Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I would have him ask the other kids why they are looking at his underwear. I’d tell him to say that’s a weird thing to be looking at.
+1
Best answer/advice. On this thread. That will shut them up real quick
Literally won’t shut them up at all. Will kick the situation up a notch.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:So, I’m curious - for the people who are saying “don’t retort, they’ll know his mommy supplied the comeback” and “don’t go to the teacher/principal because that makes him a tattler” and “just give him boxer briefs” as if the kids won’t notice he switched underwear and feel triumphant and wonder what else they can “make” him do - what DO you suggest? Because these all seem an awful lot like silencing tactics to reinforce the victim’s place as a victim.
It’s middle school. If you recall middle school, it’s the height of conformity.
Your choice of the term victim is telling. I wouldn’t communicate that thought to the kid.
What does DS want to do? Doesn’t that matter? Just let him do what he decides to do. It’s his decision.
+1 it’s so easy to try new underwear and see if that makes him more comfortable when changing. So many people leap right to victimhood/bullying and taking things right to the top and then wonder why kids have less resilience and problem solving skills. It’s also unclear to me if this is mean comments or the type that middle school boys make all day to each other.
But he’s comfortable with what he’s currently wearing. He wouldn’t be switching underwear if these kids weren’t making comments. This isn’t his decision, it’s theirs.
So many people leap to defend mean behavior, and then wonder why kids are more unkind and depressed.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:So, I’m curious - for the people who are saying “don’t retort, they’ll know his mommy supplied the comeback” and “don’t go to the teacher/principal because that makes him a tattler” and “just give him boxer briefs” as if the kids won’t notice he switched underwear and feel triumphant and wonder what else they can “make” him do - what DO you suggest? Because these all seem an awful lot like silencing tactics to reinforce the victim’s place as a victim.
It’s middle school. If you recall middle school, it’s the height of conformity.
Your choice of the term victim is telling. I wouldn’t communicate that thought to the kid.
What does DS want to do? Doesn’t that matter? Just let him do what he decides to do. It’s his decision.
+1 it’s so easy to try new underwear and see if that makes him more comfortable when changing. So many people leap right to victimhood/bullying and taking things right to the top and then wonder why kids have less resilience and problem solving skills. It’s also unclear to me if this is mean comments or the type that middle school boys make all day to each other.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:So, I’m curious - for the people who are saying “don’t retort, they’ll know his mommy supplied the comeback” and “don’t go to the teacher/principal because that makes him a tattler” and “just give him boxer briefs” as if the kids won’t notice he switched underwear and feel triumphant and wonder what else they can “make” him do - what DO you suggest? Because these all seem an awful lot like silencing tactics to reinforce the victim’s place as a victim.
It’s middle school. If you recall middle school, it’s the height of conformity.
Your choice of the term victim is telling. I wouldn’t communicate that thought to the kid.
What does DS want to do? Doesn’t that matter? Just let him do what he decides to do. It’s his decision.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:So, I’m curious - for the people who are saying “don’t retort, they’ll know his mommy supplied the comeback” and “don’t go to the teacher/principal because that makes him a tattler” and “just give him boxer briefs” as if the kids won’t notice he switched underwear and feel triumphant and wonder what else they can “make” him do - what DO you suggest? Because these all seem an awful lot like silencing tactics to reinforce the victim’s place as a victim.
It’s middle school. If you recall middle school, it’s the height of conformity.
Your choice of the term victim is telling. I wouldn’t communicate that thought to the kid.
What does DS want to do? Doesn’t that matter? Just let him do what he decides to do. It’s his decision.