I am all too familiar with the dramatics of growing up a girl. I have little affection towards memories of issues with friends and my concerns with self-worth.
My stomach lurched when I found my self right smack in the middle of this conversation. With my THREE-year-old:
ME: "Amelia, are you so glad your friend Emily is back at school this week?"
Amelia: "Yeah, but she kept running from me."
ME: "What do you mean, running from you?"
Amelia: "I wanted to talk to her about vacation. But she just kept running... I don't think she likes me anymore."
ME: "But of course she likes you! You are friends! Why do you say that?"
Amelia, with a sad face: "I don't know why she doesn't like me, Mommy. But I don't think she likes me anymore."
I am speechless for a moment.
Amelia, grasping my hand: "Mommy? We will always be friends."
Sigh.
- - - -
Luckily, like most girly friendship issues, the sad feelings were gone within a day. Emliy and Amelia are very good friends again. Or, I suspect, they always were.
But wow, did my eyes open wide with that conversation. I didn't even know she knew what "doesn't like me" means! I suppose I'd better start getting prepared for the pre-teen years to come.
Yikes.
