And so it starts. DD and her friend (11) were waiting at our local bus stop to take a bus into town. Random boys on electric bikes and scooters, all wearing hoodies and balaclavas (it's an irritating thing around here) pull up and ask them if they want to come on the bikes with them, have a go etc. girls so no thank you. Boys ask again. Start to tease them for being scared. etc etc. Eventually boys get bored and leave.
And I'm thinking, "she's 11, and already she has to deal with boys who think they have a right to tell her what to do and to give her a hard time if she chooses to do something that is not what they want her to do."
Her and her friend handled it well, and I think they felt safe on a busy road waiting for a bus but.....
I don't actually know what to tell her. she's young, so she has to stay safe, but this is, I guess, why girls self police and self regulate. Already, although she's independent and getting out and about with friends, she's self regulating - on the bus, going to town, walking with a friend etc vs when Ds was the same age heading to the park and meeting friends there etc etc.