Dear Avery,
Today I saw a very haunting viral video about mean kids on a school bus. In a world where everything is now digital and can be posted on any site imaginable, we see a lot of evil things. As you grow up, I imagine that this only will become more and more common. The kids on the school bus taunted an older woman who’s job is to protect them from crossing the street. They were just awful to her. Calling her names and making her cry. It broke my heart.
Here’s what I want you learn for this:
1. Standing up for others who can not stand up for themselves is a really hard thing to do. Do it anyway.
2. Joining the crowd who makes fun of someone else is really easy to do. In fact, it’s too easy. If you can stop the bullying — do so. If you can’t, don’t join them. Walk away. << That is harder than you think.
3. Know that everyone around you is fighting a battle of their own. Be the light in their life, don’t be the darkness.
4. There will always be prettier, smarter, funnier girls than you (or so you’ll think). Always. You will always compare yourself to them. It’s normal to jealous or envious. But don’t take it out on them. Being the nice girl is the most rewarding and will carry you so much further.
Mean Girls suck. They do. And years later, everyone will remember who they were. You want to be remembered as the girl that smiled a lot and made people feel welcomed.
Knowing your parents as well as I do, I know you won’t be a Mean Girl. They won’t let you. And I sure as hell won’t let you be either. That’s what I’m here for.
Until next time.
With love,
Aunt Megs*
With Love, Aunt Megs 