Small incident at school (sort of funny)

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Registered: 09-26-2005
Small incident at school (sort of funny)
9
Fri, 09-01-2006 - 11:04am
I just got off the telephone with the gym teacher at Quinn's school. Yesterday, Quinn & another guy (a friend of his) got into an arguement, but the other boy got really mad at my son & the gym teacher had to intervene.
Quinn did mention to me what happened yesterday. He was afraid that he was going to get in trouble. I told him not too worry about it, that he hadn't really done anything wrong.
Between him & the gym teacher, this is what I've managed to piece together.
The guys were all in the locker room changing into their gym clothes. Quinn & his friends all were there together, including Brandon. Brandon is Quinn's good-friend from since they were in pre-school. He's a lot quieter than my son. Really shy. My son is an extrovert. He's really funny (class clown, but I haven't had to go in about it yet) & is very witty.
Anyway, another kid (Patrick) that's a friend of Quinn's too (but not Brandon's) said something to Brandon about his underwear. Quinn said he kept going on & on about Brandon's 'whitey tighty' underware. (Just about all of the other guys wear boxers) Quinn said that he was trying to make up a rhyme about them. He could tell that it was really bothering Brandon. His face was red. He was quicky trying to get his stuff in his locker, but dropped his backpack, some stuff came out of it (sounds like he got flustered) & he could tell he was really upset.
Quinn finally got fed up & said to Patrick "Dude!" (He uses that word a lot) "Stop checking out his underwear. It makes you look all gay!" ('Gay' is a big word among the middle school guys here) Well, Patrick got really mad & was yelling at Quinn when the gym teacher came walking into the room. He said that he heard Patrick saying "I'm not gay!" & Quinn was saying "Then don't look at other guys underwear!"
He pulled both aside & asked what happened. Both said "nothing". (Typical response) He told them to finish up & get into the gym. He said that after class, he made sure that he breezed through the locker room in a few times to make sure the disagreement didn't flare back up. It didn't.
But, he didn't know exactly what happened until this morning when Brandon's mother called him at school. Brandon was afraid that Quinn was going to get in trouble & she was too. So she called to tell Brandon's side of the story.
The teacher called me to let me know that Quinn had gotten into an 'altercation' & wanted to know if Quinn mentioned it. I told him yes & that Quinn was worried he was going to get in trouble. I also told him that Quinn didn't do anything wrong, he was just defending a friend the best way he knew how. I asked him if Quinn was in trouble. He said "no", he just needs to stay on top of things like this & try to keep them from becoming something bigger than what it is. He also said that he really expects it to blow over because he knew that Quinn & Patrick are friends. He said Patrick might be mad for a couple of days, but he should get over it.
The teacher was really nice & actually chuckled a couple of times. He said that he didn't think that Patrick would ever make fun of another boys underwear ever again.
Although I'm not proud of Quinn for using the word 'gay', I can't help to be proud that he came to the defense of Brandon even though it meant going up against another friend. I'm curious as to what will happen to his & Patrick's friendship. One thing I've noticed about guys is that they can get into an disagreement or fight, but they get over it rather quickly.


Edited 9/1/2006 11:06 am ET by onehappymama
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Registered: 03-02-2006
Fri, 09-01-2006 - 11:17am

"Dude" that is funny! But really in all seriousness that was great that Quinn stood up for his friend and didn't join in. Too many times you hear about friends joining in and not defending another person. I would be proud of Phillip if he stood up to another person who was doing that. Despite using the word gay that is a typical expression that I think all guys use, I know my DH says that sometimes. I'm glad Quinn didn't get into trouble.


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Registered: 03-27-2003
Fri, 09-01-2006 - 12:02pm

Wow, that's awesome that he stood up to/for a friend like that! Skills like this are hard to teach, so he must have it 'in him' already! What a strong character, you know he'll continue to make you proud!

Denise

Avatar for nodinero
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Registered: 06-01-2005
Fri, 09-01-2006 - 12:17pm

I'd be a proud mama too! I think it's great that Quinn could sense that his friend needed support! That's awesome! And it's great that he won't be in trouble. School is so hard sometimes. Poor Brandon, I remember those days of being teased because I wasn't a carbon copy of the other girls. I bet Brandon will always remember the time his best bud stood up for him! Way to go Quinn!

 

 

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Registered: 08-21-2006
Fri, 09-01-2006 - 5:57pm

I agree with the other ladies. Aside from his choice of words, he showed some real character in sticking up for his friend and not joining in or leaving him hanging. You should be very proud. You and his dad must be doing something right!!

Lisa

Avatar for ang2gals
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Registered: 03-25-2003
Fri, 09-01-2006 - 7:04pm

I suspect Quinn's parents have done a good job raising him that's why he is sensitive to other kids feelings, right? Good for him to saying what he felt was right....I can see why you are proud.

-- Ang

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Avatar for onehappymama
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Registered: 09-26-2005
Sun, 09-03-2006 - 9:19am
UPDATE:
Last night when we got home, there was a message on the answering machine from Patrick. He had called earlier & was inviting Quinn to go bowling last night. He asked for him to call him. We left early yesterday afternoon & didn't get back until nearly midnight. This is only the 2nd time Patrick has ever invited Quinn to do something in the 3 or 4 years that he's known him. I guess he doesn't want to lose a friend. When Quinn heard the message, he said "No way. I'm not calling him." I told him that Patrick is probably a little ashamed & doesn't want to lose his friendship. He said the he's always picking on somebody & he gets tired of being around him. Then I learned that Quinn has had to defend his other friends against Patrick several times. I asked him if he ever picked on him & he said he use to try to, but he doesn't anymore. I explained that when kids act like that, they are insecure or perhaps bullied themselves at home. I suspect that he is bullied at home. He has 3 older brothers. 2 of them were in the Sunday school class that I taught.
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Registered: 09-26-2003
Sun, 09-03-2006 - 10:40pm

Sounds like Quinn is doing the right thing and you are right, the other boy is probably very insecure and wants to be the one doing the bullying before he is the bullied one, ugh!



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Avatar for cathiann
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Registered: 03-27-2003
Mon, 09-04-2006 - 4:11pm
Glad he stood up for his friend!
Surviving Middle & High School
Avatar for cathiann
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Registered: 03-27-2003
Mon, 09-04-2006 - 4:13pm

I love your response to him.

Surviving Middle & High School