How to treat a friend

Ladybug asked to play outside today.  Asked her to ride her scooter.  Well, only after hours of begging me to buy her a bike.  I am working on it.  But her current bike is way too small -- and the seat has lost the bolt and will not stay on.

A neighborhood boy (D) came out to play with her.  He is 7.  Just a little older than her.  I leave the front door open while she plays outside.  It was really too cold today for the front door to be open.  But I gave her the opportunity.  I keep an ear on her and let her play.  They drew.  And played with dragons.  And rode the scooter.  Kid stuff.

Then things got quiet.  After a minute or 2 I went to the door and looked out.  They (him, her, and a few other kids) were across the street.  I watched.  But they didn't notice me.  Then I saw the boy wrap his arms around Ladybug, swing her around, and throw her to the ground.  She sat on the ground for a second and I waited to see how she handled it.  And then the boy leaned down and slapped her across the face.

I stepped in at that point.  I said play time was done.  All the kids kept telling me it was a game.  Ladybug said it was an accident.  I wasn't buying it.  As we cleaned up the toys I realized that we had one of D's toys.  Ladybug grabbed it and ran down the street to return it to him.  I watched.  She talked to him.  She gave him the toy.  And then he reached out and wrapped his hands around her neck.  And she came screaming back down the street to me.

We talked.  I tried explaining that friends don't hurt friends.  Ever.  That she does not need to be friends who are mean to her.  I am not sure if she believes me.

And the principal says she is the bully.

Mean Mama