About Rebecca Eckler
Since becoming pregnant with her daughter Rowan, Canadian journalist and author Rebecca Eckler has penned three hilarious books, including the best-selling Knocked Up. Catch Rebecca’s weekly unique perspective on motherhood and single parenthood.
I am a pretty laid-back mother, except when it comes to my daughter, then the gloves come out. HA! Well, the gloves don’t come out, but I DO speak up.
Though the school year has yet to begin, I called my daughter’s new teacher. Possibly not the right thing to do, since it’s still the teacher’s summer vacation (which they deserve because they work so hard), but when something is on my mind, or I’m concerned about something that has to do with my daughter, I can’t wait. (Sorry teacher, but thanks for returning my call within minutes. You are AWESOME!)
My daughter (and I’m not saying this because I’m her mother) is the effing sweetest girl in the world. (Swearing is needed here to prove the point of how sweet my daughter is.)
She will give her toys away to crying children in the park. She will gather her shoes that still fit to give away to the less fortunate. There’s not one homeless person in Toronto that she can pass without asking me for money to give to them. That kid at school that no one likes because they are somewhat of a bully? Well, my daughter will go out of her way to play with that kid, even if he spits at her.
Sometimes, I don’t know how she came from my body. What I do know is that, unfortunately, being sweet is not always a good thing. Hear me out: because she is so sweet, so good-natured, so sympathetic and empathetic, she is often forgotten about at school, or is “pawned off” on the kids that no one else wants to play or deal with.
I have noticed this since kindergarten. It didn’t bother me so much then, but now that she’s older, I think she needs to find her own way in the world. Meaning, I think she should make her own decisions of who she wants to play with. I think just because she’s the sweetest kid in the world, and it may be easier for teachers to pair her up with the less-than-easy kids, I almost feel like she’s being somewhat punished for her sweetness.
So I made the phone call, explaining my concern to the teacher. Last year, in one of her classes, she was always stuck between two “rowdy” boys who would fight over her. My poor daughter, because she is so kind, didn’t say anything to the teacher, but came home and told me she couldn’t enjoy her music class because of these boys.
Don’t get me wrong. Her sweetness is what makes her such a wonderful child and student. I just don’t want her to be taken advantage of. Am I overreacting? Maybe. Possibly. But I’m glad I made the phone call. And, as I said to her teacher, I will only say it once. I’ve said my piece. And now I can go back to being a laid-back mother.
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