Everybody's Kung Fu Fighting!

Everybody was Kung Fu fighting,
Those kids were fast as lightning
In fact it was a little bit fright'ning,
But they fought with expert timing...
--Carl Douglas

Last night I was sitting on the couch and Riley was sitting next to me on my left. She was hitting my arm repeatedly.

"Stop doing that," I warned.

"I will if you build me another castle [with couch pillows]," she offered.

"No, just stop it," I said as I turned to look at Lucy, who was standing in front of me, yelling.

I reached over and lifted her onto my lap, "Do you want to snuggle on the couch, too?" I asked.

Lucy didn't answer, rather she reached over to Riley and started smacking her on the top of the head. I pulled her back and began to reprimand her.

"No hitting, Lucy..." I said as I was restraining her arms. She was sitting on my lap facing Riley to my left. I was trying to pin her arms to her sides and as I was trying to tell her that that's not how we behave, Riley shot her right foot out straight into Lucy's torso and Lucy went flying. I'm talking arms outstretched, legs out flying. I threw my leg out and caught her with my ankle, then reached out and grabbed her. I couldn't believe how far she flew!

Of course, Riley was sent to the penalty box (the bottom of the stairs) to sit and think about what she did. Lucy was fine and barely remembered that she had been kicked squarely in the torso. Doc and I took Lucy upstairs to start a bath and I told Riley as we climbed the stairs that she was to sit there until she was ready to apologize.

A few minutes later as I was drawing a bath, Riley came to the door, apologized to Lucy and was fine. They had a peaceful bath and went to bed soon afterwards. I was pleased to see everyone move on in such fine fashion. But I was also a bit unsettled by the unbridled violence my children display upon occasion. Perhaps their bearings are off-kilter as we begin to pack and move. Perhaps they were cranked up and were on a collision course with violence all evening. After all, they were being a bit rowdy and disrespectful for an hour or so up until the fight scene.

Note to self: when Kung Fu Fighting seems imminent, try to divert the children to more constructive activities.