Just because kids act that way doesn’t mean adults should be advocating the kinds of things that are being advocated here, some of which seemingly could get a kid in big trouble. I would hope that if you’re a teacher you’re not okay with this. |
This all comes back to whether or not you're comfortable telling your kid to be a doormat, for the greater good of a kinder society. I am not. I would rather have my kid stand up for themselves, than worry about how this reflects on the decay of moral standards I'm sure when your kid is crying alone in their room, they can take comfort in knowing that at least they are modeling better behavior |
Your mama should have just swallowed!! |
4 Yo mama thinks you are trash! |
Then maybe school administrators should actually do something about bullying. They have taken away the most effective tool, which is getting physical with the bully and have replaced it with absolutely nothing that works. You think a bully cares about being spoken to by the principal or school counselor if there is no punishment? The adults don't want to solve the problem so they gaslight the victims and try to convince them that it isn't happening or it is their fault. So this is what kids are left with - being meaner and more vicious. Or, you know, schools could actually do their jobs and suspend kids for bullying. |
+100 This is a great point. People would gladly use the approved process, or the right channels, if those channels were actually effective. But they aren't. It's like the wild west. And to act like it isn't the wild west, only makes it worse for your kid |
So what is your advice? Just STFU or go for the jugular? |
Studies were obviously not studying that individual upthread who was tortured at school. Adults did nothing. Think about that |
To those who suggest weights training - are you serious? You think a bully is going to stop because you are lifting… like one year later?? What about a girl who is bullied, should she be lifting, too. Or if she’s bullied because she’s too big, should she have weight reduction surgery? What about a disabled kid? I can’t believe that at least 10 ppl or more suggest lifting as the answer to a boy being bullied. |
Being physically strong is the best defense against physical bullying. Being friendly and well-liked is the best defense against emotional bullying. In both cases, it gives the kid confidence to ignore the bullying. Yes, girls should become strong too. If a stronger boy is threatening a girl, someone stronger should get in his face and tell him to back off. If the whole school environment is abusive trash, get out of there. |
I agree about the confidence but confidence can come from many sources, not just physical strength. Building physical strength takes time (a lot of time) and is not possible for all in all situations (health or other limitations). If you are bullied, especially if it’s bad, you need an intervention and a response now. |
This is the only thing that matters. It's not fair to expect teachers and school administrators to jump in and solve things when they don't know who knows who. Often the bully's Dad is a high-powered attorney, or the Mom works in school administration, or maybe the older brother is a prosecutor or state legislator. Point being, you don't know how your stirring the pot can backfire on the school as a whole, on all the other kids. At some point we look all over the place except at the kid getting bullied. What is it that draws bullies to the kid? What can the kid do to, as Colin Jost says, not have such a punchable face? You hate this talk, but you know it's true. Can you get your kid working out at least enough to make a travel team however low level it might be? Can you hire some older college girls to makeover your daughter? Kids look up to (cool) older kids. Use that to make your kid less of a target. One other thing you could do is to connect with the toughest kids in the school, and hire them to watch out for your kid. Sort of like how the Stones hired the Hells Angels. Now you gotta make sure you pay enough to buy the tough kids' loyalty, so make clear this is strictly business. They don't have to hang out with you rkid. They just need to put a hurting on any of these bullies who mess with your kid. Preferably at least one of these tough kids is a cop's kid so that if the bullies' parents complain it goes nowhere. Be smart. |
What about girl bullies/mean girls? What are some good comebacks for 6th grade mean girls? |
If the school called me over that I would literally laugh at them and explain the situation. I actually told my daughter to punch a male bully in the face. He stopped bullying her and was eventually counseled out of the school. |
Best response here, no matter the consequences that follow. It's always ok to verbally stand up for yourself. And if the school does call to tell me what my son said, I'd respond "wow, he must have been really angry. That's not like him. What did Larlo do to provoke him?" |