Mama and her Cub

I think most children have experienced teasing at one point or another. Glasses that are too big, pants that are too small, scrawny arms, a big butt...all are causes of nasty remarks from peers as we grow up. I tended to internalize those remarks, tell funny jokes to be like-able so that the teasing would cease. I made it through grade school relatively unscathed.



Survived feels like such a strong word to justify what I went through. Kids today are survivors. Today kids are tortured...literally. It's difficult to turn on the news and hear about another child who harmed themselves due to taunting and bullying. It makes me so angry which explains why my mama bear claws came out yesterday.

Future step-daughter Christian is with us for the extended weekend. On our drive home from the store, she began sharing about the fight she and her best friend were in. Typical teen stuff...I donned by best "cool step mom/social worker" hat and provided some advice. I tried to hold back and let her come to the best conclusion without my influence. She voiced frustrations that BF was trying to get other friends "on her side" which left Christian feeling bad since she wasn't quite sure why BF was upset in the first place. We talked through her feelings and by the end she felt a little better. I felt like I did a pretty okay job as step mom and we went home to make dinner.

Then she opened her facebook account. Apparently BF consulted her older brother about the fight and he decided to email Christian. He threatened her, saying things that made my skin crawl. I was appalled. Then I was pissed! I could feel the adrenaline rush, my lips purse and my blood boil.

No one threatens my cub.

I wanted to drive the 250 miles to this little shit's house and give him a piece of my mind. I wanted to tell him to stay out of someone else's argument and allow them to solve it by talking it out. I wanted to yell at him for threatening to harm this beautiful little girl.

I did my best to keep my cool. We blocked him from her account. I passed on the information to MJ so he and Christian's mom could handle the situation. Parents conversed, decisions are being made and in the end I am sure things are going to be fine.

I have never felt that innate sense of protection before. And as I sat there last night, braiding her hair before bed I looked at her and sighed, smiled, and thought that I am a lucky woman to have this little "cub" in my life.