I used to have an exercise I'd do. Ask people to shut their eyes, and imagine someone who had a powerful positive influence on them as children. Might be a neighbor, uncle, aunt, anyone. Literally everyone could.

And the key was that person accepted them. Didn't necessarily agree, wasn't the softest touch, but did accept them. Could correct them without rejecting them. Priceless gift.

And as I recall, regardless of economic circumstances, if those kids liked themselves everyone else liked them. If they accepted themselves, we accepted them. And if they didn't, we figured they had a reason.

That was as we got older. Younger children can be just plain cruel. Has to do with being young children, I think.

Good for you. Stay with it, and don't try to do it all.

Arf