the meeting with the principal and the school counselor went well. well, as good as can be expected. in short, there was some stuff we didn't really know about the situation (because being a 12 year old girl is beyond complicated), some things both she and counselor clarified, and we were assured that everyone involved was meeting with the principal that day. that was the good news. the other good news is that it really does feel like the teachers and staff were up to date on what was going on, and got this nipped in the bud. i think we'll continue to have some issues with one of the girls, because we've been having issues with her for at least a year now. i've been waiting to see what the fall-out will be; after a meeting like this i figured things would kind of slowly go back to normal, or HOT DAMN the girls would just get more evil and sneaky about the bullying. it's been a little over a week now, and i think having to meet with the principal, talking to their parents about sex (which is just mortifying at that age, isn't it?), and being told in no uncertain terms that this is not okay has actually been good for all of them. at least, that's how it seems.
what's funny about all of this is what happened literally the day after we all met with the principal. they were having skate night at the local roller rink, and the girlchild got a call. i could hear a little girl asking her if she could get a ride home with us afterward and i asked, "who's that?" she told me, and it was none other than one of the girls involved in the bullying. i was incredulous. i said, "the same _____ that got you sent to the principal's office?" i can only imagine what my face looked like as i said it, because the girlchild's eyes got GIGANTIC. she nodded and i said, "oh hell, no." after she got off the phone she told me that the other little girls had apologized and the one that called said she felt bad, and i said that was great, but there was no way i was driving her anywhere. i know that makes me a bad role model, and that it might not have been a good example of forgiveness, but all i could think was "is she serious?!" oh, silly kid. she messed with my girl, there's no way i'm taking that her anywhere any time soon.
basketball season starts in a few weeks, and i'm sure i'll get to deal with more little girl drama then. whoo! if you see me crying in the school parking lot over my knitting while banging my head into the steering wheel, maybe you can bring me a light beer? remember, i'm on a diet. thanks.
2 comments:
Hi Milk and Cake! I found your blog thru Sarah's blogs, and I loved this post. I have a first grader, and even though we haven't had to deal with the bully thing yet, I know girls and how they can be. This is the sort of thing that keeps me awake some nights! I agree with how you handled the ride share request. Lessons to be learned all around, I think! Thanks for sharing!
Oh no, you were totally within bounds to refuse the ride, even if GC feels that all is forgiven between the two of them. The apologetic girl (and GC!) knows that you are indeed paying attention.
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