Teenagers are so insensitive and cruel. And with the ease of posting horrible things/pictures online, or sending picture/text messages to everyone, there will be no end to it. There are no consequences. I don't see why parents would even allow their kids to have cell phones, personal computers, or unmonitored internet in the first place, but the more important issue is that these kids have no shame or compassion.
Just a few days ago I saw this on the news--a 15 yr old girl originally from Ireland, who moved to Massachusetts was bullied by 2 different cliques allegedly for dating a senior. She hung herself in her family's apartment stairwell, where her 12 yr old sister found her dead. 9 students were indicted for harassment and statutory rape and other civil rights charges. So sad...the harassment was well-known throughout the school and nothing was done.Even after she killed herself, there were horrible things written about her on her facebook, which have since been deleted. Her parents are having her interred back in Ireland. This is her:
And there's a new story in Florida:
Another 15 yr old girl was beaten into a coma, by another 15 yr old boy, who was led to her by his 13 yr old girlfriend (who was apparently friends with the victim before this). The details are not all out, but it occured right in front of the school, before they were getting on the bus to go home. There are some vague claims that Josie, the victim, texted him about his brother's suicide, or that she doesn't approve of his relationship with the 13 yr old...He punched her, slammed her head into the sidewalk and then stomped on her head with steel-toed boots until a teacher pulled him off. It was pre-meditated. He is supposedly feeling guilty and on suicide watch.
This is Josie Lou Ratley before the incident:
This kind of stuff makes me so scared for my children. I am lucky my only bully in school was John.
4 comments:
OMG I should not have read this before bed. This makes me so sad :( But you should take some relief in knowing that people who come to that sort of "end" have problems to begin with. You are a very involved parent. You would never "allow" this to happen to Lucas or Olivia. You will be more than aware of what they do and don't want you to know. At least the major stuff. That's what I read from these stories at least. I know I was bullied, and really TERRIBLY, but my parents raised me to know that suicide is not a way to go. I had good parents. They taught me how to deal with problems and anger. You will be a good parent too, to prevent your kiddies from arriving to such a dark conclusion when the going gets tough.
Yes, I think my kids will be good kids and I will be very involved in their lives. but you can't keep people from hurting them, bullies are bullies. I hope by the time Lucas/Olivia is old enough, we can afford private schooling!
Sam-I was most bullied in private school :(
But just stay involved. What would have helped me more is if I wasn't so embarrassed to tell my parents what was happening to me. I was so afraid that if they knew, they would be hurt and sad and not know what to do.
I finally told a teacher and she put a stop to the major stuff. But the behind her back stuff, continued until the last day I was there.
Yes, you are right, you can't prevent them from trying to hurt your kids, but I know that you listen to Dr. Laura and what does she teach us? To put your kids in a self-defense class, such as KARATE! :)
I think more than anything, you teach your kids to be good people and make friends with everyone and wherever they go.
I was mostly bullied because I was so shy and afraid to be funny, or to talk. I was ridiculously quiet. But mostly because I was sheltered by my parents.
I know Lucas and Olivia will be friendly kids and will not have such severe problems.
I guess what I am trying to do by writing this to you, is give you a positive outlook and hope for good too ;)
well, with schools I am not only worried about mean kids, but mean/irresponsible teachers and staff. Hopefully since they are so close in age, whatever school they go to, they can band together and lucas can look out for olivia :)
I dont think i have the patience to homeschool, so we'll do the best finding a good school and stay involved in all they do. but i do want them to be involved in extracurricular things (more than i was) and hopefully make good friends. karate can be one of them :)
John better not sabotage what I teach them by encouraging them to bully like he did. he was a wimpy bully---only picked on people who couldn't beat him up. But sometimes that's just as bad as physical. He made me cry before! I didn't (and still) don't understand it, but he tries to act like he doesn't remember. I think a big part of it was that his girlfriend at the time, hated me :)
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