After picking up Claire from arboretum camp:
Me: So did you have fun today, sweet girl?
Claire (6yrs): …..Uh…..kind of…
Me: Awe, what wasn’t so great about it?
Claire: A boy in my class said some mean things to me….
It ….. it hurt my heart.
Me: Oh no! I’m so sorry! Did you tell him to stop?
Claire: Yeah, but it didn’t help.
Me: Did you say something to your teacher? She could help, you know.
Claire: [shakes head stubbornly] I just want to tell my mommy.
Me: Awe, sweet girl, I’m glad you did. I can’t do much when I’m not there.
Claire: I know. But you still make it all better.
Me: [sigh] What did the little boy say?
Claire: [withdraws and grimaces] I don’t want to say it. [sighs and looks out window]
Me: Awe, okay. You sure?
Claire: [gets heated and semi-philosophical] Yes. You know why? If I say his words again out loud, I’ll remember them more, and they’ll eat away at me, and eat away at me, and pretty soon, I won’t be able to forget them until the day I die. [Huff! Fold arms across chest, resolute]
Me: Man, fair enough.
