My son wrote a nasty name on his little brother's face

“He said his teacher didn't see it, which I don't understand because I saw it as soon as I picked him up.” 

We all hate when our kids bicker, but one mum is facing the ultimate sibling rivalry.

Her 10-year-old son, armed with a sharpie, used the school bus trip to let out his 'artistic creativity'... by using his five-year-old brother’s forehead as his canvas.

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"They just ignored it"

“My 10-year-old son wrote "dumb donut" on his five-year-old brother’s forehead while they were on the bus to school this morning,” she says. 

The worst part? None of the adults at school contacted her or offered to wash it off for him. 

“They just ignored it,” she reveals. 

“He said his teacher didn't see it, which I didn't understand because I saw it as soon as I picked him up today.” 

It has left the mother completely at a loss about what she can do. 

“This is the first time that my oldest son has done anything like this and I'm not sure how to correct the situation,” she explains. 

She’s now struggling to find the best punishment to fit the crime. Taking to Reddit, she is hopeful other parents might offer advice. 

 “My gut instinct was to write something on his forehead so that he would have to go to school with something negative all day, like he did to his brother,” she suggested. 

However, on second thought she’s not sure how successful that would be. 

“I feel like this is just coming from a place of anger. I'm not sure how to handle the situation."

Image: iStock

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"Did he think it was funny?" 

Commenters offered advice, sharing what they'd do if they were in her shoes. 

“ Talk to him about being respectful to other people's bodies. But don't disrespect his,” said one reader. 

“Is there any chance he just wrote it because he thought it sounded silly. Not to actually degrade his brother?” another questioned. 

“This is absolutely not ok. I sympathise with your first initial instinct to protect your youngest by punishing the oldest,” a third added. 

The mother opened up about the emotional toll it’s had.  

“The thought of my five-year-old going to school with 'dumb donut' written on his forehead all day is pretty upsetting to me,” she explained.  

“He was pretty upset about it. Mostly because he asked his brother to stop when he was writing on him, and his brother held his arm and restrained him in order to write it this morning.” 

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She added, “I like the idea of having him do something to bond with his brother instead. I definitely agree that I don't feel like the crime should be turned around on him either. 

“I do want to model a more positive punishment rather than a negative one.  I try to have my boys feel empathy for each other and always try to let them know that the way you treat people is how you would want to be treated and how you would want to feel.” 

Originally published as My son wrote a nasty name on his little brother's face