Bullying (my opinion, feel free to be offended)
So I’m watching a thread on facebook where a friend of a friend asked her FB ppl “what would you do if [name] was your daughter and you heard some kids were picking on her? I swear I want to kick their asses but I can’t”
Everyone has replied “yes kick their asses” and “if we lived closer I’d sick [my kid] on them” or “that is such bullshit”. Even the mutual relation that linked me to her comment to begin with said “[my kid] would kick their ass”
Seriously? I’m assuming these people are of age and should therefore have a reasonable brain capacity - should being the operative term.
Bullying starts and ends with parents. If a child is aggressive toward other, assuming smaller or ‘odd’, children I would assume there are problems at home. This child hasn’t seen kindness or steady, loving relationships. Bullying ENDS with parents being reasonable, responsible human beings addressing problems as a reasonable, responsible adult would. Talk to the other child’s parents, alert the school faculty, and my personal favorite - address it with your child. Find out how they feel about whatever is being done/said, ask them how they react to it. Be a role model and teach them that life isn’t always kind, but what matters is how you handle it.
If your child is accused of bullying TAKE IT SERIOUSLY. Think long and hard about why your child might be acting out, what is missing in their lives that they need to attack another person. Get them the attention and help they need so that this doesn’t manifest into larger problems. It’s OK - don’t be ashamed of your child; we’ve all had our share of mistakes. Be a role model and teach them that sometimes you screw up and do things that hurt other people, but what matters is how you learn and act the next time.
/End Rant.
Change begins with YOU!
Not literally. There is a “c” in change, but that isn’t important.
