My son is a pushover

[OrangePeel]

My son (8) went on a school trip today, he and most of his friends took £2 spending money.

When they got back at 3pm I noticed most of the kids had bought little toys or chains...my son only had a bag of sweets.

I asked him what he spent his money on and he told me he had given £1 to "X" as he wanted a chain that cost £3 and he only had £2 on him. This meant that X could get the chain yet my son was left with just enough for a bag of sweets.

Quite generous of him but I'm also quite angry with him, this boy persistantly picks on my son, excludes him from his games and even stole a playstation game from him once...yet today they're "best buddies" because he wanted money.

I explained to my son that X had his own money and I personally thought he was wrong to give him more (however his money, his choice) but I'm not concerned that my son is growing up to be a complete push-over.

Am I over-reacting?

That should read I'm "now" concerned....etc

No, I used to be just like this and I wish my mother had made me "tougher", whilst it is lovely he is so kind he needs to assert himself. Now I am still a pushover and will do things even though i know im being pushed over.
Maybe just hint at little things rather than making a big deal out of this. He sounds like he has a lovely generous nature!

-You shouldn't be angry with him becauyse peer pressure is very very very hard to resist even as an adult. When you are 8, even harder.

what about getting him involved with something away from school, to make some friends that don't know this boy, so he has a back up plan when this boy is horrible to him.

Well he's now saying that this other boy went on and on at him and pressured him into giving him it (I can see this happening from this kid, he's that type).

So do I tell my son "tough, you should've said no and stuck to it, be tougher next time" or should I go in and speak with the teacher about it tomorow?

Go to the teacher. She will probably have a word with the class about bullying and how when our parents give us money, it is meant for us, and how we are not allowed to ask other classmates for money.