A boy had hit another boy from his class in the face completely unexpectedly and for no serious reason. The children were very angry with him. When I came, he had his head hidden in his arms and he was sobbing. My boss then took up the conversation with the boy and the beaten child while I talked to the children in the class. When the initial indignation had passed, the children opened their hearts. They told me that the boy must be feeling desperate and that it is sometimes very bad for him at home. Many things came up and the sentences spoke of compassion, warmth and understanding.
When my boss came back in with the two boys, now reconciled, he no longer felt anger but a wave of acceptance. I will never forget the look on his face, how the tension and fear turned into endless relief and joy. He also got a big round of applause for the seahorse badge he had achieved.
