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Last week, I received a voicemail from the principal of my youngest daughter’s school. Typically, I know him as the one who tirelessly works to keep parent pick-up from escalating into a chaotic scene. So, when I heard his message about an incident at school, I was taken aback. While he didn’t sound overly alarmed, receiving a call from the principal (even as an adult) always makes my heart race, so I quickly returned his call.
Fortunately, it wasn’t a serious issue or related to Covid protocols, as I had feared. Instead, he informed me that my six-year-old daughter had spoken up to her playground teacher about three boys who were chasing her with the intent of cornering her for a kiss. My initial reaction was not anger but sheer shock. Given the current circumstances surrounding health and safety, my first thought was, absolutely not.
Now, I understand that they’re just six years old, and it might seem trivial on the surface. After all, kids often play games, right? Wrong. Chasing someone to corner them and invade their personal space is not a game, regardless of age. Thankfully, the principal recognized this and assured me that he had addressed the issue, both with the entire class and individually with the boys involved.
Personal Space Matters
I must express my gratitude for how her principal handled this situation. If he had used the phrase “boys will be boys,” I would have felt compelled to unleash my inner mama bear. I’m raising my daughters to respect their own personal space and that of others. Having spent most of my life trying not to cause a stir when I felt uncomfortable, I know the repercussions of failing to set boundaries. This time, I am determined to ensure that my daughters’ experiences will be different.
Will this incident one day be a funny story at her wedding? Perhaps. But right now, it’s not something I can laugh about. The outdated notion of “boys will be boys” needs to be left in the past. It’s crucial to stop treating the invasion of others’ personal space as a childhood rite of passage. Just because children are young does not mean their rights to their own bodies should be overlooked.
Teaching Respect for Others
On the other hand, it’s equally vital to teach our children to respect others’ boundaries. This same daughter, who was chased earlier, is a bundle of love. She easily makes friends and enjoys giving hugs. I’ve often reminded her that she must ask for permission before hugging someone. Not everyone appreciates hugs, and especially in the current environment, it’s not appropriate to hug strangers.
Some may think it’s silly to have my six-year-old ask if she can hug someone, but it’s never too early to teach the importance of consent and personal space. She should always ask for permission rather than seek forgiveness after a misstep. I hope these lessons will empower her to establish her own boundaries in the future. The way this situation was handled reinforced that she is absorbing these crucial lessons.
She felt uncomfortable and didn’t want the boys invading her space. Her principal made sure to validate her feelings, letting her know that she did the right thing by telling a teacher. No one had the right to touch her body without her consent. This validation is vital; too often, children’s concerns are dismissed, not because they don’t matter, but because schools and daycares often lack the resources to address seemingly minor incidents. This pattern can be seen in the experiences of survivors of assault and harassment.
Kids may be kids, but they deserve to have their personal space respected. The sooner we help them understand this, the brighter our future will be. I’m grateful to have my daughter’s principal standing as an ally in this important matter.
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Summary
This article reflects on a parent’s gratitude towards a school principal for addressing a concerning incident involving personal space and consent. The author emphasizes the importance of teaching children about boundaries, respect, and the need to validate their feelings.