It’s never good to start your morning with a phone call from your oldest daughter who is hysterical. When I finally got it out of her, I was less than pleased to put it politely.

Apparently, her younger brother (11) had been pestering her on the bus that morning. You know how younger brothers are. They are annoying but we still love them. They are required to share a seat with our youngest daughter (5). There were a few words exchanged, some sibling pushing, and then the final knock out punch.

She was seconds from getting off the bus as the bus had pulled into her middle school. I’m sure the anger and annoyance with her younger brother had been building since way before they were assigned the same seat on the bus.

Let’s just show you the damage.

Not only did we have to make a trip to the emergency room to make sure he didn’t need a stitch (he didn’t) it also cost her 5 days out of school suspension. Yes, the handbook still applies even if it is more of a domestic issue.

Five day suspension equaled a five day vacation. Yeah, I did make her do some filing at my office, laundry at home, and work on her schoolwork during this time. However, it is still not the same as having to be in school. Didn’t seem like a punishment at all. Plus, common sense have you thinking this situation could have been punished differently.

This is mainly a Public Service Announcement to all brothers and sisters out there. Do not fight with your sibling on school property as you could get punished per the no-tolerance policy at your school. Even threatening to punch them later at home could land in you in suspension land!

By the way, now in Indiana punishment and education have to be separate. When I was a kid back in the day, if you were suspended you did not get to make up your work. Now you are a allowed to make it up. This is good and bad. As many of the kids now have to spend the time while on suspension on their school work but it also leaves me the question – WHAT IS THE PUNISHMENT?

I’m glad to know that my oldest daughter can handle herself should the situation arise, next time let’s use our words.