Schoolyard insults are arguably part of growing up. Kids learn that other people aren’t always nice and can’t be controlled. With any luck, they also learn to deal with adversity, and not necessarily by seeking intervention from an authority figure. Why not turn the tables with a clever comeback line or simply ignore the whole thing and move on? Why waste your time arguing with a fool? All this said children can sometimes be really mean, sometimes far more than they ever intended. And of course, really young children haven’t yet had a chance to learn all these lessons. For them, insults that an older kid would shrug off can be deeply hurtful.
When her mom asked about an incident at preschool, a 4-year-old girl reported that “A little boy said I looked ugly.” What he said had obviously hurt her feelings; she had trouble even saying the word “ugly.” But her reply to the boy’s nasty comment was absolutely brilliant: “I didn’t come here to make a fashion statement. I came her to learn, not look pretty. And the little boy said I looked bad and I said, ‘Did you look in the mirror lately?'” Wise beyond her years, this little one!
As you’ll see in the video we’ve posted below, this 4-year-old girl is totally adorable and not the least bit ugly, but that’s actually beside the point. What really matters is that she had the self-confidence, self-respect, and quick wit needed to shoot down her would-be bully rather than getting upset and taking his bait.
How did you like this little girl’s force of character? Do you have any stories about great comeback lines from your schoolyard days? Tell us all about it in the comments at Facebook. Be sure to like and share! You’ve surely got friends who will get a kick out of this story.
