Stupid Girl

Yesterday we saw an older girl(11-15) lifting her shirt for two younger boys (6-8) while three younger girls(4-6) watched on and, of course eventually started to imitate the older girl. I was furious watching it and so pointed it out to my husband. He watched for a minute and agreed that intervention was necessary. Since I was tending the kids, he went to talk to the girl. In hindsight, I should have gone. He went there as a father, with a 2 year old who could have been one of those younger girls, looking up to this girl who is teaching them that this is how to get attention. I saw it this way too, but I could also see it as that chubby girl who is getting all of the boys attention for once. Now, I will admit that I lifted my shirt at the cajoling of boys when I was young, but we were all the same age, and there were no younger ones getting influenced.

My husband stormed up to the girl, demanded to know where she lived, and when no answer came he asked how old the youngest of the group was. Three. "That is child abuse! I've got half a mind to call the police!". Threats of calling the cops and "you know better!". Now, please know that I believe the girl was totally in the wrong, if not criminally so since I'm pretty sure she was their babysitter, but I think threats are never the way to go. She was quite embarassed and very apologetic, which is good, but I still think a word about self respect would have been more valuable than arrest threats. I didn't do anything, and o really feel like I should have. If Veggie Tales have taught me nothing else, it's that doing nothing is the same as doing something wrong.

So now I have a plan. One of the girls involved in the whole thing walks with her mother down our street every morning to the bus, then the mom walks home. I was thinking I might stopthe mom to talk to her about what we saw. If that girl is her babysitter, I thinkshe would want to know what was going on. But also, I think that girl has self esteem issues and could use a heavy talk from people who love her. Not just to be made to feel like garbage by some neighbour. I think I'm coming off as too sympathetic, but maybe I am. I was furious that she was sending that message to the younger girls, but I know that it's coming from a vulnerable place.

Good thing no one reads this. It's drivel.