Remember when your tough conversations included negotiating with your toddler about wearing the pink overalls and not the purple overalls for the FOURTH DAY IN A ROW??!! Or eating peas versus carrots??
These are still the tough conversations with Ella at the ripe old age of 7, but for Maya, at 9.5, we have certainly moved on to the really tough conversations. They are necessary, but tough.
I will say I am so happy that she is totally comfortable with both Terry and I to ask questions and explore possibilities in life. I am hoping and praying we are fostering that and she will continue into that age that kids aren't quite as open and willing to sharing.
Last night dinner conversation went from what their favorite part of the day was to why kids bully. No, thank goodness she is not being bullied, but it's a common conversation in schools these days and at home too. One thing she said that struck me is "I can deal with a boy bully because they won't bother you for a long time, but a girl bully might". Wow.
We talked about why kids do it, what she can do if someone does say or do mean things to her and the most important thing-we will always, always, always be there for her and go to bat for her. Always.
I see the detrimental effects bullying has on kids. I've worked in a high school environment for most of my working career and makes my heart hurt to see the pain on kids' faces. I know what she'll be facing and it makes me want to wrap her in a bubble until she graduates. Kids are cruel and pre-teen and teenage girls especially are extremely cruel. I didn't have the heart to tell her that grown women can also be cruel-very cruel. That's for later!
I think she's feeling a bit out of sorts about the upcoming move. She is over the moon excited, but also going into 5th grade where going to a new school goes from exciting to slightly terrifying. And I'm pretty sure there will be many more of these tough conversations in the upcoming months and I welcome them. Hard to navigate and explain, but so open to having these conversations with her.
And because I don't like photo-less posts, my sensitive, big hearted 9.5 year old:
**I promise to be back with crafty posts soon! Working on a giant mini (oxymoron??) right now and will share next week!
