Yesterday as I was dropping Trinity off at school in the drive through lane I noticed an adorable little girl exiting the car in front of us. She hopped out of a black BMW with windows tinted so dark I couldn’t tell if the driver was a male or a female. I suspect the little girl was a first grader, based on her enthusiasm to be at school and her size. She had golden skin, shoulder length caramel colored hair and a big dimpled smile. As she shut the passenger car door, she instantly put her face up to the darkened window and started waving at the person inside the car with a big grin on her face. She then skipped around the front of the car and ran up to the driver side window and repeated the waving performance.
Normally I would be annoyed that she was taking so long, but she was so darn cute I loved watching her express her joy and love for whomever was the driver of the vehicle. Off she skipped into school. Everything about this little girl evoked confidence, security in herself and joy.
As I pulled away with a smile, I noticed a very tall girl, probably a 7th grader, walking through the parking lot with her eyes averted to the ground. One hand carried a violin case, the other hand was intertwined with her Mother’s, who stood only an inch shorter than her daughter. Her face was filled with anxiety and you could sense the dread as she entered the campus. The smile left my face as I felt for this young lady. I just kept thinking about the 2 girls all day.
How ironic that the young girl’s parent didn’t even bother to roll down the window to their adorable waving daughter and yet she skipped off with big smile eagerly awaiting her day. The sad anxiety filled girl was being escorted onto campus by her loving and doting mother yet that wasn’t enough to relieve her stress and fears.
How is it life can be so easy and carefree for some and so hard for others?
xoxo tiffani
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That story definitely left me with such food for thought and we may never know the real reason for either girls’ reaction, but still makes you wonder!! xoxo!!
Since my daughter turned 13 — really her whole middle school time, I have seen her turn from a joyous happy girl to an insecure sullen person. So very sad and hard for me. A therapist recommended the book “Reviving Ophelia”. It shows the dramatic transform of girls. And not in a positive way. They go from believing they can do anything to the young teen you observed and what has happened to my daughter. I so wish I hadn’t just assumed or taken for granted she would be that bubbly happy child as a teen.
That breaks my heart for both of you. It is so hard to watch our children feel sadness or pain. xoxo
So I am thinking of that 7th grader and wondering if she was sad and depressed or maybe embarrassed to have her mother walking her to school and holding her hand!!! At that age if memory serves me correct they start exerting their independence. My daughter took the bus to school and by 5th grade there was no more me walking to the bus stop with her!
I am pretty sure my children would die if I walked them into school holding their hand at that age, but you could tell this girl wasn’t embarrassed by her mother but nervous of something else. 🙁 xoxo
Every child is different and every personality is different from birth. Nick cried on his first day of first and second grades as we waited by the door of the classroom with him. Johnny took the bus to school for his first day of school from first grade on – not because we wanted him to, but because he did. He is always fine and great with everything. But, he also gets more unnerved about things that you would not suspect. They have taught me not to judge a book by its cover 🙂
It is amazing how different each child is. Trinity hates me to watch her do anything at school and Tabitha would freak out if I ever even considered missing something. Happy Easter BF! xxoo