The Panty Wars

So we all know how mean girls can me. They even made a movie about it, right? But that was about high school girls. When do these cute little girls become "mean girls"? High School? Middle school? My mom, a 3rd grade teacher, will be the first to tell you that she's seen how girls can be as early as 3rd grade. But how about a 3-4 year old class? Yep.

This week is the last week of school for many kids, including Gabriella's preschool class. As far as she's told me, she's enjoyed it. She's made friends, but has pretty much stuck herself to one little girl all year. Tuesday, however, when I picked her up I could tell she was upset. As I asked her about her day she told me that some of the girls didn't want to play with her. She proceeded to tell me they said they didn't want to play with her because she didn't have the same kind of panties as they did! Of course, my initial thought was "Why is everybody showing each other their undergarments?" Apparently the girls asked each other what they were wearing. The others were wearing princess, but Gabriella told them she had on Dora panties. (Silly mom for thinking she could just put on the first pair I grabbed out of her drawer...what was I thinking?) So because she was honest and said she had Dora, they didn't want to play with her that day. And it must have been bad enough because she said the teacher had to tell them to stop teasing. Of course we talked about how that was not nice that they were teasing her and we shouldn't tease people...all that good parenting stuff. But then after dinner she and I took a trip to Wal-Mart to buy her some new panties. Hannah Montana to be exact, since she's the "big deal" among Gabriella's preschool class.

Wednesday she went to school wearing her new Hannah Montana undergarments. After school she told me that she told her friends she had Hannah Montana ones. These girls were not too impressed. They told her they didn't have any and that that was cool, but they still didn't want to play with her. Her one little girl friend did play with her,though, and Gabriella was fine with that. So, today was the last day of preschool. I sent her to school in a cute dress and curled her hair. (Because I wanted to, nothing to do with those mean girls.) And under her dress, Gabriella wore another pair of Hannah Montana undergarments. (Yes, because of the girls!)

I walked her to the playground where her class was and watched her, even though she didn't know I was watching her. There, at the door, were 3 little girls from her class. And let me tell you they looked at Gabriella like "Who do you think you are?" and gave her a 4 -year old version of the mean girl glare. Well, Gabriella, who is timid at school but no where else, walked right through them with a "Get out of my way" attitude. She turned the corner and there was her little friend who Gabriella immediately said hi to. She didn't even let the other girls get under her skin! I was so proud. Her little friend smiled and said "Woohoo Gabriella!" Gabriella responded with, "Thanks, my mom got me this dress," as she flicked back her hair in such a prissy way. The last glimpse I got of her was her leaning one hand on the wall and the other hand on her hip with the ever famous Gabriella attitude and a smile on her face. I, too, was smiling as I walked back to the car. I'm glad she stood up for herself, in a 4 year old way at least! And if it took Hannah Montana panties for her to gain a little confidence, then it was worth the $4.

So to all you moms with daughters- brace yourself. I can already tell it's going to be a long, bumpy road! Mean girls at preschool...who would have thought? And to think, I have about 14 more years of this!