Mommy Blogger Christy K. – Bullying

During Spring Break, one thing that I did manage to accomplish was crossing a few movies off of my watch list.  One of those happened to be the documentary "Bully".  If you haven’t seen this film, I would definitely recommend it.

While this movie terrified me, it was also an eye-opening look at what really goes on with today’s youth.  Bullying in itself is nothing new; it starts in daycare, and sadly, it often carries on for some well into adulthood.  Until recently, bullying has been one of those dirty little secrets that we just stuck on the back burner.  Everyone knows it happens, but it has been considered a rite of passage of sorts, dismissed as “boys will be boys.”  However, today’s bullies are armed with much more than hurtful words and fists on the playground, as social media and technology have armed bullies with a new arsenal of weapons.

As the movie "Bully" points out, over 13 million kids in the US will be bullied at school, on the bus, online, via cell phone, in their neighborhoods, and even in their own homes this year.  The film shows that we are all affected by bullying in one way or another, whether we are the victim, the bully, or a silent bystander.

In recent years, the media has brought to light the prevalence of bullying, as well as the damaging effects that it can have on a person’s life. We have all heard of those cases where a child has been bullied so much that he takes his own life, or lashes out and takes the lives of others.  Everyone has a breaking point.  Where is the point that we draw the line between adolescent teasing, and harmful bullying?  Even when they were bullied at school, kids used to be able to escape to the solace of their own homes.  Today, with text messaging and social media outlets such as Facebook and Twitter, bullies have 24 hour access to new methods with which they can torment their victims.  I wish there was a way to get through to every child, to emphasize how detrimental their words and actions can be to the lives of those they victimize.  In a world full of painful experiences, the last thing that we need is to hurt each other for sport.  I know that for my own children, I will do all that I can to ensure that bullying has no place in their lives, unless it is to stand up for those who are unable to stand up for themselves.

Check out these websites with your kids!   www.stopbullyingspeakup.com and  www.stopbullying.gov.