Yesterday Jasmine started talking about school at the dinner table. I always try to get her to talk about what happened that day and let me know of anything interesting. Every day she talks about how boring school is...
J: School is so boring!
M: Why?
J: All we do is play play play. I wanna do some work. Why don't they give us some homework?
M: They will, when you're in grade 1
J: But I want work now!
...pause...
J: Daddy, today at school Cassie was mean to me. She said I couldn't be her friend any more.
...cry...
M: Why would she say that?
J: Because she asked me to trade shoes and I said no because hers have tielooshes (shoelaces) and it takes too long to put on because I can't tie my shoes fast.
M: Why are you guys trading shoes anyway?
J: Because we want to.
M: ok
J: I traded with her before when she had the shoes with the lines on them (velcro) 'cus it was easy but i didn't want to now.
M: Did you tell her that?
J: Yes I tried to but she just turned her back and wouldn't talk to me.
...cry...
M: Anything else happen in school that you want to talk about?
J: Well when I was at the gym and running i tripped and almost hurt myself. Everyone especially Niko was laughing at me. I don't like it when they laugh, it's not nice to laugh, it's rude.
...cry...
M: Well, did you tell them that?
J: Yes, but they wouldn't listen. Mrs. Cosley told them to go to the class room and put Niko in the "chair".
As I was sitting there having this conversation with Jasmine, my mind started to jump back and forth between Jasmine's little problems and my huge problems when I was her age. My how significant those "issues" were to me back then, how important it was to fit in and not be the tease and ridicule of my school. As I thought about this I realized that in reality, there was nothing i could do for her to help her get through these moments of embarasment or frustration. I could only comfort her and tell her that it doesn't matter. I can't fight her battles just as nobody could fight my battles as a kid. I actually didn't want anyone to do that for me since I had a huge ego and did not want the "embarassment" of outside help.
happy valentines day michael!
