Is That the Best You've Got?

When I picked the boys up from school today, Ethan's teacher told me that he had been in a scuffle during recess today. A boy in his grade pushed him. Ethan said to him: "Is that the best you've got?" Then the kid tried to punch him. Ethan ducked, so the kid just missed. Ethan reported that it was partly his fault because he taunted the other boy. They both received warnings and next time they will be sent to the principal's office. I was laughing when the teacher told me (this is probably not the "responsible parent" thing to do). I simply told her that he had brothers, and while that was no excuse, it is true. Aaron and I talked to him about the situation, although I have to admit it was hard to do with a straight face. Ethan told us that he couldn't even remeber the reason why the boy pushed him in the first place. He said this boy is not a bully, he just needs anger management. Don't we all need some at times? Maybe I should take this more seriously, at another place and time, it might be a different story, but for today I think Ethan experienced the effects of brotherhood.