Whoever coined the saying “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me!” was either never made fun of or is in therapy today. Words do hurt and when you’re a mom of a child being picked on, they can hurt in a whole different way. In this episode, Abby’s story is a good one for any mom who needs to know when to intervene and how to empower a child who’s being picked on. What do you say to your kids when they tell you friends are making fun of them? Is it enough just to tell them to find new friends? It might be time instead to talk about what makes a good friend and when it’s time to let go of a relationship. That’s a skill that will come in handy for years to come.
Abby, Susan, Megan, and Chloe also talk about frenemies and why it hurts so much more to be picked on by someone you’re close to as opposed to by a random kid on the playground. They also debate when and how parents should step into a situation and help. Did you know there are some cities where parents can be fined if their children are habitual bullies? What would you do if you received a ticket saying you owed money for your son or daughter’s misbehavior toward other kids?
In a lighthearted moment, when Megan says she’s afraid her two-year-old might be a bully, Abby runs through the signs to see how he measures up. Spoiler: Not that bullying at age two is even possible, but he’s doing just fine.
Articles we mentioned:
6 Questions to Open Conversation With Your Child About Bullying
7 Things to Help the Kid Who Gets Teased
How to Handle Your Child’s “Frenemy”
Teaching Your Middle-School Child How to Be a Courageous Upstander in School
Should Parents Be Punished if Their Children Are Bullies?
Printables we think you’ll like:
How do you teach your kids to stand up for themselves? Tell us in the comments below.
