Bullies need to step off
I have a different outlook on Bullies, I have a different stance on the victims, according to today's standards, I was bullied from kindergarten through high school. Peers , teachers, older kids, other adults , they all picked on me and "bullied" me. I was made fun of by my sister and her friends as I walked into afternoon kindergarten , they were at recess and chanted "Terri toliet stool " as I walked down the sidewalk, around the fence into the front door where they met me, still chanting my ever so enduring nickname. Did it bother me, embarrass me, make me feel horrible ? Yep, sure did . In first grade I had a teacher who wouldn't let me leave to use the bathroom, I had an accident and was made fun of.....I never forgave Mrs Jones for that. 2nd grade, I told a classmate she was really gay, my teacher yelled at me and asked me why I would say such a horrible thing, I replied that this girl was always happy so I told her she was really gay. I had no idea it meant anything other than happy. I was picked on that year for using a word I thought was appropriate, in turn, called gay
(yes, it was explained to me after I explained what I meant) 3rd grade my teacher was cruel and made fun of me in front of the entire class because I was always the first out in the weekly (seemed like daily now) spelling bee. I'd cry every day because she made me feel so bad about myself, made me feel dumb. 4th and 5th grade were my easy years, 6th, 7th and 8th were hell. I had nicknames like Cambodia, garbage can, Amish girl. I was 5'4" and weighed 80, I couldn't gain weight, I ate constantly and my blue jeans skirts hung on me like rags. I was shy, skinny and Pentecostal, never a good combination. Boys made fun of me, girls are cruel anyway in Jr High and I had a teacher who constantly accused me of plagiarism when writing poetry. I was bullied, even out of high school, I had a girl who harassed me daily me because of my religion, she was relentless.
So, I know what it feels like, to be humiliated, called names, made fun of...but I survived. Some might say I didn't survive well but I'm here today, saying it's wrong and there is never an excuse to bully anyone for any reason. I'm also here to say as a parent and a "victim" that it's our responsibility as parents to teach our children respect and love. It doesn't fall on the school or the teaches, the churches synagogues or temples, it starts and ends at home.
What also starts and ends at home is how we teach our children to stand up to Bullies, stand up for the ones we see being bullied and how to conduct ourselves in a manner that doesn't portray victim, rather a person rising above the small minded individual who was never taught basic human decency.
This is my opinion, no one has to agree , no one has to be offended or upset because it's my opinion, I'm not trying to make it yours. Respect, it's lacking in this world today, lack of respect for ourselves , others and all of our differences. This is our world and we cannot continue to demand everyone feel the same, look the same, vote the same, see the world the same. We need to demand respect for all, no matter the race, religion, ethnic background, financial status, sexual orientation. We are all human, we all are equal and we all need to work together so that the world changes for the good.
We're not doing a very good job, it's sad to see what people go through and it scares me that I have one more child to raise through the teen years. All I can do is guide him to be respectful towards others and responsible for his actions, teach him how to stand up for others, in that same respectful manner. Be the example you want your child to see, be the bigger person.
(yes, it was explained to me after I explained what I meant) 3rd grade my teacher was cruel and made fun of me in front of the entire class because I was always the first out in the weekly (seemed like daily now) spelling bee. I'd cry every day because she made me feel so bad about myself, made me feel dumb. 4th and 5th grade were my easy years, 6th, 7th and 8th were hell. I had nicknames like Cambodia, garbage can, Amish girl. I was 5'4" and weighed 80, I couldn't gain weight, I ate constantly and my blue jeans skirts hung on me like rags. I was shy, skinny and Pentecostal, never a good combination. Boys made fun of me, girls are cruel anyway in Jr High and I had a teacher who constantly accused me of plagiarism when writing poetry. I was bullied, even out of high school, I had a girl who harassed me daily me because of my religion, she was relentless.
So, I know what it feels like, to be humiliated, called names, made fun of...but I survived. Some might say I didn't survive well but I'm here today, saying it's wrong and there is never an excuse to bully anyone for any reason. I'm also here to say as a parent and a "victim" that it's our responsibility as parents to teach our children respect and love. It doesn't fall on the school or the teaches, the churches synagogues or temples, it starts and ends at home.
What also starts and ends at home is how we teach our children to stand up to Bullies, stand up for the ones we see being bullied and how to conduct ourselves in a manner that doesn't portray victim, rather a person rising above the small minded individual who was never taught basic human decency.
This is my opinion, no one has to agree , no one has to be offended or upset because it's my opinion, I'm not trying to make it yours. Respect, it's lacking in this world today, lack of respect for ourselves , others and all of our differences. This is our world and we cannot continue to demand everyone feel the same, look the same, vote the same, see the world the same. We need to demand respect for all, no matter the race, religion, ethnic background, financial status, sexual orientation. We are all human, we all are equal and we all need to work together so that the world changes for the good.
We're not doing a very good job, it's sad to see what people go through and it scares me that I have one more child to raise through the teen years. All I can do is guide him to be respectful towards others and responsible for his actions, teach him how to stand up for others, in that same respectful manner. Be the example you want your child to see, be the bigger person.
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