Feeling down about my DD...

[gypsydoodlebug]

I've completely blacked out 8th grade. Don't remember anything other than this one girl -- who was my best friend in 6th and 7th -- talking smack about me being fat to her clique and I found out about it. She was totally busted (my next door neighbor was sitting behind her in the lunchroom and heard it all) and she knew it. I didn't speak to her for a year.

High school was great -- I ran around with two very different crowds who didn't care that I was a Birkenstock-wearin', Motown-lovin' geek who was editor of the school paper for three years and worked in a very uncool Western-wear store.

It's petty now, but it was very, very real then. I remember sobbing for days over the things I heard she said. I don't look forward to my DD going through it (she's only 2.5 now). I didn't "blossom" until after college, actually. Never wore makeup, cared about clothes or dated much until then. I just know that I turned out all right (master's degree, beautiful home and family) despite the broken hearts.

 

[LVSWL]

I can really understand what your DD is going through. Unfortunately this happens with boys also. My DS is in middle school and is really getting it from
all sides this year. One boy who he thought was his friend has been relentless in verbal attacks. He quit hanging around that kid and has tried to hang around with other friends, but some of them have been hurtful also. I know that he is tenderhearted, and we have tried to raise him not to say mean things, but I have to wonder what the world is coming to when your kid has to know how to really "cut somebody" in order to stick up for himself. It just seems to me that there is alot of bullying going on. Make sure your DD knows that you love her, her sister loves her, and God loves her just like she is, because these things are so tough on there self esteem. Keep us posted.

 

[chobie]

Yes, it does happen to the boys too but in different ways. I think boys tend to not talk about the mental pain of being ditched by their friends or put down.

Jr. high sucks pretty much for everyone, except for the popular kids I guess. I wouldn't know, I was never one of them.

 

[Steffi]

Hugs for all the moms having to watch DD's going through this sadistic social experiment called middle school! It's not easy to see your babies hurting!

My DD is 11; she'll start middle school in the fall. I'm dreading it! She's already been through some of that crap here in the neighborhood. One girl, with whom she'd been friends since they were 4, decided to start, at every opportunity, calling my DD ugly and constantly asking everyone in earshot, Isn't she ugly?" DD doesn't treat people that way, and was crushed and shocked. But the good thing about the neighborhood is: she can come on home if it gets too bad! I'm so worried about her in middle school!

Maybe there could be a DIS DD middle school club, where they can come post when things are really bad at school.