Kids can be cruel. Some kids get off on being bullies, which can often have dire consequences for those on the receiving end. Others are unintentionally mean, but that doesn’t mean their words don’t hurt. When you’re an adult, you’re supposed to be able to shake the comments off, but there are times when kids’ comments can hit on something we’re already sensitive about.
One insecure mom is opening up about how a comment from her son’s classmates highlighted something she was already worried about. And even though she knows they’re just kids, their words hurt.
The mom opened up about a recent incident in the Reddit Parenting forum.
Her feelings came up after chaperoning a field trip for her son’s third grade class. She said that the field trip went “fine.” But a few days later, her son opened up, telling her the boys in his grade had been teasing him. According to the boy, they said his mom looked like a “homeless grandma with grey hair.” And while it didn’t seem to bother him, he was “just telling” her about it.
“I feel utterly destroyed. The last time the words of a 9 year old hurt me like this, I was also 9,” she wrote.
She shared some more background about herself and why the words hurt her feelings.
In her post, she revealed that she and her son had moved to a new city two years ago after she got divorced. It’s a small city, and a fairly wealthy one at that. Many of the moms stay at home, but she has to work to support her family. “I am constantly struggling just to keep everyone healthy and happy and on time,” she confessed.
She’s trying to “embrace” her gray hair, so she stopped dyeing it a few years ago. The mom is aware of how she’s different from the other moms at her son’s school. “I don’t have a 7k purse, or my nails done, and I don’t have the nicest or most expensive things to wear,” she shared.
“My son already feels different and already has a hard time being accepted by the other kids,” the insecure mom confessed. “I feel so guilty like my appearance is adding to his difficulty with peers except I honestly don’t have much in terms of time or $ to fix it.”
In the end, she shared that she’s “so sad.”
People were quick to shower the insecure mom with love.
One commenter wrote: “I’m so sorry. I think that would hurt most people’s feelings. It’s so much more a reflection of the values of these kids and their families than it is at all about you. I personally love that you’re embracing your grays. And you took PTO to show up for your son for a trip. The world can be so cruel but being and raising good people is such an act of resistance. Big hug. It’s ok to be sad and hurt. But please don’t let this dampen your spirit or change how and when you show up for your son.”
“It is awesome that he’s talking to you openly about things like that,” another person wrote. “Kudos mama. You sound like you’re doing great. Kids can be mean, raising good well adjusted good communicators is hard — but sounds like you’re doing it.”
“Well, those kids suck and their parents suck even more for raising kids who would talk like that about other people and their parents,” another commenter added. “And I’m sorry this happened to you and your son. Keep your head up and tell your son the same. Real friends come with kind words, he’ll find his people.”
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