Bullying

Question: How many of you visit with your kids about bullying? How often? Have you had to deal with any instances?

This is a topic we discuss quite often in my home. There are two things that really get under my skin and it is bullying and leaving someone out just to be mean. My kids have known this since they were very little. When I did daycare in my home and we ran into situations where some kids were leaving others or someone out they found out quite quickly that this was completely unacceptable in my home and of course still is.

This week I saw a situation happen outside as kids were walking home from school. It involved 3 kids that were hanging out together, then as another child was approaching them on his/her way home from school 1 of the 3 kids decided to scare & chase after him/her. I flew out of my house to stop it & to make sure the one child was safe. My kids were home at this time and saw what happened, listened to what I had said etc.

Now after coming back inside it is time to visit with my kids about the situation we just saw occur. There were two things to teach in regards to this situation; one, of course, being the actual bullying that occurred and how wrong it is to make someone feel afraid and how it made us feel to see that. The other teaching aspect was about the two kids that were hanging out with the bully & although they did not participate in the chasing & scaring they just watched and did & said nothing to their "friend" who was behaving this way. They even hung out and waited for him to come back.

So I am really hoping to get some feedback on this topic. I know that these issues are huge these days, especially with cyber bullying. The social network makes it SO EASY for kids who get mad at someone to then type it on a social media site for all to see. Now kids are kids and they are going to get upset with each other and they are going to say things that are not so nice. I'm sure each of us remember going through this growing up, hearing that so & so is saying this or that about us and it was devastating. I can't imagine coming home to see it typed out in black & white staring you in the face. I just hope that casually talking about it will help them to then talk about it when and if it does happen to them.

So comments, thoughts, idea's, suggestions??? Would love to hear from you. Maybe you think I'm just WAY overreacting or maybe you are have the same concerns. I am welcoming any point of view. Just be nice and No Bullying!