I Hate Mean Girls!
Submitted by Traci
How is it possible that all the mean girls know each other? Even the ones at different schools? WHY are they so mean? One girl has been texting my daughter all summer with a ridiculous round of messages: First she requests a picture of my daughter, then the girl replies that my daughter looks ugly, then the mean girl has her friends text my daughter saying things like, "You probably have BO, too."
In some cases, I know the girls' mothers, and frankly, they're not very nice. They are all very pretty, I'll admit, but my girl's no ugly duckling.
I try, but it's hard to take the high road. I remind my daughter that they're probably just looking for a reaction, that anyone who is that mean to another person without provocation probably has a screw loose somewhere, and that ignoring them (politely, if possible) is the ONLY way to deal.
But I have a hard time following my own advice on the sidelines at sporting events when mean girls are on one of my daughter's sports teams. I know (because the coaches tell me) which moms call the coach at home and "demand" more playing time for their kids. I really want to tell them they should be telling their daughters how to behave rather than dictating to the coaches how to run the team.
Two teachers and a principal at my daughter's school have had meetings with parents and students, all of whom, of course, act like "it's not me or my daughter" acting like that.
So is there an EFFECTIVE way to deal with this?
If we keep taking the high road, does it eventually stop, or will my daughter learn how to be a doormat?
I wish I knew. We'll be nice for now, at least until I finish making this voodoo doll. ...
Submit!
