Toxic Friends

Thanks to Wendy Baker, for sharing this discussion starter idea. This short reading could be used to spark discussion about friendships and relationships with Guides, Pathfinders, and Sr. Branches girls.

Suppose I told you that the most common self esteem defeater are toxic friendships. What are toxic friends? Have you ever hear of toxic waste? It's poisonous material that's harmful, even lethal, if we're exposed to it too long. Toxic friends are like that. So called buds win us over with kindness, but then "poison" us by taking advantage in ways that make us feel horrible.

There are different types of toxic friends:

• The Ditcher: Can only seem to have one best friend at a time. Ditches you as soon as a new friend comes along.
• The Backstabber: Tells you something and then goes behind your back and does the opposite.
• The User: She becomes your friend because she wants something from you, and once she gets it, she is no longer your friend.
• The Excluder: Just because you did not make the team, she acts like she couldn't care less that you did not make the team. Gives no sympathy.
• The Teaser: I can take a joke but when the jokes and teasing just go on and on it is hard to laugh at yourself all the time.
• The Blackmailer: Tries to get you to do something you do not want to do, so she can threaten to rat on you.

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