I wish we didn't have to deal with bullying. I am hoping that if I run my mouth enough on the internet eventually we will see a decrease in bullying because we will see an increase in children getting what they need from their parents.
BUT. Even if we all gave our children secure emotional support, kids go through stages where they test relational boundaries and are crappy to each other.
SO. We must help our littles develop the skills necessary to stand up and set boundaries when other kids or grown ups are being bulls.
Educating them about bullying and maltreatment is good, but what's even better, is when you model how to do it.
Did your stomach just drop? Mine too. It's hard to stand up to people who are bullying us or just being generally rude and disrespectful to us. But our kids need us to. They need to see it can be done clearly and without violence. They need to see that we are capable of it so that they don't feel responsible to protect us, or protect their pain from us in fear of burdening us.
Who could you practice standing up to in front of your child? Or what boundaries could they see you draw even though the other person doesn't want you to?
If you are struggling with how to do this, write in the comments, and then take good care of each other there with ideas and encouragement.
Model for them your own consent process, and help them deeply understand the nuance of desire
Learn how to prevent child to child sexual trauma by teaching your child body safety rules, including keeping private areas private, asking for permission for physical touch, and sharing secrets with grown-ups.
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In this video, you'll learn that how you live is the biggest teaching tool in your toolkit, as humans are wired to learn through watching and imitating, rather than through directions or instructions.
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