We have all had some type of experience with a random act of violence, either directly or indirectly at some point in our life.
This act, which is more commonly known as bullying, is finally being recognized as the problem that it really is. One of seven children in grades K-12 are victims of bullying at least once before they move on to college or begin to shape their lives.
If you have ever been bullied, you know that it is not fun for you, no matter how much the one causing you the pain and embarrassment is laughing.
Bullies are a huge problem in school environments and most parents will blame the school officials whom the state has entrusted to teach and mold the minds of our children.
These parents put the blame on the county and parish school systems because they feel that it is the school’s job to stop these problems before they start, but these feelings are being misdirected.
It begins at home, with how we as adults treat one another, including those who are different from us.
We must be respectful and careful with the tones that we use when we word our statements in discussions and learn to interact with our children in a way that shows both our respect for ourselves, those around us and for them in order to make our expectations for them known.
But sadly, most parents excuse their many indiscretions and make these actions seem okay to children.
Children are very impressionable, so when you often offer one of the many excuses for their behavior, such as he or she does not know any better, they are just kids or that they are just playing, you open the doors to many more problems.
These excuses and those which are similar to them are just a few steps towards having to make many more excuses for these children/teen actions, such as “it is just a phase”, and even this is a step from the parents stating “I don’t know where I went wrong.”
But it gets worse even if the bullying has been recognized in schools; who will be the one to stop the bullying that is done from the home through the internet (cyber bullying)?
Schools do not have the power to do anything about something that does not occur on their campuses.
Cyber bullying is relatively new, meaning that it started to come around when internet usage and technology steadily climbed to places that were never imagined.
Cyber bullying, for those of you who don’t know, is when a child or teen is being tormented, threatened, harassed, humiliated and embarrassed or otherwise targeted by another child, teen and in some cases by an adult; this form of bullying is done using the internet or a cellular phone. It starts off as a simple prank but escalates to the next level too fast. Then, you lose control of the situation, and you want to end it, but you don’t know how, and then someone has their feelings hurt.
The excusing of these actions have been leading to the attempted suicide of those who are being bullied because they feel the need to take things into their own hands. Their actions range in many different forms of violence, which in some cases ends with the suicide or attempted suicide of those who cannot have their voices heard. This occurs once every half hour.
Sadly, this is one of the worst types of bullying, but it is also the prime example.
The decision to take one’s own life is made by individuals who are not thinking straight because their minds have been warped by anxiety and fear.
How is your parenting the fault of children and teens that are picked on for no reason other than being the new kid or just for being different?
Parents, you can only use the excuse that a child is just a child for so long. You will eventually have to hold them accountable for their actions, or the bullying will turn into things that will end much worse.
Also, if you know someone is being bullied, encourage them to tell you about any instances of bullying, and support them by doing whatever it takes to help them get it stopped.
This, however, is not the only step that you must take. You must also watch who your children’s friends are how they are using the internet and what they choose to do on their spare time.
Doing this can tell you what roads that they are leaning towards, and there are many places that you can send them to help them channel their feelings into something more reasonable.