[SugarMama]

I have tried to get her to stand up to people and to tell them that it's not acceptable for them to talk to her that way, or to tell the neighbor girl that if she can't be nice that she won't play with her but I can't get her to do it. I'm also a people pleaser and never want to rock the boat - from trying to keep the peace when I was a kid. When I worked I always wished that I knew how to stand up for myself more. I don't want Abby to feel that she will always get her way or that things will always go smoothly, but I want her to learn how to handle it when things don't work out like we want them to.

I never thought of the yelling portion of karate. That might be a good idea. Maybe I'll see if she wants to switch from gymnastics to karate for a while.

If you ask Abby, she'll say she has friends, that's because she thinks everyone is her friend. When I ask her who she played w/ at recess she says she talked to Mr. Fisher, the recess aid. I ask why she didn't play w/ any kids and she says that everyone told her no. I'm sure not "everyone" told her no, but that's how it feels to her. I've told her that she doesn't have to ask permission to join in a game, she just needs to jump in there and play.

They teach the core values at school, but when the kids aren't learning them at home it doesn't really sink in.

I'm going to talk to her teacher and see if she can give me any suggestions for who she thinks would be a good match for Abby. Someone w/ the same values as Abby. Then I'm hoping to invite the little girl over for a play date and try to foster a friendship between them. I'm so glad that I have two girls and that they're only 22 months apart. They really are best friends and I tell them all the time that they'll always be there for each other.