Sugar Belle broke down crying last night and told me that none of the girls in her class at the music summer camp will even speak to her. She’s tried to talk with them and apparently they have chosen to ignore her. This is a first for Shug. She is very friendly, and seems to make life-long friends everywhere she goes. The only time this is really troubling her is during recess. I asked her what the teacher was doing during recess and she said she reads a book.
We chatted about the fact that this really is just part of life, girls can be mean. In fact, this is not uncommon for me, even as an adult…even at church. Yikes! I told her if she has made the effort to be friendly and they aren’t interested, that’s ok. I just know its hard on my social butterfly to be “out of the loop.”
Even as I said all of these things to her, I just wanted to call her teacher up and ask “What is wrong with you? How could you allow this kind of rudeness to persist?” But I know the answer, they aren’t fighting, so it is a nonissue. I guess the teacher in me recognizes that this is the end of the school year for her and she is tired, and if there isn’t screaming or hitting going on, all is well. But the mom in me would really like it if the teacher could have made a small effort to get the girls to include Sugar Belle. Maybe I am too sensitive to this, but whenever we are in a situation where there are new kids and they seem to be “out of the loop” I encourage my kids to introduce themselves, include the new person and make them feel welcome. I will often introduce myself as well, and chat with the new kid.
My suggestion to Sugar Belle was to take her book to camp today, and when it was time for recess, just ask the teacher if you can sit down and read with her. She was so upset about the whole thing that I went as far as to ask if she’d rather not go back. She said, “No, I am really enjoying the music!” Sweet girl!
I feel like I basically just told her to suck it up and put her big girl panties on cause this is nothing new, and will likely happen again. I’m not entirely sure that was the right advice. So fellow Mamas, how do you handle these types of situations? Especially without taking out some very unkind 12 year old girls???? LOL…I think….
Well, I have been here before and although I think my children are like-able not everyone is going to like them. Given time and patience they (the mean ones) can see the good and wonderful person she is. There are people that I don’t want to be friends with but with years and years of wisdom I have learned that although I don’t want to be friends with someone…I can still be kind and love them in the best way possible. My heart hurts for her but she will come out the other side of this a stronger better young lady!