Forever Children

Something happened earlier this week at our son's school. It was during the time the parents wait around and the children run around like mad things waiting for the bell to go. I wasn't there this time. My wife was. I can't recall what I was doing exactly but that doesn't matter. Apparently one of the children said something to another to make her cry. She sobbed terribly so whatever was said must have caused great distress. The child ran crying to her mum for comfort and told her what had happened. Well you'd imagine a sorry would be said and hat would be it. Instead, a war has been unleashed between the mother of the hurt child and that of the aggressor. For that afternoon, there were 'words' said in the playground which amounted to a threat which left the mother of the aggressor in tears. A few of us were spectators to this and although you try to distance yourself from it all, you can't help but want to hear what's being said.
Now all this must repeat itself in school playgrounds right across the land. But what has made this so significant is the reaction and the way in which something relatively mundane has exploded into a war of words between two parents.
Things were a bit calmer this morning. I heard that a teacher had discussed the situation with them both acting as a diplomat. But there was a distance between them this morning he size of a continent and it was difficult to know where to place oneself as my wife and I are on friendly terms with both. Surely we shouldn't be taking sides at our age...?
I really think that we are 'forever children'. The bickering and name calling in he playground as youngsters never leaves us. It just becomes more grown-up in its use of words, threats and the force with which it is delivered. The animosity between these two parents is so reminiscent of the fights and disagreements I knew as a child. So the playground this morning was frosty in more ways than one. I wonder how long it will take for them to start talking again? I suspect though that the damage has been done and these 'grown-ups' will forever be in a state of simmering conflict. Oh what fun!