TBT - Highschool

"I wish I knew then, what I know now"!  In high school, I was a cheerleader. Loved it! Miss it! But that (and my friends) was about the only thing I enjoyed from high school. Here's why...
 

Luckily back then, there wasn't "Cyber-bullying", it was the days of 3 way calling and not hanging up to see if you're friends talked about you. Again, luckily, that only happened once... They were still my friends afterwards and, I to them, but it still hurt my feelings.

My son says he gets called names. But he doesn't really care, because HE is happy. HE knows that maybe that kid gets picked on by someone else and the whole, "Shit runs downstream" thing takes effect. He doesn't say "shit", so don't worry. He didn't call him a name back. He said he just grinned and looked away. But this is what I've taught him. To NOT let people break him.
~ I know a bit about being called names. I've been called all sorts of things, and most of those things are so un-original now-a-days.

• 1-800-Thunder Thighs
• 1-800-Moo Cow
• Kelli's Belly is full of Jelly (and other things)
• "I saw Kelli, driving with a bucket of fried chicken" - I was told I was being called "KFC" after that <My personal favorite!

I could go on... but I won't. I really think this is where people's self esteem take a blow. Mine certainly did.  I never really knew the source, I only knew of some people who were repeating it.But, I believed what I was hearing and I rarely dated boys from my high school (maybe a couple), because I believed all of them thought I was those things!

My parents recently moved and, while unpacking into their new house, came across my senior pictures. My hubby took one look and said, "Oh damn, you'd be in serious trouble if I knew you in high school".. LOL.  I was flabbergasted. In MY own eyes, 15 years later, I was BEAUTIFUL!  Stunning, even. I had the figure that I would kill for now! My waist was small, there was no "I have 2 kids" belly, and my boobs... ;) 

So, I will continue to teach my kids that no matter HOW they look, they are perfect the way they are. And that, making fun of people or calling people names will only show THEIR unhappiness. And so far... it's working. I was proud of Joey for handling that like he did.

Here's a few of my senior pics... "I wish I knew then.........."