The Bully: Your Child

Parents, have you ever thought these things? “Bullying isn’t a big deal. My child is just having fun teasing a little. My child would never be mean enough to cause another child to take his or her own life. My child is only in middle school and kids will be kids. It’s all part of growing up.”

Now, picture this: You get a call from your child’s school and you are advised that you need to pick up your child immediately. You ask if your child is okay. The school advises you that your child is not ill and is not hurt.

You race to the school worried and confused. Your child is in the principal’s office, crying uncontrollably. You hear him repeat over and over again, “I’m sorry. I didn’t know. I didn’t know.”

You attempt to console your child and look at the principal for an answer. The principal begins to explain.  “Your son was teasing another boy in his class. The ambulance just took him to the hospital. We don’t know if he is going to make it.”

Your jaw drops. You ask, “What did he do? He isn’t violent. He has never been aggressive. He’s not even as big as the other boys. What could he have done? There must be a mistake.”

The principal tells you, “There is no mistake. The boy who is fighting for his life, was in line for a drink of water behind your son. Your son put peanut butter on the water fountain spout and when the child drank, he got some peanut butter in his mouth and swallowed it.”

You say, “Well, that’s not such a big deal. I’m sure he was just kidding around.”

The principal continues, “The boy went into anaphylactic shock. He is allergic to peanuts and your son knew it.”

“Oh,” was all you could say.

Parents, here are some facts:

• An increasing number of school students have diagnosed life-threatening allergies.

• About 3 million children in the U.S. have food allergies.

• About 1 in 4 kids, teens and young adults with allergies have reported being teased, harassed or bullied because they were allergic.

• Reports show that of kids in grades six through ten with food allergies about 50% reported being bullied with the allergen.

• Reports show that about 20 percent, were teased or harassed by a teacher or other school staff.

• In Lexington, Kentucky, a girl in the eighth grade was arrested on felony charges after she put peanut butter cookie crumbs in an allergic classmate’s lunch box.

Still think kids will be kids and bullying is just part of growing up? Educate your kids on the facts and let them know that there is no tolerance for bullying.

Photo by Laurav181