Grace's Mom
In response to my last post, a friend said:
I didn't mention that the grumpy girl's mom was with her when she came in the store. As they were walking around, I smiled at the girl and said something like, "So, you're grumpy today, huh?" And her mom called from across the room, "Oh, she's always grumpy."
Well, duh! If your mom tells you you're grumpy, and probably buys you grumpy t-shirts, it makes sense that you'd be grumpy.
I remember when my cousin was little, and she'd be shy around people and hide behind her mom. Her mom would always laugh and say, "Are you pretending to be shy?" Knowing my Aunt Becki, I'm sure she handled her daughter's the same way when they "pretended" to be grumpy or hateful. She let them know that, as far as she was concerned, this was not their true nature. And, now, both her girls are lovely young women who are friendly and kind and gracious -- and when they're not, it's because they're not acting like themselves.
I try to emulate that attitude toward the people I love, believing that when they act grumpy, angry, shy, or whatever, they're just not acting themselves today. I'm a friend of Grace, even if she sometimes pretends to be Grumpy.
It's really sad, isn't it. "Ugly" and "Dufus" and "Grumpy" are obvious
defense mechanisms . . . Where are [these kid's] parents? Why aren't their teachers helping them cope and understand how to deal?
I didn't mention that the grumpy girl's mom was with her when she came in the store. As they were walking around, I smiled at the girl and said something like, "So, you're grumpy today, huh?" And her mom called from across the room, "Oh, she's always grumpy."
Well, duh! If your mom tells you you're grumpy, and probably buys you grumpy t-shirts, it makes sense that you'd be grumpy.
I remember when my cousin was little, and she'd be shy around people and hide behind her mom. Her mom would always laugh and say, "Are you pretending to be shy?" Knowing my Aunt Becki, I'm sure she handled her daughter's the same way when they "pretended" to be grumpy or hateful. She let them know that, as far as she was concerned, this was not their true nature. And, now, both her girls are lovely young women who are friendly and kind and gracious -- and when they're not, it's because they're not acting like themselves.
I try to emulate that attitude toward the people I love, believing that when they act grumpy, angry, shy, or whatever, they're just not acting themselves today. I'm a friend of Grace, even if she sometimes pretends to be Grumpy.