Mean Girls at Every Age and Stage

Women tend to be more sensitive, yet more judgemental. We gossip more, yet we hate to think we are gossiped about. We can't stand mean girls, yet we are mean to one and other. Why oh why do so many women treat other women so poorly at every age and stage of life?

My daughter is the victim of mean girls on the playground and she is only 5 years old. The other day at recess, a group of three girls asked my daughter to play hide and seek. So she closed her eyes, counted to 10 and when she opened her eyes, the girls pointed, laughed at her and ran off to play another game right in front of her. How can such young girls be so mean?! I naively thought this type of behaviour started in junior high. I had no idea I would have to deal with my daughter's heart break at such a very young age.

The same day this happened to my daughter, I had a "mean girl" experience myself. I was at the gym, and a group of women in their 50's very openly whispered, while staring at me, and then started to laugh. What is wrong with people?!! Yes, my hair's dyed platinum. Deal with it!

My Mom has always told me that this is how women behave when they are jealous. I don't always believe this to be the case, but I can honestly say that I have caught myself judging someone, or unfairly disliking them, because of my own insecurities or jealousy. Is this reaction just born into us?

I see all of this nastiness coming into my sweet daughter's life and I want to believe it's not an issue of jealousy. I want to believe that doesn't start at age 5...but then I think about how she has better fashion sense than most adults, and most certainly better than Mommy. I think about her beautiful curly hair and her sparkling eyes. I think about how creative and wonderful she is. I know I'm biased, but are they jealous? Is that why my daughter has recently stopped wearing her dresses that she so loves?

Being a parent, being a woman, certainly has its challenges, but I am actively going to work on being less judgemental, less jealous and more grateful. I will work on being more kind, more thoughtful and more accepting and I will make sure my daughter learns the importance of this lesson she is having to learn at such a very young age.

Be kind, at every age and stage of life!