Second week into the German summer school. B has been making a few new friends, 5, 6, 8, 9 years old boys.
Tonight he came home looking sad. Apparently there was something wrong.
B, "Mom, I got a bad day today. When I brushed my teeth after lunch Rachel and Sarah laughed at me."
(Rachel and Sarah are both 9 years old.)
Mom, "Why? What did they do?"
B, "They said it's funny to brush teeth after lunch and they tried to tell everybody to look at me."
Mom, "Was there a teacher around?"
B, "Chris was there but he was in a conversation with someone. They even tried to get Chris to laugh with them."
Mom, "It must feel pretty bad. Can you tell me how you reacted?"
B, "I told them to stop but they didn't. I then locked the door so they couldn't see me brushing."
Mom, "Well, I don't think it's safe to lock yourself in the school bathroom. You were picked just because you did something different. That doesn't mean they know better. That also doesn't mean you should drop your good habits. Who is going to be responsible for your teeth problems?"
B, "Me."
Mom, "Do they have anything to do with your teeth? If they choose not to do frequent brushing, all I can say is good luck to their teeth. If they like sugar bugs to stay with them for the rest of the day, that's their choice too. It has nothing to do with me. Do you want some ideas from me if they do it again?"
B, "Yeah."
Mom, "I think you can tell them everyone has different choices. Yours happens to be different from mine."
B looked confused. "This won't work," I talked to myself.
"How about you just say in fact I am done brushing, now I am flossing my teeth when they laugh about brushing?"
B thought it was pretty funny.
"Or just tell them good observation, thanks for watching me brush but now the show is over."
(If this happens to me, I will simply tell them to cut the crap and get lost. But I can't teach my kid that. Just not now...)
Mom, "Well, tomorrow I want you to find a way other than locking yourself in the bathroom."
"And I am going to write a note to let your teachers know. We will not let this concern lingered."
Here is the note.
"Dorothea and Chris,
Bennett told us tonight that Rachel and Sarah laughed at him when he brushed his teeth after lunch.
He was upset and went lock the door then.
We would like to bring this to your attention and seek assistance to prevent it from happening again.
Appreciate your help."
Hopefully our little boy will get over this soon.
Tonight he came home looking sad. Apparently there was something wrong.
B, "Mom, I got a bad day today. When I brushed my teeth after lunch Rachel and Sarah laughed at me."
(Rachel and Sarah are both 9 years old.)
Mom, "Why? What did they do?"
B, "They said it's funny to brush teeth after lunch and they tried to tell everybody to look at me."
Mom, "Was there a teacher around?"
B, "Chris was there but he was in a conversation with someone. They even tried to get Chris to laugh with them."
Mom, "It must feel pretty bad. Can you tell me how you reacted?"
B, "I told them to stop but they didn't. I then locked the door so they couldn't see me brushing."
Mom, "Well, I don't think it's safe to lock yourself in the school bathroom. You were picked just because you did something different. That doesn't mean they know better. That also doesn't mean you should drop your good habits. Who is going to be responsible for your teeth problems?"
B, "Me."
Mom, "Do they have anything to do with your teeth? If they choose not to do frequent brushing, all I can say is good luck to their teeth. If they like sugar bugs to stay with them for the rest of the day, that's their choice too. It has nothing to do with me. Do you want some ideas from me if they do it again?"
B, "Yeah."
Mom, "I think you can tell them everyone has different choices. Yours happens to be different from mine."
B looked confused. "This won't work," I talked to myself.
"How about you just say in fact I am done brushing, now I am flossing my teeth when they laugh about brushing?"
B thought it was pretty funny.
"Or just tell them good observation, thanks for watching me brush but now the show is over."
(If this happens to me, I will simply tell them to cut the crap and get lost. But I can't teach my kid that. Just not now...)
Mom, "Well, tomorrow I want you to find a way other than locking yourself in the bathroom."
"And I am going to write a note to let your teachers know. We will not let this concern lingered."
Here is the note.
"Dorothea and Chris,
Bennett told us tonight that Rachel and Sarah laughed at him when he brushed his teeth after lunch.
He was upset and went lock the door then.
We would like to bring this to your attention and seek assistance to prevent it from happening again.
Appreciate your help."
Hopefully our little boy will get over this soon.
