The Howler has been having a small issue with some chicklet on the bus calling her names and saying mean things.
The Howler has shared her frustration with me. I have been all over it--giving the right advice (I know, I know! How weird is that?) and telling her, first, to ignore and to be nice.
That didn't work. (Shock & surprise!)
So, I next suggested she talk to the bus driver, when they got to school, since nasty chicklet is on the bus before-and-after the Howler's stop. So, she did. Apparently, one of the teachers also heard this nasty girl say something mean to the Howler.
That remains to be seen. (the Howler gets to move her seat, no further questions asked.)
Hopefully, that solves the problem. If it doesn't, ol' Mama Mumple is gonna be involved.
But that's not really what this post is about. What this post is about, is this: The Howler, after a particularly trying day at containing herself, was horrid to be around. I sent her to her room, for general annoyance. She knows that if she's sent to her room for general annoyance, she can come out whenever she is ready to stop the annoyance and be as decent to be around as any one 9 year old can be.
She never came out.
I went up to talk to her, and see if we couldn't get whatever the bug was, out. We had a nice, non-annoying chat, and at the end, I stressed to her that I want her to find NICER, FRIENDLIER, less-confrontational ways to communicate with people. I asked her if she knew why.
She responded with: "so I can be not as mean and grumpy as you are?"
God, I love that girl.
