In today’s society, as parents, we teach our children to be themselves and to not let people bully them into following the crowd just because its the “cool” thing to do. Ya know, kissing boys/girls, sex, drugs, smoking, alcohol, etc. Yet, tonight at dinner Breelyn was made fun of by a little girl and her two brothers because she chose to wear a ballet dress with a tiny sparkle pink hat to dinner (I wore this hat at our Young Living beauty school event with 20 other ladies! Dare I say we looked fabulous?!-see photo below). It wasn’t hidden, Breelyn was aware they were laughing at her, and their parents said nothing to stop it. If my daughters or other children who I was responsible for (friends, family etc) were doing that, I would absolutely say something and make them apologize for their inappropriate behavior.

Here lies my dilemma... Am I frustrated at those little kids for their behavior? Or am I truly irritated by the lack of parenting going on? Truth is BOTH! How awful for those parents to sit there and not say a word to their own children making fun of someone sitting at the next table. We should teach them love, joy, respect, manners, kindness, and grace because these are the things God gives to us. “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” (Colossians‬ ‭3:12‬ ‭NIV‬‬) And those kids won’t stand a chance in the real world when they are older if they continue their current behavior, because lets face it- they will continue if its not changed while they are young. “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.” (Proverbs‬ ‭22:6‬ ‭NIV‬) Those parents are doing the biggest disservice to their children by allowing them to treat others that way. What happened to the old sayings “Treat others as you would like to be treated” or “if you can’t say anything nice, then dont say anything at all”

I am in no way saying that my daughter is perfect, or that I am always the best version of a parent I can be. I do not claim to know everything or that I have this life figured out. Every day is a new challenge begging for God’s guidance. But what I am saying is in this moment- something needed to be said and corrected. I was not present at dinner tonight because I stayed home with our youngest who was sleeping for the night already (making teeth is hard work!). Regardless if this was happeneding to my daughter or not- it is not right. As a mom, I am so saddened that my child’s feelings are hurt and she may second guess wearing something because of fear of getting laughed at again.

Have any of you encountered something like this? How did you respond? How did your child coop? Words of encouragement for me/her? Please!!

I will leave you with this to ponder...

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians‬ ‭13:4-13‬ ‭NIV‬‬