Yesterday afternoon, I got an email from Mia’s English teacher. There had been a bit of a meltdown on Mia’s part and the teacher wanted to let me know in case she was still upset last night. Here is a paragraph from her note:

“Please keep me posted if Mia expresses any concerns/anxiety at home.  There was a homecoming issue today because one of Mia’s classmates was “campaigning” for court in what I truly believe was a joking manner.  At the end of the class Mia looked a little down, and I asked her if she was okay, and she almost cried and shouted that she’s “just upset that no one would ever consider her for homecoming queen.”  The other student was very upset for having hurt Mia, and I pulled Mia out of her next class so I could talk to her along with the student who was “campaigning” as I put it earlier.  Mia seemed to understand and forgive the student who hurt her, but I wanted to make sure you knew about it. “

I gotta be honest that this hurt my heart. I cried here at work, standing in my cube. I texted a few friends who I know can relate and their replies all helped me a lot. I also called the teacher. She felt awful because she didn’t want Mia to be upset.

In my mind, I secretly plotted to stuff the darn ballot box for my girlie to be on the court! I know it’s not a reality-based thought, but hey! When my babies hurt, reality tends to fly out the door.  The teacher really had handled it beautifully. I also felt bad for the other student who was just being silly (which is all the attention Homecoming really deserves, anyway!)

I texted Mia repeatedly, but she did not reply. I asked Louisa to keep an eye out for her too in case she was still upset.  When I got home, Mia and Louisa were quietly watching Netflix. After an episode ended, I brought the situation up with Mia. She immediately said, “Yeah. I know. I got upset. But I am pretty sure now that I overreacted.”

You could have scraped my chin off the floor.

This kid has grown up SO MUCH. I wanted to cry again out of pride and joy for my girlie. Every little obstacle that has leaped into her path has just turned her into this amazing person. She also decided (on her own, mind you) to switch from Graphics Design to Computer Science class because another teacher explained it would be better for her dream of creating video games.  This is the same kid who used to flip out if I took a different route somewhere! She is handling change like a CHAMP!

So I can stop silently trying to come up with ways to stuff the Homecoming Court ballot box. She gets it. I am proud and humbled. I hope I handle my next crisis as well as she does.