Go to My O-MAMA page News & Events from a Mom's Perspective

Related Weekly Opinion
"Once a Bully, Always a Bully”: Opinionated MAMA’s perspective on BULLYING

Reposted from 11/10: Meanies have been around since the beginning of time.  The kids who steal your lunch money, taunt you because you aren’t “cool” enough, give you wedgies and swirlies, call you embarrassing names…you know, those guys!  We all know a bully intimately…we were either bullied by someone, we were “friends” with a bully, or we were actually the big bad bully – we might still be?  Relentless teasing at someone else’s expense. Picking on the little guy (or gal).  Good for a laugh. "Sticks & stones may break...

Read the full article
Opinion Poll

TV Schedule

Other Resources

CBS-Grandma Against Teen Violence

ANCOMM.com -Talk About It

Stop Bullying Now

PBS Bullying

Daily Beast-How To Stop A Bully

Dr.Phil-Bullying

Book on Bullying-"Oliver Button Is A Sissy"

Tween Bullying

Olweus.org - Bullying

Bully Frog

Angels & Doves

Dr. Phil Cyberbullying

Jump to a
Hot Button Issue

View all

Active Discussion Groups

<< Back
IT GETS BETTER: First Lady On Bullying
Photo Wikipedia

Michelle Obama sent a message about bullying from the White House, in response to the wave of young people committing suicide after being bullied.  She is calling on Americans to encourage each other and the youth of America and to take care of each other.   She also wants kids to look for help, if they are being bullied, in their community or family. For those with nowhere to turn, she includes a link to the new Health & Human Resource "Stop bullying now!" website as a resource. 

MOMism: “You are not alone.”  It's easy to tell our kids that they have plenty of support, but we need to show them as well.  Be there to listen to your kids about what’s going on in their lives.  Be there for any kid, in fact.  We are a community of Americans who need to support and love each other-and we need to really listen to our kids, so that they know that they are not alone.

MAMAS, we need to talk to our kids about bullying, because they will either be the bully or be bullied at some point in their lives.  Some of it is a right of passage - meanies have been around since the beginning of time - and we need to tell our kids that we all go through it at some point, and it's hard, but they will get through it.  It seems like the end of the world, but it's not.  They need to know that bullying starts because the bully is insecure, intolerant and insulated - they are either modeling behavior or they haven't had any consequences for their behavior, or both.

Teach kids to avoid the bully, don't react to the bully (because it's all about power), tell someone about the bully and have kids stick together with their friends.  It's not fun, but it will get better.  Encourage kids to "stick together" and tell them how much they are loved.  Then, give them a reminder...draw a circle on their hand with a heart in the center - tell your kids, tell your friends, tell your school, spread the word they are not alone - to symbolize they are connected to a circle of other students who will stand together against bullying...and that their MAMA loves them.  If we really get this message out, it will let teachers and other students know our child is committed to being part of the solution, not part of the problem.

www.whitehouse.gov

You must log in to comment, please Log In or Sign Up

  • cor10ee

    RochesterNative - There was national media attention when Phoebe Prince committed suicide after she committed suicide after being bullied. They weren't targeting her because she was gay - they were targeting her because she was new, was pretty and the boys paid attention to her. They were jealous little trolls who apparently felt the need to ruin this young girl's self worth. While it is up to parents and society to teach children to stand up for themselves, it is also parents' and society's responsibility to be respectful of others, including their differences. I'm not sure what the demographic is of Rochester, but where we live, there are people of all kinds. I will teach my child to respect all who respect her - white or dark skin; Christian, Muslim, or Pagan; gay or straight. I disagree with you wholeheartedly, teaching tolerance is everyone's responsibility.
    on 11/02/10
    Reply

  • rochesternative

    The only reason this bullying made national headlines is that the children who killed themselves were gay. Kids get bullied every day. It is up to parents to teach kids how to stand up for themselves. Those of us who work in schools have a responsiblity also...but that does NOT consist of another "curriculum" to teach kids how to behave. Our society, and in particular our kids, have become increasingly uncivil, we go from teaching "everyone be nice" and "we are all friends" in the early grades to hatefulness by 2nd/3rd. Nobody addresses the fact that not all children are destined to like all other children. Kids DO need to be taught to tolerate differences in others BUT that is the job MAINLY of the parent.
    on 10/31/10
    Reply

  • CAdelegate

    Check out McKay Hatch's website www.nocussing.org - that's a kid who's been bullied and come up with a solution. He's working on funding a 4-state tour next year to help kids in California, Arizona, New Mexico and Nevada. This kid's got courage, strength and the right message.
    on 10/29/10
    Reply