Dear Carolyn,
My 10 year-old son is being bullied at school and I’m not sure how to handle it. When I was a boy, I was teased for being overweight and wearing glasses. My son is teased because he’s got a learning disability. I feel helpless because I’m on the road most of the time and my wife is too shy to be assertive with the school.
What do you think I should do? He comes home crying almost every day. Now, they have taken to Facebook and Twitter to mock him. I’m at the end of my rope.
Dave
Dear Dave,
I’m worried too. Social media takes bullying to new levels. While I believe that you can’t mandate kindness and acceptance from kids, you can demand a safe school environment for your son.
Start by calling the school and asking to speak to your son’s teacher. She can reach you by cell or by email. Tell her what you told me and explain that your wife is too shy to handle this. If she’s not aware of what’s going on, you may need to contact the school counselor. Keep making the phone calls. Ask them for help. Explain the situation and make sure you get hard copy of anything you see online that constitutes bullying.
There is support out there but you have to seek it. If your wife isn’t able to, you have to. Or, give us the name of the school and we’ll organize a convoy of pissed-off truckers ready to help your son.
Good luck and let us know how it works out.
Readers, were you bullied as kids? How did you handle with your own kids?
Carolyn
