Oh no she didn't!!!

Today I took Brice and Harry to Fantasy Kingdom, an indoor play area in Chicago. They have lots of toys, dress up areas, trains, play cars, etc. And they have slides. Two pretty big ones. And you have to climb up a castle to get there. Brice, of course, was fascinated. He's a bit new to the whole slide thing. He's gone down the one at the park a few times. But usually Seth is at the top to help him, and i'm waiting at the bottom so he doesn't go flying off and smash his head on the ground. Today Brice climbed to the top of the castle by himself (well done, son). I figured since I could only be in one place at a time, I should be at the bottom. Well, I got down there and Brice was peeking his head down at me and giggling. A little scared to take the plunge, I think. He did this for about 30 seconds, then I heard a girl say "Go!!" and she shoved him down the slide. The poor kid came careening down the slide in ball, since he'd been crouching at the top when this pig-tailed monster set him flying. Thankfully I was at the bottom to catch him, but he still smacked his forehead on the slide. 

I cannot fully describe the anger and rage that rose up in me at this little girl. I was FURIOUS. I yelled at her up the slide and a couple mothers came running to see if it was their daughter. Shockingly, her mother wasn't one of the ones who came to see if it was her daughter. Big surprise. I know I should hold it together better. I know she's just a kid, too. But it's more than anger at badly-behaved children. It's a desire/compulsion to protect Brice from the harshness and cruelty of other children. I know I can't do this forever. And I shouldn't. I should be there to hug him after he falls, not to make sure he never falls. But as yet it's just been him and me. He's just getting to that age when kids are going to start ripping things out of his hand, shove him over, be mean, etc. We're considering signing him up for preschool a couple mornings a week. And it's this issue that's giving me pause. I'm afraid. Afraid of him smiling at a kid and the kid sneering back at him. Afraid of him playing with something only to have it ripped out of his hand. I want to protect him from that. I want to protect him from that far more than I want to protect him from falling or getting sick or, whatever. I'd much rather he breaks a leg playing with a friend than gets his spirit broken while playing with a "friend." Dang. This is when it gets hard, isn't it? It's exhausting to chase him around and make sure he doesn't get hurt here. But it's crushing to let him go and trust God to care for him in all the ways I can't.