6th Grade Girls

Abby has been friends with a small group of girls since the beginning of 6th grade.  Our school district has two large elementary schools.  In 6th grade, all of the kids from both schools attend the same school.  Sixth grade is a time to make new friends because the school size just doubled :-). Abby's new friends include Alyssa (who went to Abby's elementary school but they were never in class together), Mara, and Holly. Mara and Holly went to the other elementary school so Abby didn't know them prior to 6th grade. Actually she and Holly attended the same preschool so they did know each other but that was a long time ago.  For all intents and purposes, she didn't know any of the girls.

The four girls were placed in the same pod (there are three pods in the 6th grade) and then in the same homeroom within the pod.  That's how they got to know each other in the beginning of the year. They've begun to do more social activities together outside of school including sleepovers, "study time," and shopping trips.  

We had never hosted any of the girls' social events so when Abby said that they wanted to paint t- shirts with their favorite sayings on them, I suggested that Abby invite them to our house to do it.  So on Friday after school, the girls walked home from the 6th grade to our house (we live less than a mile from the 6th grade) and spent several hours together.  They painted their shirts, hung out outside, hung out with me *gasp* inside and let me in on some of their inside jokes, and hung out in Abby's room and the basement.  I think they had a good time.  One of the girls left early, but Holly and Alyssa stayed for dinner and for some time afterward.
 

The girls seem like nice girls even though I don't know them too well.  I would be remiss to add that there is some girl drama at school and that's part of what has driven them closer together than ever. Girl drama and sixth grade is as common as stinky socks on basketball players, I'm afraid.  I pray a lot about the kids' friends and I hope that these girls remain friends for a long time. At the very least, making these new friends in 6th grade gave Abby, I believe, the confidence that she has the ability to make and retain new friends.

I made these treats for Abby and her friends to have when they arrived at our house after school on Friday.  They are red velvet brownies made with a cake mix.  They weren't fabulous but they had a nice sweet, red velvety from a box kind of taste to them. 

I bought the girls their t- shirts while another mom supplied most of the paint.

The girls- Holly, Alyssa, Mara and Abby

Making faces...

 Not sure what it was, but this pose held some sort of meaning to them!

Here is Abby and another 6th grade friend, Jenna.  This picture was taken the Saturday morning after the Friday that Holly, Alyssa and Mara came over.  It was a band event at the Springboro Hometown Expo where the band played.