My oldest daughter started middle school this year. I remember it being kind of crappy but no way near what it is now. I think it’s hard for kids because it’s such a hard transition period in their life. Middle school typically means going to a new school, having a heavier homework load than elementary, puberty, hormones, and yes that great experience of friend change. You find out who your friends are and who they aren’t, which sometimes is a really tough thing to swallow. I mean even for adults, it's not just a kid thing. The kids are so vicious and so cruel, and the level of betrayal is at a ten. There are some days when I hate sending my kid to school. Sometimes I feel like I’m sending her off into the deep dark jungle to have her fend for herself. It reminds me of the girls gone wild scene in the movie Mean Girls. The scene where Regina George (the main bully) pulls out the pages of the burn book, makes copies of it, then distributes the papers all through out school. Then the bell rings and all the students come into the hallway and notice the papers everywhere and begin to read it. That’s when all hell breaks loose. The sweet secretary runs into the hallway to try to stop the fighting only to find out that she can’t do it by herself, so she runs into the principal’s office and told him to come quick the girls have gone wild. The principal jumps from his seat and runs into the hallway only to discover that he can’t stop the fighting by himself either, so he sets off the sprinklers stopping everyone in their tracks.
Do you remember that movie? Do you ever find yourself being a mean girl or a mean guy for that matter? I mean not to other people (at least I hope not) but being mean to yourself? I don’t know about you but I’m so guilty of that. The other day I went out to lunch with a friend and got dressed up a little more than I normally do. When I say I got dressed up it means that I threw on some earrings and lipstick. I know, I’m a real wild one (wink wink). I came down the stairs to grab my shoes and purse, when I heard my husband whistle at me. My youngest daughter said “Mommy you look so pretty”, and my oldest said “Where are you going?". I heard them, but I didn’t really hear them if you know what I mean. I put on my shoes then stood in front of my husband and asked him if I looked okay. He said “Yeah babe you look great”. Then I stood in front of my oldest who is a pre-teen and asked her, because you know those pre-teens will tell you. I asked her about my shirt and if it fit okay. I have this thing about my belly. I have so much loose skin that hangs on me from losing weight and pregnancies that it makes me super self-conscious about myself. My daughter told me that I looked good. Then I began to start another “What about...”, when she stopped me. She said "Mom stop being mean to yourself. You look awesome". Hmmm...words of wisdom from a 12-year-old. You know, it's so easy to compliment other people but when it comes down to yourself why is it so hard? Why can’t we freely give ourselves the love we give to other people? Why can we love others and speak life into them, when we are mean and speak hate to ourselves? I’d like to challenge you, me as well, to everyday look ourselves in the mirror and say something positive. If you feel silly doing it shut the door. I think there is something powerful in looking yourself in the mirror, because you’re staring back at yourself and no one else. Words have the power of life and death. Choose life. How others see you is not important. How you see yourself means everything.
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