What would you have done?

I think aerobics class is going to be a great source for blogging entries. Class number 2 went fine on Friday although once again I did get pulled aside by the instructor. Apparently I'm not doing my lunges correctly and she's afraid I'll hurt myself. So on Tuesday I'll be doing my leg exercises sitting in a chair. I can hear you laughing!

But that's not the most bizarre thing that happened on Friday. As is my way, I found someone to chat with after class while Maria ran around the multi-purpose room with her "new friends." I was wrapping up my conversation when I fortunately looked up just in time to see Maria sitting on the stage as a little boy threw her back on the floor and proceeded to choke her. I'm talking two hands wrapped around her precious little neck! I think I might have had a bit of an out of body experience because I remember thinking to myself before moving to intercede, "surely that boy is not strangling my child." I quickly made my way to the front and asked what was going on. Maria confirmed that yes indeedy, he was choking her. The boy had no defense. It gets even more bizarre...since I thought I knew who his mom is and I didn't want to cause a scene, I demurely told him that wasn't very nice.

What is the matter with me? I mean my daughter is being choked by some psycho bully and I tell him "that's not very nice." Do I really think he cares? What I should have said was "where is your mother?" and dragged him over to her by his shirt collar. I'm so slow to act in these kinds of confrontational situations. And then I get so mad at myself afterward for not standing up for myself or in this case my child.

The incident did lead to a conversation with Maria about inappropriate ways that people might touch her. We gave her permission and even had her practice yelling as loud as she could "Get off of me!" I only hope that one doesn't come back to bite me in the butt next time I have to grab ahold of her in a store. Seriously though, I think a good lesson came out of it and she knows that no one is allowed to hurt her. She's afraid that he won't be her friend. I explained that real friends don't hurt you and that she needs to stay as far away from him as possible.

Simply stated: What would you have done?