It should require a license.

To be a parent.
We had pictures tonight at our karate school. Alex did really well for the largest part of the time. Then comes the group shot. Alex is put behind this little white belt and thats when the trouble starts. The kid is supposed to be sitting on his butt and Alex behind him sitting on his knees.. Well the kid keeps popping up on his knees and cracking his head backwards into Alex's chest. The first few times Alex told him you need to sit down. Then it got to the point where he did it soo hard he knocked Alex and the girl next to him over sideways. So at this point Alex is getting really agitated. He gets himself up and into place and the boy continues to hit him. So Alex puts his hands on the kids shoulders and pushes him back to sitting each time he starts and tells him you needs to stop. He also says he told him "If you want to fight with me this isn't the time for it" So after a few times of pushing the kid off of him the kid keeps going and Alex starts verbally telling him to stop.
This is when one of the adults in the group with him notices and steps down and scolds Alex for the situation. Which upset not only me but all the parents in the group watching the phots and Alex who storms off and says he is done and doesn't want his picture taken. I go up and put him back and tell the instructor it wasn't him that was causing the problems and they get back in their places. Unfortunatly the problem wasn't remedied so the cycle started all over again with Alex getting hit til he is in tears cause he can't make the boy stop and no one else was. None of the parents wanted to yell at him cause his mom was literally standing 5 feet away and CHOSE not to do anything about it even though it was obvious that her child was being horrible. This is the same parent who when the photographer was asking the grade levels of the kids laughed out loud and told him he was wrong when Alex said he was in 4th grade. How the hell do you know lady and why in Gods name are you laughing at my kid and ignoring the fact that you birthed the devils spawn.
Anyway. So Alex finally has had more than enough and comes crying up to me and says he isnt doing it he is done. I talked to him explained it wasn't fair for him not to be in the picture and the crappy little brat to be in it. So I have Jason take him back over and between him and the photographer they find him another spot.
The good news is this boy is one of "those" people that we get from time to time at the school. They come because they have a free month or a special and then only last about 3 months because they just don't have the committment it takes to do 4 days a week every week to attain the goal. I told Alex as much and hopefully the kid will be gone before too long.
In light of the issues today we talked it over with each other and then with Alex and the BSC( Behavioral Therapist) and decided that maybe it would be for the best to skip the karate schools Halloween Party on Saturday. Last year we had 100 people signed up and probably 120 came and it was a packed house and Alex had a really hard time with all the people. This year we have 160 signed up which means probably 180 will come and the school was already packed full last year. I don't think Alex can handle it this year. So, we have a few options. The first is that we all skip it and do something together. The second is that Alex goes with his therapist for a few hours on Saturday and Jason and I run down to the party so that I can take pictures for the schools website. The other option is that Alex and Jason stay at home while I run down alone and take pictures. Or.. and this may be the best choice. Call and ask my mom if she wants to spend the evening with Alex while Jason and I go to the party and take the necessary website pictures. Whichever we decide the main choice is to make sure he has the best time.
I also decided since he isnt going Saturday he will get to wear his Jeff Hardy costume tomororw night instead to the Cub Scout Party. We where not going to let him because the theme is a character from a book, but hey... Jeff Hardy has a autobiography if you really want to get sticky on the details.. and since he is soo excited about his costume and is skipping the other party I think he should be allowed to wear it. Speciallly since he has chosen NOT to go trick or treating this year and will be handing out candy instead.