When I drop V off at pre-school, I always stay and hang out with him until he’s completely comfortable and tells me I can leave. It’s important to me that he never feels like I just drop him and go.
Most mornings, I sit down while he sets his table, grabs some breakfast and then we chat while he eats. Not long in to his meal he decides he’s comfortable and tells me to have a good day at work. My little man just melts my heart.
This morning while trying to decide where to sit for breakfast (each small table only sits 2-4 kids) V eagerly and excitedly said hello to Diego, a little boy with whom he typically runs around with while at school. Scowling, Diego responded by telling V “you’re not my friend”. The mom in me came out quickly, and I informed Diego that that wasn’t a very nice thing to say.
I held my breath for a moment. V didn’t seem bothered – he just kept walking, trying to decide where to sit and eat his yogurt. After finally selecting a spot, he sat down his place mat, his spoon and his yogurt and looked up to me with the saddest eyes.
“Nobody wants to be my friend, Mama”
“That’s not true V. I’m your friend!”, I said while trying not to make a big deal out of it
“But I want kid friends!” he informed me.
My heart broke. While we all know Diego was just being a kid – and V has certainly said these same words to other kids – it still broke my heart just a little.
Just then, Eva came bouncing up to V and started a conversation that made him forget all about Diego.
If my heart gets this heavy over a little pre-school banter, then I think I’m in big trouble when middle school and high school comes around …
August 14, 2007 at 5:30 pm
I have dealt with some of this and dread 1st grade starting for my 6 year old. We DID just find out today that she wont be in the same class as a bully girl from last year. Yay. Of course, there will be more.
August 14, 2007 at 5:47 pm
Awww…I can relate but we have to remind ourselves that that’s the real world out there – it can get worse in the years to come. But we will always be there for them.
August 14, 2007 at 7:24 pm
I always thought Diego was a jerk.
August 14, 2007 at 9:00 pm
*sigh* I’m dreading those days. I know I’ll be all mama bear and fight the urge to tell the Diego’s of the world to suck it.
Yay for Eva.
xo.
August 15, 2007 at 5:54 am
UGH! My heart just broke reading this! My son starts preschool in a few weeks. I’m nervous now. I hear moms tell stories like this all the time so I’m sure I’ll have to deal with this at some point too. I will probably start bawling if that happens.
August 15, 2007 at 6:03 am
I can totally relate to this post. I’ve been a nervous wreck all morning, I had to take my oldest to high school field hockey try outs. Girls can be petty and cruel, especially at this age and Ally takes things to heart more often than not so I’m worried.
I guess this is just part of being a mom.
August 15, 2007 at 6:08 am
Goodness…My heart is breaking for him!!!!
August 15, 2007 at 9:42 am
AW! These things are so difficult to watch! My heart is too full to really express how I feel~I can already see that one day my 16mod will hafta deal with mean girls… You sound like a GREAT parent! (((((HUGS))))) sandi
August 15, 2007 at 10:15 am
I’m so with you. That would break my heart too.
Hey the fact that we care so much is a sign that we’re good parents though so it’s all good!
August 15, 2007 at 10:50 am
Oh man. I totally woulda been heartbroken to hear a little one say “Nobody wants to be my friend, mama.” Kids are tough though. They bounce back pretty quick. Thank God for Eva. Leave it to girls to save the day.
August 15, 2007 at 11:34 am
OMG, I can’t even imagine how he looked when he told you that! My heart would break too! But it’s fleeting, that’s the good news!
August 15, 2007 at 3:14 pm
What an incredibly sweet story! Yes, we’re all Diego every now and then aren’t we? And we’re also often V. 🙂
Hugs to the both of you.
August 16, 2007 at 9:41 am
That’s one thing thats great about kids. Their short attention spans. Besides, V and Diego were probably playing together again by noon.
August 16, 2007 at 10:48 am
hey, for 2 ho-hos and a ding-dong, I know a couple of pre-schoolers that can take little Diego out to the jungle gym for a ‘talk’…
LOL
You done good!