In a recent appearance on a talk show, Jenna Collins opened up about her approach to discussing bullying with her son. Her candid advice might not resonate with everyone, but for parents facing the tough reality of their child being bullied, it definitely strikes a chord.
Bullying is a pervasive issue in schools today, and while the standard advice is often to encourage communication and seek help from adults, that isn’t always feasible. Jenna shared her perspective with the audience, stating, “If my son is being bullied at school, I tell him to stand up for himself! If he needs to, he should push that little brat away!” Although her partner, Lisa, insisted that they should promote dialogue and calm conflict resolution, Jenna feels that sometimes, kids must take a stand.
I can relate to Jenna’s perspective. Last year, my own son faced bullying on the school bus during kindergarten. While I never explicitly told him to strike back, I did encourage him to defend himself by pushing back and calling for help. After all, with the bus driver focused on the road, there wasn’t always an adult present to intervene. I wouldn’t want my child to simply endure mistreatment. While I don’t advocate for hitting, I believe in teaching kids to protect themselves when necessary.
Regrettably, bullying remains a prevalent issue, often stemming from environments where children aren’t taught the importance of kindness. Thankfully, there’s more awareness now than when we were kids, a time when bullying was often dismissed as a normal part of growing up. I appreciate being a parent in an era where schools take bullying seriously, aiming to resolve issues before they escalate. However, I will stand firm in my belief that instructing my children to assert themselves is crucial; I never want them to feel defenseless.
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In summary, while traditional methods of dealing with bullies include communication and seeking help from adults, sometimes, kids need to learn how to stand up for themselves. Teaching them to push back or call for assistance can be a valuable lesson in self-defense, especially in situations where adults aren’t available to intervene.