First of all - THANK YOU for all your kind words. It helped me put this situation in perspective, which was no easy task.

All the kindergarteners were given a stern talking-to, the panty raiders were made to apologize and the ringleader's mother was called. I hope that his parents reinforce the message from the school. I don't know that we've completely slayed this dragon - apparently my daughter's good friend was teased by the same kids for tattling (she didn't - my husband and I did) but they backed down when the friend stood up to them. Sigh.

I will say that when I saw the bounce in my daughter's step as she left class today, and the sparkle in her eye as she talked about the bits and pieces of her day, I let go of some of the angst. I hope that it ends here.

These other kids are good kids, from good homes - and I'm sure someday I'll be the parent on the other end of the phone saying "My kid did WHAT?" The parenting gods are like that - keeping us humble, lest we forget the unkind thoughts we harbored about the "Jimmys" and "Tommys" of the world. But tonight, I'm glad my daughter knows that we're in her corner, and that she has a right to stand up for herself (even as I wish she never has to.)

I've been humming R-E-S-P-E-C-T all night.