Not trying to be harsh here, but it’s true.
(I almost filed this entry as a rant, but even though it’s kind of mean, there’s no anger behind it. So it goes in here.)
A lot of times when new kids start at my school, they’re a bit nervous and scared. Especially the really young ones. They’re not sure what’s going on, only that mommy’s gone and left them with a bunch of strangers and have no idea when she’s coming back. So of course there’s some crying.
And sometimes screaming.
Being the only avowed “never gonna have kids” person at work, I thought my reaction to some of them was unique to me. I’ve learned that’s not the case. It seems to be pretty universal that the kids who are cute get cut more slack, while the ugly ones get told to suck it up and stop crying much sooner. I was kinda surprised to realize this, as I figured I was treating all the kids the same.
Then the ugly kid showed up.
Yes, yes, yes – it’s not nice to call people ugly. But I’m not saying this to pick on the kid. It’s just how things are. Maybe she’s one of those ugly ducklings who’ll grow up to be a beautiful swan. Or maybe she’s ugly for life. Too soon to tell, really.
Anyways, she’s new and cries a lot. (And when she cries she’s even less fun to look at.) I’ve been nice to her and tried to settle her down, but she only seems to react well to the Japanese staff. It’s not just a guy thing either (the J-staff are all female). The female foreign teachers have about as much luck with her as I do.
One day last week I was trying – with no success – to calm her when I found myself thinking, “you know, kid, you’d better buck up and accept that you’re gonna be here all day. The way you look, nobody’s gonna fawn over you and treat you special. And you’d better get used to that or you’re gonna have one heck of a rough life.”
Now, that’s a pretty messed up thing to be thinking about a 2-year-old kid, but there it was.
And really, am I wrong for thinking that? Should ugly kids be told they’re just as cute as any other kid? Should they have a childhood based on false praise? Wouldn’t that make the transition to grade school (and beyond) that much rougher?
True, those are questions for their parents to answer.
But that doesn’t mean I can’t think them.