Overprotective or caring?

I was reading a article on MSN, it was about the role that mothers play these days. A mother of a daughter was writing about wether or not we should be the rescuer from dissapiontment of the nuturer who realizes that dissapiontment is part of life. It seems to me that being overprotective is part of a mother. Last year my son was in kindergarten. I as the working, housewife, College Student, and whatever I neede to be for my spouse and kids. His kindergarten experience was not what I believed it was suppose to be. Early in the morning I would drop off my Tukker at the school bus route, and I had to rush off to work. During his short wait at the bus stop, there was a bully. This other kid known as Tony, who was in the third grade, picked at my son. One day it went as far as Tony knocking my son down and kicking him till he puked. I thought that was a little harsh for gradeschool fighting. This behavior continued for a while, my older son tried to help, I tried to get my son to fight back... but nothing. He took the abuse and would come running home telling me about these incidents. I hated it, every morning my heart sank when they got out of the truck and walked twards the bus stop. I couldnt stay as I had to be at work. I called the school and they said there was not alot they could do if it was only happening before and after school. That left me with no options. So finally I convine my son that if he doesnt do something about Tony, I would ground him for a certain time until he did. My cell phone buzzed right in the middle of my work day.. flashing it was the school. I answered, expecting the usual sick child alert. This time it was not, It was about my son and Tony. They informed me that they had to take down their fight free flag because my son had raised his fist to tony. I was devistated, and the principle was expecting me to take action with Tukker. In my mind though, I knew I could not do anything except accept that Tukker finally took care of his bully. I was proud of my son, but dissapionted that the principle wanted to ban Tukker from recess for three days. I couldnt even begin to understand. This bully has beaten my kid into puking tears and now my son decides after lots of prompting not to take it, and you want to punish my child? I could not as a parent let that happen, so I set up a confrence with the pricipal. Needless to say Tony finally did get into trouble, but not the trouble I expected him to get into after his parents heard. I went to his mom also, she did nothing, boys wiill be boys... well maybe overprotecting boys will make them a little softer, but I can say proudly that my boys will never be the boy that kid is. My kids kow what compassion and love is for people. They have fallen on their butt, and I sit by and watched them cry, bitting my lip. I am here to piont out to a mother who thinks that being overprotective is too much. It isnt in some cases. If your getting responses that your child is a heathen.... ask around, watch closer, look for what they are talking about. IF one person says your a mule, dont respond. If ten people say that your a mule, look closely in the mirror. I just cant believe that a parent would let their child do that to another child. Call me overprotective.