Bit of an issue yesterday with the neighbours.  Joey came home after playing v nicely with Chris and Jack and eventually fessed up to me (having just arrived in from NYC) that Chris's Dad, Joe, had sent him home and told him to ask us to call him.  So I went over.

It seems that Joey was using some bad words, and saying 'Kill the Jews) and when told off was a bit lippy.  No idea where the 'Kill the Jews' bit came from - we certainly do not use that and I doubt if Joey knows what a Jew is.  Joe was pretty cool about it - says that they love having Joey around but that he needs to watch his words and also sometimes reacts with some anger and 'lip'.

So, long conversation with Joey.  He denied everything and became very upset when he thought that we did not believe him.  Bit of temper lost on both sides.  Gradually got through to him that, even if he was misheard, the sensible thing is to just apologise and make sure in future that there is no chance of any misunderstanding.  And not to say 'Sorry.  But I didn't do it!'.  Not fair in some ways, if he really was misheard, but that is another lesson that he has to learn - life is not always fair and you have to deal with it.  Also that you cannot be in any way cheeky to adults and not expect consequences.

We did go over and Joey was prepared to apologise, but Joe not there.  His wife was - as always - lovely and told Joey not to worry and that he was always welcome.  Also said that Chris and Jack were over at Jack's house and that he should go and see what they were doing.  Joey was not really in the mood for that but has been good as gold ever since.