Hit Me With Your Best Shot!

I don't know whether you can tell from the pictures posted on this blog, but my child has got some unusual hair. Strangers comment on it all the time.

She looked like a redhead when she was born, but has turned blonder as she has become older. Part of her hair is blonde. Other parts appear red, depending on the light. And the rest is a mixture of the two, along with some dirty blonde.

It also shows up in her personality. She is very sensitive to good-natured teasing. Her reactions range from "You're making me feel embarrassed!" to "You're making me feel stupid" to the dreaded "When you say that it sounds like you don't love me anymore." I like having a sensitive child. I think the world will be a better place because of it.

Then there is the redheaded side. Feisty. Speaks up for herself much more than I did as a child. Impulsive. And yes, at times exasperating. I love that side of her too.

Cut to carpool at her school the other day. As we snake through the lines to pick up our children, teachers note the three digit numbers affixed to our windshields and radio ahead so the children will be waiting at the curb when the cars make it to that point.

Rachel is apparently waiting and sees these two "older" boys trying to prove to one another which one is "tougher." For some reason, Rachel wants a piece of that action. She wants to get one of the boys' attention, so she walks up and slugs him!
And he slugs her back!

Not as tough as she thinks, she starts crying and runs to a teacher. Rachel relates that the boy hit her. Because we have taught her to tell the truth, she also explains that she hit him first.

Looks like we have some courtship rituals to work out before the teenaged years.