I wanted to unleash my inner kraken when I heard what a girl
said to my middle schooler on her birthday recently. I seriously slipped into
pummel mode. Eventually, I eased off to evaluate the scenario from an outsider
perspective. Because any mom knows the bear claws come out quickly when it
comes to our own kids.
My kid was excited it was her birthday. She’s sensitive and not
one given to bragging, but she mumbled something during gym about being pumped
to open her gifts when she got home. Rude girl asked why. My daughter told her
it’s her birthday to which the girl replied, “Who cares?”
Later this same girl found a convenient time to tell my
daughter that she’s stupid. She knew it was her birthday. Nice, huh?
It might help for you to know my daughter struggles to say a
mean word about anyone. But I’m also teaching her not to let people walk on
her.
Words go deep. When are we all going to get this?
As I wrestled with this situation an image of a Nazi kept
popping in my head. I’m not comparing the mean girl to a Nazi (not exactly,
anyway). However, I think there’s a slippery slope when you begin to allow
yourself to be that desensitized, that heartless—careless toward others.
Of course I felt sorry for this girl. I played the
potentials in my mind. Maybe she feels like no one cares about her. Maybe she’s
jealous. And all that jazz. But herein lies the issue. A sign of maturity and
growth is when you feel rotten about your own circumstances and can still
conjure joy for others. It’s amazing how the ability to do that changes you
inside. I’m not expecting this middle schooler to be mature. But I do think she
should be held accountable for her words.
It’s worth it to choose our words wisely. They have the
ability to leave such an impression.
To build up or tear down.
I know I’ll let this go, chalk it up for childish rude girl
behavior. And most likely my daughter will, too. But some words sink. And I’ll
never know for sure whether these particular words have anchored somewhere in
my kid’s conscience.
That makes me sad. And frustrated that we live in a world of
such flippant sarcasm and thoughtlessness. And it reminds me of all the ways I
don’t want to act toward others.
To the mean girl who unleashed your self-rot on my kid,
you’re forgiven. But I also hope you change. I hope you grapple with the things
you spew with little thought. Because the world has its fill of insensitivity
and cruelty. We need something different.
Huh, guess my own version of the kraken snuck out after all.
*picture = free stock photo
**daughter gave me permission to post this