putting an end to bullies

i've been thinking a lot lately about bullies. Our society is inudated with them, our children are fighting them off. Recently my 6 year old and his friends have become to scared to play outside because of a group of them in our apartment complex who like to beat up the kindergartners and first graders.  seems they are striking younger and younger these days.

I'm a vicitm of bullying. most of my childhood I was picked on a treated poorly by my peers because I was different. The worst being in fourth and fifth grade. it was so bad, one little boy would follow me home and beat me up in the middle of the street at times. I was teased for my hand-me down clothes the fact i was an army brat and for the shows i watched (was called a potty trainer lover because i enjoyed power rangers). my best friend evene eventually turned on me by fifth grade and i was alone. my life as a young girl was miserable.

In sixth grade, i was be-friended by a young girl simply so she could find ways for me to embarrass myself. one time she convinced me that make-up had to be worn clown-like; thick, heavy, and bright bold colors. I was teased so badly about it, I cried for days.

i'm almost 30 now, and i still find it difficult to make new friends and sometimes find myself trying too hard to impress people. which i think turns them away from me, i reek so bad of desperation to be accepted.

here's the thing about bullying; if you're told enough times that you're not good enough or worth anything, you start to believe it.  i fight constantly to this day with my self-esteem. i still feel insecure & feel as if everyone is watching me, waiting for me to mess up, to do something that is worth a good laugh.

bullying is not a joke. teasing another person because they're different can affect how they see themselves. who knows, that little girl who is laughed at for her good-will clothes  is in hand me downs because her mom is working full time for minimum wage and going to school so she can put food on the table & clothes aren't a priority. the kid who you are teasing about her father in the service is worried she won't ever see him again because he's  deployed and all she gets is a letter once every month or so.

I do my best to teach Thomas not to be mean to his classmates and friends. i also try and teach him not to listen to other kids if someone teases him at school. that's all i can do. that and be there for him if he was a victim of bullying.

parents need to be more aware of what their kids are doing & discipline them if they are doing the wrong thing. I can't stand seeing the little kids around my apartment complex picking on their peers & the fact their parents don't do a single thing about it really creams my corn!