Something came to mind today and I want to share my two cents on it… bullying.
I’ve been bullied. For way too long. I was super shy and was too afraid to speak up. And let me tell you, it sucked. I don’t have a better word for it. It really started getting bad for me towards the end of middle school and carried on into high school. Almost every day, someone would throw a jab at me… about my personality, my background, the way I looked, the way I talked… whatever they could latch onto. And the worst part? I bottled it up inside and started to believe some of it. It made me question who I was, and it took years to shake that off.
On the bright side, being bullied taught me a lot. It made me kinder. It made me more empathetic. And it made me absolutely certain that I never want my kids, or any kids, to feel like they have to experience and endure that.
I don’t care if my kids are introverted, extroverted, shy, bold, loud, or quiet. None of that matters to me. What matters is that they are confident. I want to raise them to be so secure in themselves that no bully’s words can affect them. I want them to know how to speak up. I want them to be kind, yes, but also strong. I don’t need them to be “popular.” I need them to be solid in who they are.
But here’s the thing… it’s not just about parenting. It’s about teachers and principals doing their part too and making schools a safe place for students.
I’ve seen it happen, and I’ve heard so many stories from parents: a child is bullied, tells his/her parents, and the parents go to the school… only for things to get worse because now that child is seen as a tattletale. That’s so unfortunate… and easily preventable.
Teachers and principals cannot unsee what they see. You can’t just walk into class, teach your lesson, and call it a day. If you’re working with kids, you need to be aware. Watch how students interact. Pay attention to tone, behavior, and body language. If a student is being mistreated, you should be the first to catch it and shut it down, not the last. Don’t wait for a parent to come in. Don’t expect the child to “handle it” or speak up when they’re already feeling targeted.
And to be blunt, if you’re a teacher or principal and you miss this stuff constantly, you’re not doing your job right.
Now to the kids and teens who might be going through it right now: keep your head up. I know it’s hard. I know it hurts. But this bullying? It’s just noise. Noise that doesn’t deserve your energy. Turn the volume down, walk away, ignore them and treat their words like it’s useless garbage. Love the person you are. You are enough. You are worthy. And no one gets to dim your light.
I want my kids to be resilient. But I also want them to live in a world where adults actually do their part in keeping school a safe place. Because confidence starts at home… but safety and accountability? That has to exist at school too.
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Have you or your child ever experienced bullying? Drop a comment below. I want to hear your story. Let’s raise awareness together.
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