I have a 11 year old girl just finishing her 1st year of Middle School.  I think this had to be one of the hardest years for her.

She was hit by a teacher this year.  She was 10 when it happened the first time during the “Camp” get acquainted time at school and then once right after school started.  There was a teacher who got a lot of complaints from sixth grade students about this teacher.  She ended up saying she was hit and her teacher reported it to the principal who said the teacher admitted to doing it.  There were witnesses and he admitted to hitting her BUT none of the other kids were harassed and the teacher is a hero or wonderful to most of the student body in 7th and 8th grade along with their parents.  So this made her an outcast.  How out of all the complaints and others saying they were hit did she end up the face of ruining this teachers career I don’t know.  I know that we’ve done all we can to make her feel good about herself.

The part that really bugs me is the fact so many students ousted her.  She came to this school with a good amount of friends from elementary school and I feel that because they want to “fit in” it’s better to not be friends with her, the problem student.

Yesterday I was with a friend and she pointed out that all I can do is make sure she’s clean, not stinky, and send her to school.  Middle School is hard and I’ve heard this from others too.  She’s got to figure out social issues on her own to grow as a person and be able to stand up for herself.

I have to say that my thought for her as a little girl was that she’d never feel alone like I did growing up.  That she’d have friends who cared about her and sometimes I get so sad to see how her friends abandoned her.  I know kids grow apart but not one of the kids from her elementary school hang out with her or invite her anywhere and when she invites them there is always something going on.  Now that isn’t completely true but it is for the kids at her now Middle School.

Next year she’ll be going to another Middle School.  Not because of the friend problems or the cyber bullying but because she was hit by a teacher, harassed, told people wanted her dead, and her being so unhappy with all that happened. She deserves a new fresh start.

My point is Tweenage and Teenage years suck a lot.  I’m staying out of her way and letting her feel and grow on her own and it’s so hard at times.  I want to shield her from anything bad but that won’t help her at all. I’m glad I have friends who remind me of this.  As long as she knows I’m here for her that is what really matters.  Since I’ve let her feel feelings and stand back she’s opened up to me more as well. I know we aren’t alone in this situation as well and it’s great when I meet others who have similar experiences and get through them.

It gives me hope.