“Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time. Bullying includes actions such as making threats, spreading rumors, attacking someone physically or verbally, and excluding someone from a group on purpose”
(From Stop Bullying.Gov)
Today, I have to go to school, and deal with a situation I have not had to even contemplate before. At this point, I don’t want to talk about it much, because I am so angry, and I may say things that I will regret, or put things out there, that cannot be taken back, but I can say that my child is being made unhappy, and this morning, I watched her go from happy, and confident, to withdrawn and on her guard, in the small amount of time it took for a conversation to take place.
I am in Mother Lion Mode. I am angry, and also feel a bit sick, that something has been happening, that has only come to light now, and that needs to be dealt with.
I will not allow my child to be made unhappy, I will not be told that “Well, your child is confident, and a bit bossy, so she probably will get picked on”. I will not allow my daughter to be told she is fat and ugly or to be picked on.
I am hoping that it will be dealt with, and handled and that what is happening will stop. I won’t be passive about this. I have been on the receiving end of a bully, and the look on my child’s face this morning was enough to bring lots of bad memories flooding back, and I will protect her and I will teach her how to protect herself for the future. I want her to know that I am on her side in all of this too.
This is not really a blog post asking for comments, although please feel free to do so, more me just trying to get my thoughts out, calm myself down, and get my head clear, before I deal with what is going on.
Bullying is not something to be taken lightly, it is NOT a right of passage, it’s not normal. Yes, children squabble, and fall out with each other, and yes they learn to deal with their peers, and that not everyone will be friends with them, but there is a line that has to be drawn. Making another child or children unhappy is not acceptable. I have drawn my line…
