in which the children discuss something other than super mario bros

i'm not sure how it started, but last night i sat in the kids' room and talked and i learned that beatrice is nervous about starting first grade because she doesn't like being the new girl.  i also learned that she was being teased - about being new, about her clothes, about generally just being bea.  it broke my heart both to know that she is being hurt and that she didn't feel like she could talk to me. 

i told her that she should never be afraid to talk to me and that i would never be angry or upset with her for telling me the truth, no matter what.  i told her that if she was ever teased again she should tell me and that i would do everything in my power to make it better.  i also told her that if i couldn't make it better - and sometimes i wouldn't - that i would take her out for ice cream and at least we could be sad over dessert.

i struggle a lot with how to make bea a happy and confident little girl.  she is so easily hurt and discouraged and nothing i say or do seems to bolster either her mood or her confidence.  i tell her that she is smart and special and talented and beautiful but it either doesn't matter or doesn't come across as sincere.  maybe both.  even more than i never want to see my babies physically injured i don't want to see them emotionally hurt. 

meanwhile, hardie added the ever helpful 'if someone teases you you don't be their friend'.  also he was pretty excited about the ice cream.