once bitten, twice shy...

definition of bite (per merriam-webster):

a : to seize especially with teeth or jaws so as to enter, grip, or wound
b : to wound, pierce, or sting especially with a fang or a proboscis

yesterday when mr. h went to pick up james from daycare he noticed two papers stapled to the back of his daily report.  he then looked at the teacher and made a comment about how james bit again but this time we got a different reply.  she said that he was the one that was bitten.  twice!  and she was so sorry.  she said they felt bad and that he had two marks from the incidents.

"your child was bitten today....ouch!"  we got two of these bad boys yesterday.  of course we instantly thought someone finally had enough of james' teeth and bit him back.  but then we didn't get one where he bit so we're not sure.  was he trying to take some one's toy?  was he in their way?  did they seek revenge??
i'm indifferent about this.  i can't get mad.  that would make me a hypocrite.  a big one.  we've gotten several biting reports where james was on the other end.  we don't like it but we knew this day would come.  i guess i just pictured that when james bit another friend, that it didn't leave a mark. i don't know why i thought this way.  probably to make myself feel better. 

as a mom, it broke my heart to look at these last night:

twice in one day.  wow.  james didn't act like these hurt or affected him in any way so they're obviously just superficial war wounds.  daycare is a rough place.  i'm just kidding.  i'm really pleased with his school.  to be honest, i'm not even sure if this was from one friend or two.  they don't tell any details. i know this is a phase but it's awful.  it doesn't feel good to be a parent on either side of the biting situation.  i hope that james realizes that it is wrong and that it hurts.  i hope he is a good boy today and doesn't seek revenge.  before he left the house i reminded him that we don't bite our friends.  i really hope i don't see anymore of these reports but i doubt i'll be so lucky.  i'll be so happy when james and his friends outgrow this phase.