Don't make my kid cry

Man, I am angry and upset.

Some people just don't know how to be kind. The kids went to basketball this morning, as they normally do on a Saturday. Brett takes them with his Dad. They have just started in the past couple of weeks. It's supposed to be a fun, casual, non competitive type of activity, where you pay $3 per child when you show up and the kids do some ball skills and practice shooting hoops, passing etc and then have a bit of a game. No pressure, it is meant to be aimed at the kids who are either too little or aren't sporty enough to get into a "real" team.

Well, that's the way it was described to me originally.

The kids have enjoyed it each time they've been as they see some of their school friends there. It's run by a woman (who I think coaches a high school team) and some high school students who are earning a bit of pocket money. Today, however, Declan came home very subdued and went straight to his room. Brett told me what had happened; Declan had been in Simon's group, which was then split into 2, according to ability. Declan ended up in the less able group, and felt upset because he wanted to be with his friends and big brother. Brett found him sitting by himself, crying. So he took Dex back over to Simon's group and asked the teenaged boy coaching that group if Dex could join back in, and explained why. The boy said sure, and welcomed Dexie back to the group. All went well again until 5 minutes later when Declan came walking very stiffly and quickly back to Brett, obviously trying not to cry. The woman who runs the whole thing had seen Declan change groups and had told him to go back to the other group. Brett tried to explain to her what the problem was, but this woman was adament that Declan had to be in the other group, otherwise he 'wouldn't progress'. Yeah, well, probably crying and sitting by alone isn't going to help him 'progress' either.

Brett and his Dad both tried to reason with her, but she wasn't hearing it. By then it was the end of the hour and time to come home.

What is wrong with people? Seriously. This is not the fricking NBL. Let the kid play with his brother.