Ella's Soccer Diaries: What 7-9 Year Old Girls Learn on the Soccer Team -- When Your Friend Hurts Your Feelings

A girl learns a lot when she joins the soccer team, and it's not all soccer!

When Ella's friend says something mean to her, she has to decide what to do. She's sad and hurt. She turns to a dear friend, her dog Crystal, for advice and support. Before long she remembers her natural happiness.

But how will Ella respond when her friend apologizes? Is she mean right back at her? Does she stay angry and lose a friend? No, Ella and her friend make up (adults would say Ella forgives her friend, exhibits grace under pressure, and practices great social skills).

And what about when Ella herself is the one who hurts a friend's feelings? What should she do? Pretend nothing happened? Get mad that her friend is acting weird? Or bravely apologize and make it right?

At times, everyone feels scared and alone and filled with self-doubt. Ella discovers the remedy: "Keep your best friends by your side and they will keep you strong."