Welcome to ‘What Would You Do?’, the space on Mamamia where you can contact me with your problems about anything and everything and ask me, well, what I would do. Consider it my selfless Oprah-esque gift to all of humanity. You’re welcome.
But be warned, I’m not one to beat around the bush. I tell it like it is. I call ‘em like I see ‘em. I’m a straight shooter. Cliche cliche etc etc sassy advice cliche.
Let’s get into it:
Dear Rosie,
My daughter is in grade one and has been having issues with another little girl who is a bit of a mean girl and dictating who can and can’t sit near her or play with her group. (She may be five but this girl is like Pride and Prejudice’s Caroline Bingley with plaits). I’m new to the school and the mean girl’s mother (who OF COURSE is a sort of queen bee of the school mums) has asked my daughter over to their house for a play date. I don’t want to encourage a friendship between my daughter and her daughter. But how do you manage this situation? How do I steer my daughter clear without them making her a target of the mean group?
Rosie, what would you do?
Signed,
Mother Not So Superior
Okay. It sounds like we have a future dictator on our hands. And I don’t mean to pile on the pressure or anything but the responsibility of overthrowing an evil maniac drunk with power has kind of just fallen on your little girl’s shoulders.
Look at this way: your daughter just arrived at the school, a mysterious and humble little girl who just wants to stay out of the limelight, and now the leader of the darkside has shown a specific interest in her. An interest that your daughter will reject because she has a pure and good heart.
Does that narrative sound familiar? Ever heard of a little story called HARRY POTTER? Or STAR WARS? Or how about a guy called SPIDERMAN? Or GANDHI?
Your daughter now has no choice but to step up and be the face of light and goodness.
Dictators live in a constant state of panic – they are always freaking out that somebody else is going to steal power away from them. That’s why Queen Bee and Mummy have summoned you to their private compound – they see your little girl as a threat. Make no mistake, there is a strategy room somewhere in that house plastered with pictures of your daughter.