Mama Bear..........

My 6yo is in a a large class at VBS. She only knows 1 other girl in that class (and not very well), but has been very eager to make friends. Unfortunately her first attempts have exposed her to the ruthlessness of children. She came home crying yesterday because the little girl who had said she would be her friend was mean to her. She had asked the little girl if she could sit by her in 1 class and stand in line by her in another, both times she was told "No, I don't want to sit/stand with you". My poor little girl was heartbroken, she could not understand why this little girl would want to be friends in the morning but later in the day be so mean. She said "I wish I had more cousins........" ;o) The younger class is where most of the other kids from our church are..... Her sister, her cousins, and a couple girls close to her age. Though it is a class for 4 & 5 yo's, I was going to put her there because she would know more kids and could be there for her sister who often does not handle situations like these very well, but she wanted to be in the correct age group and I had to swallow my fears for her and sister (who rarely do anything apart from each other) and remember the end goal. I can't hold J back for her little sister, I can't push B forward for her big sister. They have to stretch their own wings and learn to be brave even if they are not together. I have to admit I was more worried about B (4.5yo). She, however, has done wonderful. It has been so good for her to be a big girl. And, hard as it is to hold my J while she cries, trying to answer all of her "why's", this experience will be good for her too. I offered to let her change classes and be in the class with her friends but, trooper that she is, she didn't want to give up, didn't want to go to the little kid class........ Even today, when the girls were not any friendlier, did she want to give up. She makes me so proud :o)
I think that, even though I hate the hard parts, it is good for me too. Good to remember that I can't protect them from all life's hurts all of the time, that my job is to help them handle the hurts the right way, good to remember that they have to grow up and I get to help them as they do, and good to remember that I do not have to do it on my own. God will help me as I try to always turn them to Him.
I think we are going to get more out of VBS this year than I had anticipated!