My DD is 9, to cut a long story as short as possible - her core group of 6 good friends have all turned on her & are making her life hell at School - under the "leadership" of one scarily manipulative little madam - who was also her good friend - there has been problems with this girl before, but DD has always been very sensible & takes her as she finds her & Ironically pre Xmas holidays, having had the girl here a few times I actually thought she had improved a lot & perhaps grown out of old ways, she was actually very pleasant, which in the past has not been the case - how wrong I was - if anything her coming here & my spending time with the girls teaching them sewing etc seems to have kicked her off again :(
DD didn't get back to School first week & half of term as she was very ill - she was desperate to get back & see her friends, but on getting back - well its just awful, not good as DD has stress related health problems & she hadn't fully recovered from being so ill :(
The School as always are being brilliant - the Head actually picked up on the potential for problems after a few incidents last term & asked if I would like DD booked in with the School counsellor so she could off load, as its a difficult age with friendships & her missing the beginning of term could exasperate that - lots of other measures in place too, so its not how to approach the School etc that I need help with, as I'm very lucky & they are being brilliant :)
What I need is ideas on how I can best help her deal with this, as on top of dealing with bullying - which she has coped with well before - she is literally grieving for her friends & is so emotionally fragile its scary, it's badly effecting her health & I just feel useless :(
Situation is - 1 girl as mentioned above has set her self up as lead bully (like Sharpay form HSM as DD puts it) & is manipulating the rest of the group into doing her bidding as regards who to pick on etc etc - another once good friend (we've even taken her away with us :( ) is now her main side kick, but it has been another girl up until this term -
Everything did seem fine at the end of last term, but since getting back late to School she has been accused of not been ill at all & making it all up for attention & lots of similar stuff which as she was very ill is deeply upsetting for her
last year DD stood up to lead girl & refuses point blank to get involved with picking on other kids or bitching about other girls or generally just fawning over her in a false way - the others just go along with it because they are scared not too - 2 least involved have told DD this - one girl actually came to me & told me all about it, naming this girl & saying she is making the others be nasty to DD - basically backing DDs version 100% - whilst looking over her shoulder literally scared she would be seen :(
Lead bully is also lying to the others telling them things DD has said about them that aren't true & some are believing her - often deliberately whispered loudly in ear shot of DD :( & LG is following DD around at play, asking seemingly innocent questions & then reacting loudly as if DD is being nasty back - looking to get DD in trouble with staff - thankfully staff are aware of the situation, so its unlikely to work, but DD is in pieces & feels persecuted.
DD has already tried breaking herself away from the group & playing with others - this didn't work - not many girls in her class & playing with the boys brought its own problems, which also upset her- gawd boys can be so sexualised these days - so she started hanging out with a lovely natured older boy she knows from YC who took her under his wing & no presumptions - this resulted in the girls telling her loudly - 3 main ones on mass - you're either OUR friend, or you might as well go & kill yourself - the older boy went to the Head & told??.shes tried playing with younger ones - similar problems
lots more, but basically under the direction of 1, it seems they are trying to wear DD down - they won't be her friend unless she toes the line & does as manipulative lead girl dictates - but won't let her play with others without giving her hell :( - School have strategies in place that are helping this - this has resulted in them shouting she;s getting special treatment - she basically can't do right for doing wrong:(
Part of me wants to tell her to smack the Lead Bully HARD when no-one is looking as would have been the norm in my School days - but thats not how it works these days & TBH its just not DDs personality, if she was well, or needed to do it to protect someone else, she's more than capable, but its just not her - she's even worrying about making things worse for the weaker girls who've owned up to being scared if she tries & speaks much to them :( -
so I'm basically just consoling her & trying to get her to see that its not HER & that theres 2 reasons people hate others - they either want to be them - ie jealousy, or hate themselves & the victim reminds them of themselves - I think from some of the things said to DD in this case it sounds like the former
but how can I help her deal with grieving the loss of her actual Bullies - I'm just so sad for her & feel useless - anyone else been through this & have any tips
sorry for the long post - getting it off my chest I suppose
TIA
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Bitchy Group Of Bullying Girls - *WERE* DDs Good Friends - How Can I Help Her …...
23 replies
rockinhippy · 20/01/2012 11:42
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