I remember why I hated Middle School!

Today was my first day leading groups at a Pflugerville middle school. And oh.... my... word.... I thought I had blocked it completely from my mind, but I now remember why I hated middle school.

For Real.

I have 3 groups of 6th, 7th and 8th grade girls from 8:00 am to 11:00 am. The age range with the most drama, the most hormones, and the most attitude. 3 things that I have no patience with. I think that this semester will truly test my patience and strengthen my character, or it will kill me. :o

Middle school was awkward for me. I was smaller than everyone, kind of nerdy (although I wasn't that great of a student), and everyone seemed to either use me or pick on me. My 'friends' used to catch me right after carpool and tie my shoelaces to the handicap parking sign around the corner from the gym. This would cause me to be late to athletics. They would also deem random days "Pick on Britt Days." This would entail lots of tickling, lots of snapping of bra straps in class, and lots of teasing when a cute high school boy would walk into history so my face would turn red. Thank God I didn't come out in middle school! I really would have gotten it.

So when I come into my new middle school I think I still carry some fear, not to mention they all look like college students in middle school now, and have experienced just as much sometimes. I couldn't seem to find the right middle ground to meet them, and it frustrated me. I hope to really make an impact on this group. I want to help them to learn what a healthy relationship looks like and that they should only expect and accept the best. They deserve to be treated like queens and respected like dignitaries by men.

Its going to be a really tough semester. I'm nervous and fearful, but hopefully courage and confidence will come soon. Otherwise they are going to walk all over me!