when I stepped into Centris, I saw an angry Lil Shauna standing in the middle of the living room and Popo was lecturing her. Thinking that she had done something wrong, I asked her sternly what happened. She didn't speak but Felicia was really helpful and narrated the whole episode. Apparently, the kids were playing musical chairs and they couldn't agree on the number of chairs to use, which resulted in a fight. Fione hit Lil Shauna and the angry girl wanted to fight back and was stopped by Popo. She refused to let the matter rest until she got the chance to hit back (literally) at Fione and when she had, she scratched Fione instead, knowing that it would hurt her more that way. Oh my…. And so she was being lectured and you can tell from her body language that she still doesn't think she was in the wrong.

She soon started sobbing after Felicia finished the story. I soften, hugged her and told her that it is not right to hit back regardless. That was when she said in between sobs, “Pappy said that when people hit you, you have to hit them back!”. Errrr… I was speechless.

Yes, Daddy Lim told the kids that. I think the context was more so to stand up for oneself when they are being bullied and not so much as quarrel and fight. It then makes me wonder – is that the right thing to teach the kids? Parenting is tough.

Mummy Lim