A Mother Venting

Almost any of you reading this know my sweet Alysa. She's 8, almost 9, and in the 3rd grade this year. She made wonderful friends last year with a little girl she met on the playground who was not in her own class. We'll call her "H". They have remained best friends and were both heartbroken when they didn't get the same teacher this year either. There is a third girl ("L") in "H"'s class who wants "H" to play with her more and Alysa less. "H" promptly stated she didn't want to. She wanted to play with Alysa because they are best friends. "L" said, "Well, Alysa's a "B"." And she spelled out the entire word, not just the first letter. "H" told us about this and Alysa's heart was broken. Of course, she knows that "L" is jealous of her friendship with "H". But it still hurts to know someone you really don't even know, or anyone at all, would say such a mean, hurtful thing about you. I am appauled that these young girls (well, SOME young girls) are treating others like this and using names like that. Of course my fist desire was to get the girls' phone # and tell her parents what she'd done (along with snatching out a little hair from the girls' head to teach her a lesson). But I know that doing that would just promote more contention than there already is. So I don't know if I should talk to the girls' teacher so she can inform "L"'s parents, leave it alone or talk to someone myself. Of course I know Alysa and "H" should invite "L" to play with both of them when they're together and that might eliminate some of the ill feelings. But I also think that this little girl should be taught that names like that are unacceptable and hurtful. I was just floored and hurt for my baby girl and needed to vent - and maybe get some feedback on what the best thing to do would be. If you have an opinion, please send it back to me. Thanks for listening.