Comments on: Bully For You

By: Lola

Lola — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 10:59:50 +0000

Hello Shelly, bulling is a problem all over the world, http://tierradenomadas.blogspot.com/2008/10/agresion-y-amenazas-contra-mi-hija.html
This is from a friend of mine. It´s in spanish, but you can translate it.
Hugs!
P.S. I have not forget about the medicine bags. I hope you´ll heard somethig about me soon.

Lolas last blog post..Olor a Cuba

Hi Lola, Yes…bullying has ALWAYS been a problem. I read your friend’s web page, although Babel fish doesn’t do it justice, I am sure. How frightening for her daughter (and for her). What infuriates me is when people excuse the behavior by saying, “Oh, they are just being kids.” I hope your friend’s daughter gets some justice!
¡Abrazos!

By: Jeni Hill Ertmer

Jeni Hill Ertmer — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 01:56:47 +0000

Points made, very well chosen too I might add. My Mom always told me "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never harm me." And she got that from her mother who probably got it from her Mother too and maybe it goes back for centuries. But we now know that perhaps the last line there maybe should be changed to read "Names may harm me more!" Verbal abuse is much subtler as it leaves no visible marks on the outside but plants lots of marks and scars on the inside of the recipient. Yes, we can -change! Verbal abuse IS pretty darned powerful. And, when we adults heap it on political candidates during a nasty election, I think we send messages to the young that "it's really OK to make fun of people sometimes." It's never "OK."

By: patois

patois — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 01:26:14 +0000

We're in the midst of fifth grade girl bullying right now. It's just the seedlings of bullying at this point, but it's enough for me to raise holy hell about it. patoiss last blog post..Wordy Wednesday #37: Piercing I'm sorry you are having to deal with it! 5th grade does seem to be a ripe time for that bullying, since the kids are beginning to "change" physically...and that causes a lot of insecurities (both on the part of the bully and the victim). There isn't really a good answer...just keep your eyes and ears open. Make sure that your child is communicating with you, so you know what's going on with her. And, if you let her have a MySpace blog, watch it like a hawk! Cyber bullying is on the rise, and it can be devastating!

By: Jennymcb

Jennymcb — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:14:26 +0000

I love the "not my child" and then when the parents of the kids being bullied start calling the school, they say that their kids are being picked on. The best comeuppance that I heard second hand was a mom who worked in the middle school finding out that her "sweet son" (NOT) was named over 30 times in a school outing application as being the one student that you wouldn't want to bunk with. Not many would step up face to face, but give them a way to stay away from the bully and they all put his name down. My oldest went through it the worst, but it made his brothers tougher. I hate bullying. Jennymcbs last blog post..Recipe Clean Up - When it's Time to Let Go Hate bullying? You and I both! I still think the best way to teach our kids is by example...and I'm mortified by the way the last election was all about picking on each other. When we bite into it, we are just teaching our kids that it's ok to do that. I'd be curious to know how you handled the bullying your oldest son endured! It might help some other momma in the same situation.

By: Derek Wong

Derek Wong — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 17:19:37 +0000

I remember bullies as well. Even as I'm reading your post, I'm wondering what people really are allowed to do with bullies. People that are bullied can ignore them, but what else can they do? Ugh it makes me mortified that people (namely the bully's parents) could say that things like this don't affect others. It's not harmless at all! Derek Wongs last blog post..Doing It On My Own It isn't harmless. Not at all. And, I wish I knew an answer to the question of "what else can they do?" Fighting isn't the answer...I just don't know what is. Unfortunately, bullying is such a widespread phenomena (and, as you pointed out--sort of "accepted"). Sigh. Maybe all we can do is talk about it and hope?

By: Jessica The Rock Chick

Jessica The Rock Chick — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 16:18:36 +0000

Awwww, c’mon, you’re taking all the fun out of poking fun
The bullying problem is and can be awful. I almost had to change my daughter’s school a few years back because of the problems she was having with a girl bully. It wasn’t just being picked on, this girl was threatening her life. It would continue at home through phone calls, the internet, etc. When I called this girls parents, I got the “kids will be kids” speech. I don’t know, my kids aren’t like that. Nice article Shelly!

Jessica The Rock Chicks last blog post..Eye Can See Clearly Now

“Poking fun” is different than bullying (but can easily escalate!). The internet bullying scares me more than anything! Dr. Phil interviewed some bullies who had gone to a girl’s MySpace, hacked it, and put awful stuff. They said that now they could see it was wrong (of course because they got caught). But, at the time they did it, it didn’t seem “personal.” OMG. What have we done to our kids?

By: Thorne

Thorne — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 16:09:43 +0000

Well, call me old fashioned- but I always say there are no bad kids; just lousy parents. It may be oversimplifying a bit, but you get the idea. Parents need to set the example AND participate in their kids' lives. Thornes last blog post..A Day Without Gays Well, I must disagree...sometimes there are "bad kids." We do have to set examples and participate in their lives---and "listen!" But, there are other influences on our kids these days...and sometimes a parent just doesn't have control. I think the whole village has to get into the act.