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 A friend of mine posted this the other day on Facebook and I haven't been able to stop thinking of it since.  I mean seriously, when are schools going to get a A CLUE??!!  And what in the hell is wrong with people today?  Who in their right mind would EVER talk that way to a child?  This goes way beyond bullying, in my opinion.

I mean, I've had a few convos with my close friends about bullying and I know that it exists, even in my own kids' school but I would hope that keeping a dialogue and opening up about situations is something that our school administration would do.  I have a total ZERO tolerance policy (personally) for bullying.  I don't think any act of rudeness, cruelty, or bashing – no matter how small – should go brushed under the proverbial rug.  Because that's how bullying rolls.

One snide remark, one dirty look, and whoa – lookie there, folks – we've got ourself a bully!  Too often I think that school administrators and even we, as parents, are too lax on situations that truly require more of our attention.  We simply say things like, "oh, they're just being boys" or "it's no big deal" when we should in fact be questioning our children – and others – about just what is taking place and how it is making them feel!

Yesterday as my 8 year-old climbed into the backseat of the car at school pick-up, I peered at him in my rearview mirror and asked him how his day was (like I do each day) and when he said "kinda good", my ears perked up.  I probed further.

It turns out he had a "fight" with one of his good friends.  I probed further.  Turns out that said "fight" was actually a disagreement.  An argument.  But words were exchanged and feelings were hurt.  On both sides.  My son said something to his friend that he should not have said.  Then his friend said something back, which in turn, hurt my son's feelings.  Well, I shared with my son that "that's sorta what you get!"  I told him you can't talk to people in a rude way and not expect them to react!

So, later on that evening at a pizza party we went to, I walked up to this boy's mom – who is a friend of mine – and just asked her if her son had mentioned this "fight" my son told me about.  She said her son hadn't said anything but that she would ask.  And that was that.  Our boys were playing together and all had been resolved.  But see, if I'd not even said anything to this mom, she might've never known that this little had even taken place.  And I didn't approach her in a way that I wouldn't, myself, want to be approached.  We both knew that the argument itself was no big deal but at the same time we didn't want each of our kids to think saying mean things to one another was the appropriate way to deal.

So back to this video.  I hope you'll take a moment to share it with your friends and family to help spread awareness about bullying and all the different forms it can come in.

As for me, I am just sickened at what's taken place with this student.  I pray that none of you or your kids ever have to fall victim to this kind of injustice.