Bullying: Choose To Act
Over the years, my daughter has often been teased for her small stature and big brain. But the light teasing elevated to harmful bullying her first year of middle school. She learned very quickly that children can be mean, that adults can turn a blind eye, and that the life isn’t as happy-go-lucky as the Disney Princesses and Little Ponies claim it is.
Bullying was hard on her. She was often anxious and worried and sick to her stomach. And it was excruciating for me as a mother to watch. As a single mom, I had no other options for her but the public schools, and I didn’t learn till much later in the year about the option to transfer her to another school in our district.
I felt helpless and afraid for my daughter. And the guilt was almost unbearable.
I used each bullying incident as a teachable moment. And unfortunately, there were far too many of those. I muddled through offering words of advice, but mainly just listening and loving her. We both cried a lot last year.
This year, I transferred my daughter to another school within our district where the zero tolerance policy against bullying is taken seriously. Although she is much happier, the memories of her bad experiences remain. I pray they will lessen over time, but I know she will never truly forget.
That’s why I feel immense sorrow when I hear about children who take their own lives, or the lives of others, as a result of bullying. Amanda Todd chose to post her suicide note on the Internet, yet there are hundreds of thousands of kids who suffer (and commit suicide) silently.
Today I stand with all of the fabulous authors participating in this Authors Against Bullying blog hop and the children we love. Both our own and those we don’t even know. Children are a gift. We must be a voice for them. We must choose to act. Because when we advocate for our children and take a stand against bullying, we not only show our love, we protect their future.
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Were you or someone in your family ever bullied? How did you deal with it? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Post your comments below! Then, click on the links to visit the blogs of the other authors who are participating in the hop!
Mandy M. Roth
Yasmine Galenorn
Lauren Dane
Michelle M. Pillow
Kate Douglas
Shawntelle Madison
Leah Braemel
Aaron Crocco
NJ Walters
Jax Garren
Shelli Stevens
Melissa Schroeder
Jaycee Clark
Shawna Thomas
Ella Drake
E.J. Stevens
Ashley Shaw
Jeaniene Frost
Rachel Caine
Kate Rothwell
Jackie Morse Kessler
Jaye Wells
Kate Angell
Melissa Cutler
PT Michelle
Patrice Michelle
Julie Leto
Kaz Mahoney
Cynthia D’Alba
Jesse L. Cairns
TJ Michaels
Jess Haines
Phoebe Conn
Jessa Slade
Kate Davies
Lynne Silver
Taryn Blackthorne
Margaret Daley
Alyssa Day
Aaron Dries
Lisa Whitefern
Rhyannon Byrd
Carly Phillips
Leslie Kelly
Janelle Denison
Graylin Fox
Lee McKenzie
Barbara Winkes
Harmony Evans
Mary Eason
Ann Aguirre
Lucy Monroe
Nikki Duncan
Kerry Schafer
Ruth Frances Long
Julie Chicklitasaurus
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