This has just eaten at me all day, I haven't had these boys for about a month now since I told the parents I couldn't keep doing b/a school or full time over the summer for them. Reason being - it messes with my schedule and they just weren't meshing with the group of all under 4 year olds I have right now. It bugs me that I had to even say anything to him about this behaviour, especially bring out my (laughably) stern voice. I rarely have to with the kids, they are all so mellow and nicely behaved. I just don't know what is 'normal' to expect from kids once they hit school age I kept thinking, was I too mean? Should I have been 'softer' in my approach? But then I got thinking back over the past year, and remembering why I let them go in the first place - I could not handle the attitude from this kid. He was the one who was always complaining - no good food, nothing to do, too many babies around, buy better things, you need to buy a Wii, I'm so bored, I hate it here....he would frequently call the other kids names or make fun of them ('poopy head' or 'you loser' kind of name calling), he once told me husband 'get out of here' when he went downstairs to play with our son....just rude. And of course all the three and four year olds just idolize him. Just a few months ago he screamed and threw his boot at his dad at pick up time because he wasn't finished his activity and his dad had shown up to pick up the kids (to which Dad just sighed loudly). Is this kind of attitude - name calling, complaining, tantrum throwing - just what happens when kids hit the grade 1/2 mark? I sure hope not, my own son is starting Kindergarten this year!