Meet a remarkable fifth grader named Lily, who has recently gained attention for her bold approach to handling unwanted attention from a classmate. When a boy named Jake wouldn’t stop bothering her at school, Lily took matters into her own hands by creating a detailed list of rules for him to follow. This list has since gone viral, and it’s clear why.
Twitter user Alex Smith shared Lily’s list, which was passed along by a friend who teaches fifth grade. It seems Jake has been testing the limits of Lily’s patience, and she made it clear that she’s had enough. While the specifics of Jake’s behavior aren’t provided, Lily’s explicit and assertive guidelines leave no room for doubt about how she feels.
In her list, Jake is humorously illustrated as a stick figure, complete with comically oversized oven-mitt hands, as a reminder of the boundaries he needs to respect. Rule number one? “Do not touch my shoulder.” And from there, things only get more specific—and downright fierce.
Lily tells Jake that he should not engage in any sort of foolishness around her or attempt to linger behind her. It’s crystal clear that she wants him to keep his distance. She emphasizes that he should only greet her if he must, and that this will likely be a rarity.
Additionally, Lily makes it known that she doesn’t want him playing with her on the bus and reminds him of her “short temper”—a powerful statement from someone so young. She even points out that she’s not interested in a boyfriend, despite his feelings for her, and encourages him to read her list “500 times” until it really sinks in.
The note concludes with a humorous threat that if Jake doesn’t comply, she’ll be calling her dad, her mom’s friend, her “fake” mom, and even a “janator” she knows (spelling error acknowledged, but who cares? She’s on fire!). Lily warns that his behavior could lead to her needing counseling, suggesting she’s thought this through.
Bravo, Lily! It’s inspiring to see a young girl understanding her right to set boundaries. As someone who has struggled with people-pleasing tendencies in my own life, I find her assertiveness incredibly refreshing.
Now, as I raise my own daughter, who is just nine and has faced her share of bullying, I’m eager to instill in her the same sense of self-respect and confidence that Lily has demonstrated. It’s essential that girls learn to express what behavior is acceptable and what isn’t, without fear of hurting feelings.
Lily might come off as tough, but if a boy can’t take a hint and is making her uncomfortable, she is under no obligation to be nice about it. We should all aspire to teach our daughters to stand firm in their boundaries.
We wish Lily all the best this school year and hope Jake gets the message loud and clear. Girls have enough challenges to deal with without feeling pressured to tolerate unwanted attention.
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Summary: Lily, a fifth grader, has gained attention for her assertive rules against unwanted attention from a boy at school. Her list emphasizes the importance of setting boundaries, inspiring young girls to confidently express their limits.