Long day that started early! The kids didn't have school because of a teacher workday, although I think the real reason is so they can use the schools as places to vote. At the breakfast table this morning, Sofia drew a picture of Frida Kahlo. She is incredibly talented! She also announced that she wants to go to art school when she's older, like the one that Miss Linda's daughter goes to. :)
I had enrolled Gabe and Sofia in a camp today, and since I couldn't drop them off until 9, I took them with me to vote. I usually do anyway because I think it's good for them to see me vote. We arrived at 8; it was freezing cold, and the line was down the block. The kids weren't happy campers, so I decided instead to take them to their actual camp and come back to vote later.
I had back-to-back meetings today but left D.C. as early as I could, picked up the kids from camp at 5 and took them with me again to vote. We were in line for 2.5 hours, but the kids were troopers. They were excited to tell me that President Obama won their vote at camp, and I wondered if that might foretell the evening's results as well. Gabe asked me, "What if it's a tie, Mom?" I told him that would make for a very long week. :)
He started acting up a bit after dinner, so I held him extra tight and asked him what was wrong. He started crying and telling me about a boy at school who is extra mean toward him. Apparently, this boy told Gabe that in his student ID picture, he looks like he wants to get punched. Gabe asked me ever so innocently, "what kind of face am I making that means I want to get punched?" I told Gabe that boy just wasn't being nice and that someone at home is probably being mean toward him, and he's taking it out on kids at school. Gabe is upset though because apparently the kid won't let him play with another friend that Gabe really wants to play with. I told Gabe he also should write about what the boy is doing in his journal at school because I bet the teacher might be able to help. (The teacher actually told me to have Gabe do that about anything that is upsetting him.)
Then it became the evening of the "let's talk about bullies" because Sofia wanted to talk about a little girl who is mean to her at school. She said this little girl tells her she looks fat when she "breathes out." Uggh! Can you believe the things 6-year-old girls will say to each other?! I asked Sofia why she even wants to be friends with someone who is so mean to her, and she said, "well, Mom, she's not always mean to me; sometimes she's mean to other girls." I explained to Sofia that she really has to stick up for anyone that this girl is being mean to, and Sofia said she'd rather just ignore her. She also told me that she'll just laugh when she's mean to her. Oh man. I gotta teach my kids to have more of a backbone, or they're going to get walked all over. And this woman just can't have that! :)
Tonight I of course stayed up late watching election coverage, and thought I'd go straight to sleep when NBC called it for President Obama, but here I am -- thinking it would help me to write about my day. I am so relieved this country has re-elected our President. I truly believe in him and the direction he's leading our country. And now I think I can drift off to dream. :)
2 comments:
It's so hard when other kids are being mean to ours! You're right, though- those kids are usually doing what's been done to them. I hate it that anyone is being mean to my precious grandchildren, but you've given them wise advice. <3 you all!
And YES to the election!
:) Do you have any suggestions for helping Gabe deal with his emotions better? Anytime he has a total meltdown, I know something is behind it. I just wish I could help him not have the meltdown in the first place.
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