October is National Bully Prevention Month! Let's do what we can! Check out my previous post about being KIND!
Stop Bullying Now is a resource site and campaign for parents who want to help stop this NOW in our kids lives. When I think back to my own childhood - I remember being made fun of because I didn't wear the most 'trendy' clothes, or because my shoes weren't 'new' - and that was in elementary school! It's really sad today that this is what our children continue to do to one another.
The Stop Bullying Now site says this:
Bullying happens when someone hurts or scares another person on purpose and the person being bullied has a hard time defending himself or herself. Usually, bullying happens over and over.As parents and future parents in this world, we need to unite and stop what is happening in the day to day lives of ours kids, the future of this country! There have been FIVE suicides now dealing with teens being bullied about being gay. That's not the only reason that kids feel the need to end their own lives, but right now that's the one we keep hearing about. I'm sure there are more that haven't even been on the news.
Bullying also can happen online or electronically. Cyberbullying is when children or teens bully each other using the Internet, mobile phones or other cyber technology. This can include:
- Punching, shoving, and other acts that hurt people physically
- Spreading bad rumors about people
- Keeping certain people out of a "group"
- Teasing people in a mean way
- Getting certain people to "gang up" on others
- Sending mean text, email, or instant messages
- Posting nasty pictures or messages about others in blogs or on Web sites
- Using someone else's user name to spread rumors or lies about someone
I personally don't condone homosexuality, but I would NEVER allow my kids to make fun of or pick on someone who was homosexual - or a different race, or talked different, or dressed different. Jesus ate with the prostitutes so that he could share his faith with them - I feel like being a Christian doesn't mean I have to hate other people that don't share my beliefs. I have to hold them closer to me, and hope that one day they too will know the feeling of salvation! I love all people because God created them all and it's my duty to love them, no matter what!
I just pray that one day when I have my own kids that they allow compassion and caring into their friendships and relationships. I pray that my kids will understand that it's okay for people to be different and we have no right to treat them any differently than anyone else. I pray that my kids will know the difference in right and wrong, and will stand up for the ones being bullied to form a united front. I pray that my kids will love everyone the way that Jesus intended!
More blog posts you might like to read on the subject:
Heather's "Not My Kid"
Bethany Joy's "The American Gossip Epidemic"
October is National Bully Prevention Month
Also, Check out Andrea Prostko's new book Strike One!
We had a discussion about this on Blog Frog not long ago, and several of the other moms complained that any rude statements or any level of physical behavior is bullying. And I disagreed; I think bullying is what you describe here- a systematic, deliberate campaign to degrade another human being through words or actions. Activism requires restraint as well as determination, and I like that you are taking a stand the right way.
ReplyDeleteThanks Gina - I'm glad that you see it that way as well. I don't consider any harsh remark "bullying". That's just a prejudiced and judging person. At least that's my opinion. "Bullying" is repetitive behavior!
ReplyDeleteHi Megan- Stopping in from the Blog Hop. I appreciate the post on Bullying. It is a topic that needs to be put put there more. I have 2 kids that are just entering in to the schools and I am terrified for them. Bullying was bad in my day, but with all the electronic media it seems to have gotten worse (the anonymity and all).
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by Laurie - I agree. It's a topic that all parents need to keep in the forefront of our minds and teach our own kids compassion for others - tolerance.
ReplyDeleteTHANK you for sharing this information. Unfortunately, it's happening and we need to help kids see it and know it for what it is and put a stop to this. I remember vividly when I was in middle school a girl who would corner me in the stairwell and pop rubber bands in my face just about every day and I didn't know how to stop it.
ReplyDeleteAlso visiting from The Hump Day Blog Hop and SITS/BlogFrog. Keep up the good work.
Visiting from Hump Day Blog Hop... This is such a critical issue. Ironically, when this issue really started coming to the foreground, I had just finished reading "Nineteen Minutes" by Jodi Piccoult which is all about this issue. My daughter was actually bullied in the third grade and luckily the school enforced its "no tolerance to bullying" policy. It was a relief to my daughter and me to have the utmost support.
ReplyDeleteYou know my dad always told me stories of how he would make fun of kids in school back when he was younger (back in the 70's) and we always laughed about it, but now a days kids just go way to far with it. I can't believe all the news stories of kids getting beaten that bad they are hospitalized, etc...it's just crazy to me how mean they can be. My brother and I are 11 years apart..he just started his freshman year in high school and he is a little on the chunky side and I'm so afraid he's gonna get picked on..if he hasn't been picked on already. He says that he doesn't like school so I'm not sure if he is getting picked on or if he just doesn't like it. I really hope that kids aren't picking on him.
ReplyDeleteCarrie A Groff
Living a Healthy Beach Life
It's so hard having kids who are different. It was so hard for my kids (and still is) to develop friendships, and it just hurts to watch that. If they'd been being bullied, too, it would have broken my heart.
ReplyDelete