"A boy likes me.."

Hey everyone! So here's a recent update..

I'm going to start trying to update you and write a new post everyday. So far this "self isolation time" I have been babysitting. One of the many important things to me about babysitting is making a good impression on the kid. This means leaving a good impact on the kid and setting an example they can look up to. Well of course its always hard to block out any words from shows that might rub off on the kid, but its more than that, its also just being a good person and showing character traits that the child will admire and want to be like.

When I was babysitting a little girl named Pearl she shared with me a fact that honestly made my heart hurt a little, this is how the conversation went...

Me: So how do you like school.

Her: I don't really like it there.

Me: How come??

Her: There's a kid that bullies me there.

Me: I'm so sorry, what do they do? And have you told anyone?

Her: They just do bully stuff and I told the teacher but they haven't done anything about it.

This little girl was going through exactly what I went through, I asked her if she believed the things they said and she said no, I then asked her if she new she was perfect and loved and beautiful. She said yes, which made me very proud of her and a bit relived even though I know the bullying is still a massive issue. This little girl has had a rough family life and she doesn't deserve at all to feel bad about herself or be talked down to. No one deserves that.

One of the best things we can do for kids especially if we are in a position of authority over them is to listen to what they say and check on their situation. This also goes along with the fact of always setting a good example for them and creating a steady self image for them to have while they grow up. This advise can go for anyone you know, maybe it's a sibling or maybe a peer or a kid you babysit. It's important to ask them the questions of...

"Do you feel safe at home?"

"Do you love yourself?"

"Are you happy with your life?"

"Do you know you are perfect and loved and enough?"

This is why I know that Pearl is not going to be greatly affected by the bullying, I asked her those questions. Although the bullying is a problem, because obviously bullying is just an awful thing and should never happen. As someone who has been brutally verbally bullied, it can leave affects no one will ever understand and it is not a joke at all. But Pearl has something I didn't have, she has a steady sense of self worth. I will share with you one thing I thought was funny but also a problem. When I asked her if she knew she was lovable she leaned in and whispered.

"You know how I know I am? Because a boy likes me."

I thought it was funny because it was a little second grader saying this and it was very cute because she really is a very pretty girl. But the problem with this idea is that being lovable is based off the attention you receive from others when in fact the most important love is being loved by yourself.

So this advise goes to you, and anyone you want to share it with.

You are loved, you are important and how much you matter has nothing to do with the attention you get from others. Loving yourself is the most important part and you are always worthy of love no matter what.