We didn't know a single person attending her school. S wants friends so much, but she is kind of shy when she doesn't know anyone. Once she gets to know you, she does great. So, the idea of sending her to a school where she knows no one terrified me!
What do you do when you know you are sending your child into a situation that could be hard for them? You talk to them about it, and you pray!
Before school started we talked to S about how to introduce herself to other kids. We took her to the playground before school even started so she wouldn't be afraid to climb up or play on the slides with the other kids. And we did a lot of praying that she would find a friend.
Well, yesterday she came home from school pretty dejected. Every day of school had ended this way. She has been sad. No one wants to play with her.
Monday: "I asked some kids to play and they just ran away from me. They ran to fast and I couldn't catch up. It was just too hot, so I walked around by myself."
Tuesday: "I asked A to play with me, but she wanted to play on the swings and the swings pinched my fingers. So I asked other kids to play and they said no, and I asked another and they said no, and I asked another and they said no. So I played on the slide by myself and a kid stepped really hard on my pinkie finger and I cried for my Mama."
These are the kind of reports I have been getting. She is near tears, and I am near tears.
Why wouldn't they want to play with my sweet girl?!? Don't these kids realize what they are missing out on!?!
But we just talk about what else she can do. I try to spin everything in as positively as possible.
"No one sat by me on the bus today."
"You mean you got a whole seat to yourself!?! Lucky!!! I always wanted my own seat on the bus!"
Things like that.
But when it comes to kids just turning you down flat at recess, that is hard to spin.
So we talked about finding friends at lunch and breakfast (her school serves breakfast to all of the students).
We talked about sitting by a girl from her class on the bus.
We talked about praying for help, even if she is at recess, and how Heavenly Father can hear her thoughts.
It has only been a couple of days. Everyone else is still new too. Don't give up yet!
Wake up this morning.
She complains about everything!
It is too hot!
She doesn't want to have to go to recess.
Etc....
I have a special surprise lunch and a fun new hair-do for you!!!
That cheers her up enough to get in gear and get ready for school.
We walk to the bus stop.
Today is going to be a great day, I can feel it!
She is hopeful, but still a little leery.
Then she climbs the steps of the bus, finds the girl we talked about in her own seat right in front, plops down with a grin, and the bus pulls off.
That was all the confirmation I needed. Today was going to be a good day.
And I am happy to report, it was!
When she got home she said, "I think the kids saw me and thought, 'That's a cute girl, I think I will play with her.'"
She had friends at recess today and didn't just wander around by herself! I'm so proud of her for not giving up.
I'm thinking tomorrow morning won't be as hard for either of us. I say that is a huge win!!!
2 comments:
awwe sweet girl. Glad things are looking up for her.
She is missed by her friend Charlotte, that's for sure! Thanks for sharing her story. What a sweetheart!
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