Worries

Sometimes I really worry about my kids (now, what mom doesn't)

Both love to be around older kids.  OK.  But, usually the older kids M is hanging around are boys.  Maybe that is Ok now, but I'm worried what happens when she is 11 and they are 15.  Last night she was hanging around the park with a bunch of 4th and 5th grade boys.  Yes, one 2nd grade girl and a bunch of older boys.  When we talked about it later, she told me they were nice to her, why should that be wrong?  Well, yes, but we talked about how some people that are nice sometimes aren't as nice as you think.  We also talked about how she shouldn't hang out  with a bunch of strange people by herself.  I don't think she really gets it, but I'm hoping it makes her a little more cautious.

Then, the other one... Well, J started at the park playing with the 7th grade neighbor, because that's who he knew.  Other kids joined in but they were all ages.  Then, towards the end, he was playing with older boys who were playing chase but there was a lot of wrestling involve.  I actually saw Josh kick a kid and pulled him out of the area for a time out.  One of the older boys (I think a 4th grader), told me J was just defending himself.  The other kid had been beating on him.  OYYYY!

I did try to bring the kids to play with other kids closer to their age, but at this point in the night they were both involved with their groups and didn't want to change what they were doing.

I do pray that I lead them to be nice to others and not get into trouble, but I'm not sure how to better encourage them on days like this.