Mondays can be busy. Even if we only have a few minutes between activities, we like to reflect on our day together. The talk over our wardrobe change did catch us off guard this week…
“Today my feelings were hurt at school,” Kelsey said.
She elaborated, “this girl told me that her mom said I look silly out on the field.” Then the same girl told me, “I wish you were not on my team. You don’t deserve to be on it.”
HALT. Deep breathes… Decisions, decisions…
The pause allowed for another moment we were not expecting. Kelsey said, “Please do not get mad or tell her parents. I told her that was really mean and it hurt my feelings. Then I moved on. I was with a few other friends and they all told her it was a mean thing to say. It was really mean and really hurt my feelings, though.”
It hurt ours, too…
Later in the night, she further reflected to say, “it’s like we said when I had spots all over my body. I remember when the kids in my class asked if I had chickenpox and they asked if it hurt. I learned how to ignore it in my brain and say it is ok. I never liked when people asked me about it, but I stayed brave. I got this.”
Watch what you say, children are listening…
We discussed that we cannot change the way other people act or the words they choose, but we can choose our own. Choose wisely.
Please spread kindness, respect, and love wherever you go today…
