We can try and teach our kids to be kind to others and preach the messages about why bullying is wrong, and hope that they absorb them. But sometimes our messages fall on deaf ears, and it takes something more powerful -- like a message from one of their peers -- to really get through to them.
The brave boy in this video, identified only as Ricky, made this video in which through a serious of handwritten messages he tells how much kids' cruelty affects him at school. He says he feels like "he needs to be someone else" so that people will like him when all he wants to be is himself. He also gives an example of how he was taunted even on National Suicide Awareness Day.
The sad thing is that there are thousands of kids out there like him feeling like this each and every day. No one is going to be liked by everyone, and there's a certain amount of kids-will-be-kids teasing that will never go away, but when kids are hurting this badly, something is wrong. Something must be done.
More from The Stir: Disgusting Bullies Who Mocked Pregnant Cheerleader Deserve to be Humiliated (VIDEO)
Good for Ricky for expressing himself like this. Hopefully his message will let others know they're not alone, and that other kids will see it and realize just how much their actions can hurt others.
In what ways do you try to prevent your children from becoming bullies? Do you worry more about them getting bullied or becoming a bully?
Image via YouTube
Ashley Is a Widow Who Stays Strong...
This Hot Dad Wants to Vacuum Your Rug
This Hot Dad Wants to Do Your Ironing
KStew Refuses to Shower
Comments 74
Barbara Monti: Only a bully would call another poster on this site a "queen of sluts." To Carrie Lyn--no offense intended, but I used words like irony and others that the kids didn't understand at the same age as this boy. It was one of the reasons I was teased (what it was called many years ago). I also wore crooked glasses and big corrective shoes, was called four-eyes, stick legs, dumb, stupid, weird . . . I could go on and on. The "irony" of this was that by the time I hit high school, got curves along with being slender, got contact lenses, etc., I was very pretty. Between the bullying in grade school and Jr. High, and stuff going on at home, however, I have fought insecurities and have had to deal with shyness for years. Kids don't grow out of it sometimes, but I will say that "that which doesn't kill you also makes you stronger." In a strange sort of way, I am a better person for it.
first of all_parents need to demand _emotional protection from bullies at school.this isnt a kids will be kids thing.this is abuse,a childs selfesteem,their emotional growth can be damaged.adults are scared can u imagine a child being afraid to go to school out of fear of being bullied.these bullies hang in wolve packs,parents teach ur child not to bully,not to be a follower,everyone is different some are more then others .but does that give one the right to bully no and i belive the school should be accountable,the teachers see who is alone_at lunch or who doesnt fit in because someone has choosed to point a finger and say these children dont fit in.teach compassion 4 others,especially 4 those who are different,because of ,looks - clothes ,color and i admire those who dare to be different .dance tour own drummer not to someone elses beat,let the foot ballplayer befriend someone who is different or the cheerleader cheer for the underdog 4once.remember it could be you ,thats being bullied. so moms go to the school meetings and tell them they are going to be held accountable----for letting this continue in their school-----------lexcee
As far as bullying - I have a one year old and pray that by the time he goes to school he will not have to deal with bullies. (Although I know bullies will still be around) Children learn by example. They see their parents or their favorite cartoon make fun of someone and they think it's okay. Parents please teach your babies that it's not okay to bully and hurt someones feelings.