I will never forget getting punched in the face for not moving from my spot in the bus line. I was in 3rd Grade when “The Bully” came up to me and said: “Move”! I didn’t listen and he continued barking at me to move. I am a bit stubborn and then came the punch! Clear across the face. I didn’t cry but at this point I got up and stared him down. No one spoke but he went to the back of the line. Luckily for me that was my ONLY bully experience.
It frightens me because I never told my Mom there was a Bully. For sure NEVER told that I got punched!! I want my kids to tell me. Which leaves me with a scarier question: what advice do I have if they do? Get punched? Suicide over a Bully is not okay!! Not okay!! It must be stopped and how?
My only suggestion so far: (yes I am an overachiever!!)
Have the Bully Chat: I started talking to my kids about “The Bully” behavior. I told them a person sometimes doesn’t have to punch or kick you. Words can hurt people. I told them to be accountable for what they say and my favorite expression “kill them with kindness!”
The Bully Chat helped for my kids to open up. My 3rd grader said a girl pinches him ALL the time. He said that because I always say “don’t hurt girls” he doesn’t defend himself! I told him that anything that “hurts” the teacher and I need to know about!! I told him it is not okay and if it didn’t stop to please let me know. (I plan on calling the Mom if it doesn’t stop.)
It is impossible to prevent all the kids from becoming “The Bully”, but I can start with mine!
This is how serious “The Bully” has become: 2,440,000 links when I googled it.
There are TOO many stories on Teen Suicide over “The Bully”. I’m inspired to make a change by spreading the word!
Very nice article and a point well made. I suppose we’ve all had our “bully” experience but for most of us it doesn’t become something we don’t make it through. Sadly that’s not true of every one and some suffer a life time of pain or even die from being bullied. It is one of those subjects that needs to be explored with our kids. And of course some of us are the parents of those bullies too. A parent needs to remember that having a child that’s a bully is a problem too.
We do need to begin addressing the problem as parents to put and end to the tragic bully stories! Media is only making it easier so the victim never gets away–facebook, texting, Twitter! Thank you for caring and expressing your thoughts!
I loathe bullies.
I was bullied in elementary school. First by a second grader who stole my lunch from me almost daily…and then verbally/emotionally bullied by Mean Girls in 6th & 7th grades. I came home from school crying constantly. It’s not right.
I am concerned for my own children, but glad I have some time to educate myself and hopefully they can learn from what I went through once they’re old enough to understand…..