February 29, 2008
The Mean Girls
Yesterday afternoon, Dawson and I headed to the public library in town. What used to be a weekly occurrence has now become an every-other-day-thing. Dawson loves the children’s department because they have two train tables with his favorite Thomas the Tank Engine toys. I enjoy the time to read quietly while Dawson is occupied.
On this particular visit I was caught up in observing others. Okay, I’ll be honest, I was people watching. Mostly because I like to see how other parents interact with their kids be nosy.
There were two little girls making plastic french toast in the play house, while their grandmother caught up on Midwest Living back issues. Every so often, Grandma would ask the girls to bring her another pretend cup of coffee. It was so cute.
The oldest girl was probably 7 years old, and her sister looked about Dawson’s age. The older girl had long brown hair and wore glasses, that she pushed up her nose every so often. Her smile was contagious, as well as her upbeat attitude, and I smiled when she came over to me and said hello.
“Hi! I’m Rena! That’s my sister Angela!” she said.
“Hi Rena, I’m Dana. It’s nice to meet you!” I replied.
“What’s your little boy’s name?” she asked.
“That’s Dawson. He loves trains.” I said.
With that, Rena went over to Dawson and introduced herself. My little bug is still kind of afraid of girls, so he started to blush and then went back to his trains. It was adorable.
After we had been at the library about twenty minutes, another mom came in with her daughter and the daughter’s friend. The two girls were most likely 7 or 8 years old as well. These girls went over to play with the doll house and I watched as Rena went over to say hello to her potential new friends.
“Hi! I’m Rena! What’s your name?” she asked.
“I’m Hayley,” said the first girl.
“I’m Karissa,” said the second.
I watched intently as Rena tried to befriend these two girls. She asked to play with the dolls, too, and the new girls reluctantly agreed. After a few minutes, Rena’s grandmother said it was time to go. After Rena and her family disappeared into the elevator, I listened to what Hayley and Karissa were saying to each other.
“I don’t like that girl, do you?” asked Hayley.
“No. She’s weird. I don’t like her either,” Karissa replied.
I was stunned. Those two little brats! What a rude thing to say. When did little girls become so gosh darned mean?
“Why don’t you like her?” I asked the girls.
They looked surprised that I was speaking to them.
“Uh…we don’t know her. She’s different.” said Hayley.
“Well,” I began. “Being different, and being yourself, is a wonderful quality. If every little girl was the same as you, this world would be very boring, and not very friendly, now would it?”
Both girls shook their heads and went off to play with something else. I don’t know what compelled me to speak up. Maybe it’s because I saw a little bit of myself in Rena. I was always teased for not being like everyone else.
Kids can be cruel to those they think are different, simply because they are too afraid of what others think. Rena didn’t care what anyone thought, she wasn’t afraid to be who she was. Rena, where ever you are, keep being your beautiful self. It truly was nice to meet such a sweet girl like you.
Posted by Dana @ 8:51 AM • Hometown Happenings,Kids These Days
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February 29th, 2008 at 10:36 AM, Wifey's House Says:
Aww… great post! You made me laugh AND tear up at the same time. As the mother of a daughter mean girls scare the mess out of me. Fortunately, my daughter’s personality is strong and confident, a lot like Rena’s. She’s not afraid to be who she is. I pray it stays that way. Smiles!
February 29th, 2008 at 12:29 PM, mammacheryl Says:
See? I totally knew that they were talking about me the moment I left. You have confirmed it. — I want to raise Anna to be the kind of girl who would hear them talk like that and then call them on it. I guess I want to raise Anna to be like you.
February 29th, 2008 at 12:30 PM, Dana Says:
Thanks, Wifey! I was so mad at those bratty girls, but really, they’re only 7 years old. Still, it seems so young to already dislike someone for being different.
February 29th, 2008 at 12:32 PM, Dana Says:
Awww, Cheryl! That’s so sweet of you to say. I might cry. Joyful tears of course.
In the back of my head, I kept thinking the mother will come over and think I’m nuts for scolding them, but she was nowhere to be found. Which is probably why those girls were so mean and rude.
March 1st, 2008 at 10:52 PM, Leslie Says:
Mean girls are awful! I worry so much about Julia, especially after seeing her encounter some mean girls at ballet camp last summer. I think it’s great that you spoke up. Maybe if we weren’t so tolerant of that kind of behavior, it wouldn’t happen so often.
March 28th, 2008 at 12:16 AM, Mary Says:
I think more mothers need to wake up and pay attention to their children and teach them to be polite and kind…So many mothers I come in contact with are so quick to have the attitude “NOT MY little angel” (type thinking)…it disgusts me…moms need to stick together to guide these girls, not fight each other in a “my kid is the best/most innocent” contest…