At Jane’s 14th birthday sleepover, an entitled guest, Emily, mocked Jane’s gifts and undermined her joy. Jane was thrilled with her new iPhone 10 from us, but Emily scoffed, “An iPhone 10? That’s so old.” Later, I noticed a text from Emily to Jane: “Aren’t u mad that ur parents and friends got u such lame gifts? Slumber parties are for little girls lol.”

Nicole and I decided to act. We quietly asked Emily to help us clean up, revealing the hurtful message she’d sent. Emily, initially resistant, broke down in tears, admitting that past bullying had influenced her behavior. “In primary school, girls mocked me for not having a phone. I guess I didn’t realize I had become just like them,” she confessed.

We reassured her and encouraged her to make amends. In the morning, Emily apologized to Jane, who graciously accepted. “I’m really sorry for what I said and did last night,” Emily admitted. Jane smiled, “Thanks, Emily. That means a lot.”

Emily also apologized to us before leaving. “Thank you for hosting me and throwing a nice sleepover birthday party. I’m sorry for everything.”

Reflecting on the incident, we felt a sense of relief. Emily learned a valuable lesson, and Jane’s party ended on a positive note. Sometimes, a little tough love is necessary to foster growth and understanding.