Is it really starting this early?

As high school teachers, Steve and I witness the good and bad interactions that girls have with each other every day.  I like to think that the mean girl antics that I see are restricted to girls that are 13 years old or older.  Unfortunately, it starts a little earlier ... like when they are 3 years old. 

Lucy has done a fantastic job with the transition to a new school.  She was so comfortable at her old school (so were we) and she had been with all of the kids in her class since they were infants.  Her new school has been as good as we could have hoped for, but Lucy has struggled at times to find a close friend. Steve and I have not really been concerned because we just figured that it would take a while for her to feel entirely comfortable with her peers. 

This week has been tough though.  Lucy has come home crying multiple days.  When we asked her why she was crying, it basically amounted to this:  I wanted to play with Jane and she said she didn't want to be my friend.  She told me to quit following her and go away. 

Sad.  So, so sad.  Is there anything worse than seeing your child cry about that?  Sometimes as a teacher I get on my high horse about how parents need to butt out and take a step back, but things like this shed some light on how those parents are feeling.  No matter what the situation is, there is nothing worse that seeing your child suffer, and if there were something you could do to protect them, you would.

Of course, in this case there is little we can do.  Lucy needs to toughen up and realize that if people are making her sad then she needs to find new friends to play with. 

So while this may not seem like much, it does make me anxious for the future.  Girls certainly don't get any nicer when they get older. 

Oh, Lucy Goose, hang in there.  We love you.  We always will.