My wife and I were asked to sing a song for my sister’s wedding. When the time came to sing, we got up in front of the church and did our song. We had our two boys with us sitting in the front row. They were probably about 5 and 2 at the time. The two year old, being, you know….two, decided he would hit his brother with the ring-bearer pillow he still had with him. (no worries, the rings were already safely deposited) The 5 year old knew he wasn’t supposed to be acting up, so he just took the hit and behaved. The younger one, who just got away with a free shot on his older brother, decided he’d try his luck once again, so he mashed the pillow into the side of the older’s head. Still no reaction from the older… other than looking at us with a bewildered, what-am-I-supposed-to-do-here look. 

Meanwhile, we’re up in front singing our song, close enough to do something about it, but having to stand by and unable do anything about it. 

The fact that no one was doing anything to stop him encourages the 2 year old to stand up on the pew and full on lay into the five year old, who is doing his best to not respond. He’s looking at us wondering what to do about this, and we’re looking at him with a pleading, don’t do anything look, and the younger is having a ball with this new paradigm, so he just keeps pounding on the older.  

And my wife and I are up singing the lovely wedding song and watching this scenario unfold in front of us. 

Finally, my dad realized what was going on and got up and sat between them, much to our relief. A few other people saw what was happening, but most didn’t. We did actually reward the older for his good behavior in not responding.