Boys? Well boys text and message girls in middle school that's normal, but for an 8 year old girl it's not problematic as no one is asking her on a date. But she does occasionally call boys to ask for HW or they may message her to be her friend.

Last week she gets one that says "Hey I saw you at Chili's..It's R. Then she has to remember who the heck that is. This kid is in 6th grade. They have a discussion about things and then I suppose she'll try to remember who it was that she talked to. She still doesn't remember exactly what that kid looks like.

There are just so many people she sort of knows. Well more that know her than she knows them.

Or she was messaging a kid because she wants to learn archery and he is in state competitions. It's just friendships really.

DD has a cell and she is the only one allowed to use it in school. Why? because it keeps her organized. The teacher and administration allow her this because she takes notes and sets her calendar.

She is allowed to go to high school competitions on the bus and THEY (administration) felt so much better that she has a phone. They were making me drive her, but realized she could handle herself just fine and I told them she has her phone and with iPhone you can track it too. They felt more comfortable so they allowed to her go on her own and now it's a non-issue. Then she friends high schoolers from the competitions and they all end up on FB. Her social circle just keeps expanding. She decides if she likes them or not and if she wants to hang out. etc.

MSchoolers..yeah obsessed with boys, (vampires are old news! well to DD at least) media, cliques, kids hating school.. and gossip, cell phones, texting, apps etc. It's not that complicated really.

DD8's a level headed type. Not too engrossed in any of it and basically her and I just laugh at all the silly things. She has more boys troubles in 4th grade than middle school. She is grade skipped and some of those boys are 2 years older than her. There's just as much gossip and boy obsession in 4th grade. But it's not a big deal because if someone likes her, her strategy is to ignore and they will move on to the next girl. 8th grade is actually easier in this regard. She's just their friend not their love interest.

I am surprised how easily she took to being subject accelerated. Her teacher just said to me "she just belongs here. We were concerned about it in the beginning of the year, but as time went on she just became part of the class. You just forget sometimes she's 8."

I don't think the kids forget she's 8, it's just that they don't have a problem with her being young. They are very accepting and open. It's probably because she can somewhat speak their language so there's common ground.


Last edited by lmp; 04/04/12 03:05 PM.