Your Children Are Listening

It is never fun to be the new kid. If you are exude too much fun, you are labelled weird. If you get excited and loud, the others say you are “pushy”. You dress differently? You are strange, not to be trusted. Children shun new kids, because they already have their friends. My granddaughter is five. She was the new kid this summer at camp. One child asked her when her baby is due, another one called her fatso. She came home and burst into tears, never wanting to go back. She did not tell the teenage camp counselors, because she was too embarrassed. As they were sneaking, I realized these five-year-olds knew it was not nice. They wanted to make her sad. I am guessing these children have been victims. They have at least been within listening range of bigger bullies. Five- year-olds have to be taught this kind of meanness. Fat and hate are two of the three meanest words to teach your children. I am sure I do not have to mention the other one. Be careful. Your children are listening.