Our Children Need Us to Stand up to Bullying

We’ve seen it on the Internet, in the papers, hear about it on the news and many of you really have no clue that Bullying is an issue. We are loosing our children and that is not ok. Every parent should talk to their child about bullying. They need to tell someone if they are getting bullied or know someone who is. While we are trying to educate our kids remember we are leaders to our children; they watch and mimic us. We want our children to stand up for themselves, but can we as adults?

The majority of us have been there in a group of friends gossiping and making fun of someone, maybe about that crazy nut on your block. Gossip is bound to happen when you put a group of ladies together, and even men. I’ll admit I am very much guilty being on that Gossip Train. Living on base it was/is an everyday occurrence for some. When we are suppose to be supportive to one another sometimes that doesn’t happen.

When does “Gossiping” cross the line into Bullying? Could you stand up in your group of friends and say this is not ok? Many of you won’t say anything, because you think you can’t. But we are asking our children to. They hear us and grab onto every word even if it was in all fun and not meant to be hurtful well it is. That person you’re making fun of, because the way they look or walk may have been bullied growing up. Now they have you making fun of them. When do we say this needs to stop?

I was in a situation that I stood up and said this is not ok, then walked out of the room. I knew I might have hurt my business, but knew if I just sat there and laughed along with them about my friend’s deformity that guilt would eat at me. What bothers me is that they made me feel like I did something wrong. We don’t want our children to feel that way. We want them to know its ok to stand up for themselves and walk away.

Even if you don’t have children each of us learn something from our friends. What do you want your friends to learn from you?

You have a voice, if you don’t stand up for yourself…how can you expect your child to? There are many websites out there that can educate you and help.

Here are a few:

The Bully Project Movie

Stop Bullying

Know the Warning Signs

Helping Kids Deal with Bullies

How to Respond to an Adult Bully

Project Bully Free Workplace

Bullying is an issue and can’t be pushed under the rug.
Ask yourself would you like your Child to be Leader or Follower?