I am a very small person

(in the derisive sense--"mean, petty" merriam-webster online says) We were just getting the paper invitations done for Graham's fifth birthday party, two weeks from yesterday. I was printing out the Spiderman-background invitations, and folding them, and Graham was writing the names on them (in proper upper- and lower-case, in most cases, Wow). We got to one name, a girl who has reportedly been telling Graham the stupid rules of society such as, "Boys don't wear purple/pink" "Boys can't wear dresses" (seen a priest lately?) "White shoes are only for girls" and other such rot. I combat it at home by repeating ad nauseum that "there are no colors just for boys & none just for girls, and anyone who says there are is just wrong" and "Anyone who talks that way isn't being a good friend." But I repeatedly hear from him yet more garbage reportedly from this child.

And yet, he put her on his list of invitees. Sigh. But I went along with it--and then when the time came for him to put her name on an invitation, he said he didn't want to. Trying to play the proverbial straight man, I asked why not. He said sometimes she smells stinky.

It's not the time to teach how personal hygiene is not a way to choose one's friends nor to discriminate--off she goes. And mom smiles. An evil, self-satisfied smile.