Friends

Well, Blaise had a good first day of school. He said he liked his teacher, he made a good little friend, played soccer at recess, did NO work, and walked home with 8 of his friends. I was so relieved and happy for him. I know how it is to go to a new school, and it seemed to be going okay!

Today, was another story. As soon as I saw him and he gave me a hug, in front of other people, I knew something was wrong. I asked him how his day was, and he said fine. He isn't much of a talker. So we started walking home. About halfway home, he looked at me and quietly said, "Some kids were mean to me today."

My heart sank.

He told me that at recess when they were playing soccer, some boys kept calling him "weirdee" and were tackling him because he kept getting the ball away from everyone. (In a couple years being the best soccer player will win him some friends, but at this age, it just means he is a target to get picked on.) I asked him what he did and he said that he just went and sat on the wall by himself.

Then he said in class they were talking about their summer vacation at their table, and every time he tried to say what he did, 2 other boys told him to stop talking and they didn't want to hear what he did. I could tell he was so hurt by it. He started to cry and said "I felt like no one cared for me."

I didn't know what to do, so I just put my arm around him and we walked home. When we got home I sat him down and told him that I loved him, and I cared a lot about him. I asked him if he had any friends today, and he said he had one. He had one little friend that ate with him. That same little friend sat on the wall with him when people were calling Blaise names during soccer, and that same little friend got made fun of when he told the other boys that he wanted to hear what Blaise did for summer vacay.

I wanted to wrap my arms around Blaise, and that one little friend. I am so thankful for that little guy. I explained to Blaise that sometimes having one good friend is better than having the whole entire school like you. That having one friend that you can depend on and have fun with and be there for each other is a great blessing, and that I was so happy that he had found a friend like that. He started to feel better, and said, "Thanks Mom. I know kids are mean, and I really want to try to not be mean to other kids. And tomorrow when kids are mean to my friend, I will go and sit with him like he did for me."

I hope tomorrow is better for Blaise, and his friend. I hope that he REALLY remembers this and tries not to be mean to others. And I hope that tomorrow I wake up and kids all over the land can stop being so mean to each other.