So in the last couple of days, my daughter has been having problems with a boy in her class.
It seems he's being "mean" to her.
At first it was ripping a toy away from her, which she ripped back (good girl!) but then I got a note that she was to use her "words" instead of her "hands".
Oops.
But, um- did HE get the same memo???
Today, the SAME boy, pushed her down the slide, which made her cry.
Oh no. No. NO.
Not on my watch buddy.
Now if I didn't hunt that child down with my BIG MAMA BEAR HANDS...
So help me.
"Supposedly" (and by this I mean allegedly) the teacher pulled him aside and made him apologize.
I know the RIGHT thing is to teach my kids to be kind, and to show kindness to others, even when others are "unkind" to them.
I know two wrongs don't make a right, turn the other cheek, give them the benefit of the doubt, make love not war, blah, blah, blah...
How about "You don't hit me, and then YOU don't get hurt?"
Just kidding.
I think I struggle with it as a parent, because I also struggle with this as an adult.
I find the world to be a cruel(er), mean(er) place than it used to be.
Come on--is it just me?
It's getting harder and harder to find those "friendly faces" amongst the hissing ones in the crowd.
When did the world get filled with such ...haters?
Did the world change, or did I change?
I once read a sentiment that said "You should show kindness to the ones that need it the most" (or something along those lines).
Great in theory. Veeeeeeerrrrrrry hard in real life.
I guess it's all about balance. About teaching our kids (and ourselves) how we "should behave" vs. how we "want to behave" (aka- 'let er rip!) in dealing with bullies, or mean people in general.
(Isn't there a bumper sticker out there that states "mean people suck"? And if there isn't, there really should be)
I want my kids to be kind, but I also don't want them to be doormats for bullies.
Because bullies come in all shapes/sizes, and in all stages in life.
Unfortunately, they never seem to go out of style (major bummer).
This..is very hard. Especially when your own sweet baby is involved.
I myself was raised to always "be nice".
I wish I was taught to stand up for myself more.
But- to this day, it's my knee-jerk reaction to "be nice".
I can't help feeling like a schmuck sometimes, when someone takes my kindness for weakness.
Ultimately, I know what is right, and that I should try to instill the value of kindness in my children. Tricky stuff.
The GOOD news in all this?
My baby girl-
When she's had enough--the poor tormentor in her path will definitely know it.
(And Lord help that child if he doesn't get it together between now and then!)
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
