MAMACADABRA

I have had it.  I am putting my foot down.  In the past few days I’ve heard of two instances in which children were being bullied not only by children but by adults.  Adults?!  I’m sorry, what?!  Did I miss a memo?  At what point did it become okay for adults to bully children?  I was under the impression that we, as adults, were supposed to protect children at all costs.

Initially, last night when I started this post, I was spitting mad and I wrote a long angry post wondering what the f-ck is wrong with people?  Why are our children being terrorized by other kids and adults and why are our school systems “negotiating” with the terrorists?  I don’t get it.  I had to take a step back, however, and focus on what I can do in my home and community to make a difference.  And here’s what I’ve come up with…it’s revolutionary so I fully expect Oprah to be knocking down my door within 3…2…1…

I’m going to be an example of kindness.  And tolerance.  And respect.  I know…you’re shaking your head and thinking ‘how will she do it?!!!’  Here’s the thing.  We are literally surrounded by media that promotes and rewards reckless behavior, in your face attitudes, manipulation, lying, nastiness, and more.  It’s easy to fall into behavior that’s less than admirable because we see it everywhere.  But I’d like to challenge myself, and all of you, to really make an effort to be KIND.  I mean really…can’t we just do that?  For the sake of our kids?

Let me tell you something…if an adult started to bully my kid…I would want to show up at their house with a baseball bat.  The trouble with that is kids learn everything from watching the adults they love.  If I lose my temper, have a short fuse, treat people with disrespect, disregard those in our community who need help, am in people’s faces, am intolerant, am impatient, then they will grow up behaving in the exact same manner.  Honestly, I get irritated enough with myself on one of my bad days, we don’t need two more bad versions of myself running around this world.

Since I can’t solve the problems our children are facing in school right now.  And I can’t track down every adult that is bullying children and shake them until they understand.  I need to do something.  And what I’m asking is if we as a collective can agree to never ever under any circumstances bully a child?  And also if we as a collective can agree to at least try to be more kind, and tolerant, and respectful.  If you’re unwilling to agree to these things then quite frankly, this is not the blog for you, and you should be ashamed of yourself.

Can I get an amen?  Are you with me?

TODAY:  What if I do everything in my power to demonstrate kindness, tolerance, and respect for my little girls?  And, I’ve said before that this blog is about improving MY life and that I really don’t want anything to do with preaching or getting any of you to follow in my ridiculous footsteps, but WHAT IF we all agree here and now that we will never bully a child and that we will do our best as a community to be examples of the behaviors we want to see in our children?  What do you say?