Tuesday, March 22, 2011

How to Beat a Bully

I witnessed something and it makes me so mad!

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When I drove to school, to get The Scribe and The Hippie (my two oldest daughters) I knew something was very wrong.

They walked in nervous steps and seemed to forget the place we normally meet.  They walked faster and faster, looking behind them until I realized three girls imitated their every move.  One of the girls was big and tall; she looked at least a couple grades older than The Scribe.  I thought the other two girls were in The Scribe's class.

So, I did what any good mother would do.  I rolled down my windows and stalked them quietly.  That's when I heard the biggest girl yell at my kids.  "You sure are ugly!"  She elbowed her cronies before snorting up a storm.  As they laughed, I wanted to jump out of my car and pummel that kid.  But I gripped the steering wheel instead.  I wanted to see what my girls would do.

"Can't you hear us?" one of the girls from The Scribe's class hollered.  "We said you're ugly!"

That's when The Scribe and The Hippie turned around.  They were so busy, they still didn't notice I was following them.  The Hippie looked at the girls; she seemed absolutely unperturbed.  She had on a darling twirl dress, pigtails and two darling bows in her hair.  

The Scribe looked down at her and said, "Don't move.  I've got this."

But The Hippie refused to obey her sister.  She looked up at those kids, one of which was probably four grades above her and said, "That's too bad you think we're ugly because I think you're beautiful."

I watched their resolve crumble.  They cracked a smile at The Hippie and the big bully said, "You're all right.  Maybe you can join our gang someday, but the thing is . . . we weren't calling you ugly anyway.  We were calling your sister ugly."

I held my breath as I watched the whole thing unfold.  This was The Scribe's time to shine.  Maybe she'd take The Hippie's brilliant lead and hand out a truthful compliment.  I knew she thought about it.  I saw it in her beautiful green eyes, but the thing is, if you've read anything about The Scribe, you already know she's a spitfire.  She doesn't take crap from anyone and she refuses to say something just to say it.

The Scribe glared at them, and as her eyes looked across the ground, she grinned wider than the Nile.  "You think I'm ugly?  Everyone can have their own opinion, but I know something for a fact and it's that you're bullies.  You're scared bullies!"

This didn't sound like it was headed to a Heavenly place.  The big girl started balling her fist.  I saw her stance chance to a fighting stance.  I wanted to jump from the car.  "We're not scared of anything . . . especially ugly . . . little . .  . girls!" the big kid said.

That made The Scribe madder than a hatter.  I knew it would since they'd just taken measurements last week and she's the second shortest kid in her class.  She hates being short!  Her face paled with anger and that's when The Scribe bent down and picked up a worm. 


 "Fine, if you're so tough!"  She waved the worm next to the big girl's face and the bully jerked back in fear.  My oldest daughter's eyes lit with excitement.  Then she pushed the worm near all of the bullies' faces.  I couldn't believe my eyes.  She'd gone from the victim to the victor!  

You wouldn't believe how funny that looked.  Now to understand, you need to realize how gorgeous The Scribe is.  I know every parent says this about their kids, but when we lived in Santa Monica, a lady paid The Scribe one-hundred dollars for one picture of her.  She's been on greeting cards and other things.  She's really a pretty kid and it just cracks me up that she's such a tomboy.  

"If you're so tough, and you want to bully me, then lick it!  Show me you're brave enough to lick this worm," The Scribe said.

"Get it out of my face," one girl shrieked.

"You're so weird.  This is why we hate you," her friend said.

All three of them turned to run, but before they left completely, the big girl said, "This isn't over, Shorty.  You're so weird.  You'll never fit in here."

As they turned, I watched in horror as The Scribe threw the worm and it landed in the back of the big girl's hair.  I covered my mouth and gasped; that bully still had no idea the worm wriggled in her hair!

My girl's laughed really hard.  "What are you going to do about them tomorrow?" The Hippie asked.

"Oh, leave that to me."  The Scribe chuckled.  "I have a great idea."

They started walking back to our designated pick-up spot and I found it funny they still hadn't spotted me or the car.  "Do you really think they're pretty?"  The Scribe asked The Hippie.  "No one that mean can be pretty."



"God made them too, didn't He?" 

"Yeah, but they're so mean."  The Scribe paused, the one who's been a greeting cards and modeled for dozens of companies.  "Do you think I'm ugly?"

The Hippie hugged her sister.  "You're beautiful!  Don't let them make you sad."


I honked after that, and my girls saw me.  I had tears in my eyes because even though they fight, they'll always be there for each other.  I love those girls so much.

"How long have you been here?"  The Scribe asked.



"Just barely.  Why?"


"No reason."  The Scribe suddenly grinned as she leaned into the back of the seat.  

"What are you smiling about?" I asked.

"Oh nothing.  I'm just happy it rained today.  I love worms."   

So, I didn't say much to them about bullies or anything else.  Maybe I should have.  Maybe I should have reprimanded The Scribe for throwing a worm in some kid's hair.  But I felt they'd done an all right job of handling the situation and I was proud they hadn't let people walk on them like people walk on me.  

What would you have done if you were me?  Do you think they handled the situation okay? 
 

13 comments:

  1. Oh my gosh. I am so proud of your girls! I hope that one day when I have kids that they'll be there for each other like yours were. I know how I am with my little sister. Even though we're 10 years apart and we're nothing alike, I would stand up for her to anyone. I don't care how mean, or how different she is to me, she's my sister. :) I think you handled it well. They handled themselves with class (yes, that includes throwing a worm in the bullies hair).

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  2. WHat a great story. You must be awesome mom to ahve such awesome kids!

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  3. I think from the mom perspective you handled this wonderfully!
    You should be very proud of your girls, and of yourself for raising them!

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  4. You did handle it great, not me. I don't think I would care how old those little girls were I would have punched them right in the face. Called my husband to get his shot gun...LOL. Nobody puts baby in the corner! So proud of your girls.

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  5. Great photo. Bravo to your girls!
    Blessings!
    Ann
    PS I hope this goes through... I've commented on other posts but... they haven't gone through! Here's to trying again! :)

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  6. You ladies are sooo sweet. I must say though, I do feel bad for that worm.

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  7. There is only one thing I would have done differently if I were the Scribe.
    I would have torn the worm in three and tossed a piece in each one of the girl's hair!
    I'm so happy she didn't back down. Those girls would have kept tormenting her and the Hippie. The Hippie and Scribe are too sweet to have to worry about bullies.

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  8. You know I think they handled it beautifully! lol I love those girls so much! They crack me up. she's not lying either folks all her kids are beautiful!

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  9. YOUR . KIDS . ARE AWESOME, and you must be a fantastic mom to have raised them to think and act in those ways. I love both their reactions; both were perfectly appropriate for the situation. I love your reaction too, because you've got to let kids handle things at times when you are around, so they can develop the self-confidence to believe they can handle things when you're not there.
    "The Hippie and the scribe" are such creative terms of endearment; I LOVE that. AWWW the little Hippie is so sweet! And the scribe's worm trick is great!
    Sorry to ramble, but I am becoming a fangirl for your blog. :-)

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  10. Bullying is such a nightmare... sounds as though they handled it well. Must be so hard to watch as their parent xoxo

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  11. McFry!!!!
    *Sorry now I got that out of my system*
    Kudos to your beautiful courageous kids!! That you raised to be that way! You must be so proud!? and you did so well, but take your broom with you next time! You never know when you might need that thing!?

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  12. Your kids are MY hero's! Seriously, incredible how they're handling themselves and the bully situations. You're doing a great job Mom, I hope if I ever find myself in the situation, I do as well as you do!

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