what is you?

So I'm hanging out at the pool today. It's my 5 year old jungle boy and another 6 year old playing in the water. Of course as kids do, there's some showing off involved. Who splashes the bigger cannonball. Who can hold their breath longer, etc. It comes to the point of escalation and exaggeration as it usually does, even in a friendly pissing contest. So jungle boy claims to speak Japanese. Of course his playmate doesn't believe him and they end up arguing. The dad calls the boy out of the pool telling him to stop his behavior and to "be nice". That's NOT you.

I don't have an issue with nice. I have an issue with suppressing the innate instincts of little ones to stand up for themselves. If you are trying to pull the wool over my eyes and I call you out on it, then don't resort to social etiquette to get out of the hot spot you put yourself in. Manners are for passing the salt. Not for keeping “yoursoul” safe in your environment. Teaching your child to lay down when its time to stand up only inhibits their ability to keep themselves safe, physically and emotionally.