My daughter has had an issue in the past with a girl in the past. The girl pulled away my daughter's friend and told my daughter she couldn't play with them. Yes, my girl was hurt by this, but at the same time, she was able to move on. I hate the term "popular", but at times it seems to fit. If someone doesn't want to play with GG she finds another friend to play with. And quick. Older, younger, green, purple, boy girl - it doesn't matter.
Earlier this week, there were Talent Show auditions for the fourth and fifth graders at my kids' school. I'm not sure why elementary kids need to "try out" for a talent show, but that's another story for another day.
This same day, I had a Macaroni Kid event to work at a local restaurant. Since there is construction everywhere I turn, I wanted to make sure we left by a certain time to avoid being late. Very unprofessional.
As we were waiting for my daughter to perform her dance routine with a friend, I asked when they were scheduled to go on. I was told last. Glancing at the clock, I asked GG to ask if she could perform a tad earlier in the line up. She confidently walked into the gym to ask the teachers in charge. When she returned to the hallway, I saw it. Proof that for every 1 bully, there are at least 2 good kids.
GG walked out into the hallway, head down, and was instantly surrounded by every kid in the hallway. Most were in fifth grade. Some were in sixth grade, there helping younger siblings. I didn't recognize any of those kids as her friends or siblings of her friends, but there they were, comforting my daughter.
GG said the teachers wouldn't listen to her. She misunderstood me and thought we had to leave "right now". She wasn't going to be able to try out for the show. I reassured her we still had plenty of time. As I explained this, one boy explained that he plays an instrument. Dance routines always try out before instruments. Another girl, I believe from the middle school, came up and hugged my daughter.
Lately I have seen more and more kids being disrespectful to their friends as well as their parents. I have seen kids clearly misbehaving in front of their parents, who do nothing to correct the poor behavior. This group of kids, showing support and encouragement to a younger girl, made me forget all about that. There were no parents around to encourage them to show their support. There were no kids laughing or pointing at my daughter for crying. There was no sense of competition that they would do better than a girl who was upset. These kids were just there. They were there for my daughter.
I wish I could personally thank all of those parents and let them know that there kid is proof that good kids far outnumber the bad.
