Yes, bullying does hurt! Have you ever noticed your child coming back from school with a long face? A simple chat can make all the difference – A true story!
Disclaimer: The photo of the model used in this article is for illustrative purposes only and does not depict the emotional state or experiences of the character in the story in any way. Model: Adele Rayna Bouchard
Well, it could be a temporary thing, or maybe they need a little help with something bothering them. Today, we are sharing a story of a 4th grader who suddenly lost interest in going to school. This is the same girl who was always excited to go to school, meet her friends, and eagerly say “hello” to her teacher.
Every morning used to be filled with her cheerful chatter about the day ahead. But now, her enthusiasm had waned, that worried her parents. What could have caused this sudden change?
I am a 4th grade student, and will be going to 5th grade soon, but I wish they are not in my classroom anymore. [Who are they ?]
When I told my mom, she told, not to care about it and to ignore those students, thinking they would stop if I didn’t react. I tried. I tried hard not to be bothered by what’s happening and to follow the “so-called”, “DON’T CARE” attitude. But I couldn’t continue to do so. It does hurt.
I didn’t want to discuss it anymore with my mom, thinking that she wouldn’t understand my feelings. But she also told me not to discuss every personal thing with my friends and to come to her first. I told her, I did tell her, but what should I do now?
I’m just a 4th grader; how do I know whom to trust? I wish I had someone to share my feelings with and get some empathy in return! May be my teacher, but I was not feeling very comfortable to discuss this with her. Well, I don’t know why!
After a few days, my mom came to me, noticing that I didn’t want to go to school, and asked if I was okay? Usually, I love studying and help my friends. I also love assisting my teacher whenever she needs help. School used to be so much fun! But now, is it still that fun for me? No. 🙁
I am a 4th grade student, and two of my friends call me “FAT”. During my lunchtime, they look at me and laugh while I eat. I feel uncomfortable wearing trousers because once my belly was exposed and they made fun of me for it. I am a sad little girl now, and I hate when they call me that. I love chocolates and love to eat, but I try my best to control how much I eat. I go for a walk with my mom every day, and I also do kids’ exercises. But why am I still fat? I asked my mom and cried aloud.
[Instagram- @adeleraynab]
My mom hugged me and asked – “How many students do you have in your class?”
I said, “24”
Mom: “How many of them call you fat?”
Me: “2”
Mom: “So, how many of them do not call you fat?”
Me: “24-2 = 22”
Mom: “Has your mom ever called you fat?”
Me: “No”
Mom: “Has your teacher ever called you fat?”
Me: “No”
Mom: “Now, how many of us do not call you fat, including those 22 students?”
Me: “22 + 2 = 24.” – What? Back to 24? How, Mom? (Silly me, I know how.)
Mom: “Ignore those 2; they should not be counted in your life. They should mean nothing to you as long as your mom, dad, and teacher are with you. Now, let’s read a story and go to sleep.”
The above conversation might sound silly to you, but it helped me divert her disturbed mind. I am sharing my story because I feel a bit guilty for ignoring this in the first place. I thought it wasn’t a very serious issue because they are just small kids in elementary school, but I was wrong.
As a mother of a 4th grader, we went ahead and complained to her teacher and principal bringing this to their notice. The other kids’ parents were also involved, and things were sorted out.
One thing I would like to tell every parent is to take bullying seriously. Bullying does hurt [be it small or big] and can have an adverse effect on your child depending on the nature of your child. The sooner any action is taken, the better!
Only advice from a mom who’s felt guilty: Talk to your child daily and never ignore the statement “I’m not feeling good, mama.” Show empathy, listen with an open heart, and let them know they can always share their feelings with you. Your support and understanding can make a world of difference in their lives.
~ Anonymous
As parents, we sometimes underestimate the impact of bullying, thinking that it’s just kids being kids. However, it’s essential to recognize the seriousness of the issue and address it promptly to support our children and ensure their well-being.
If you are a mom and want to share your child’s experiences about incidents [small or big] at school or in the fashion industry and want other fellow mommies to be aware of it, please feel free to write to us your story using the form in the given link. You may choose to keep you identity hidden and let us know. Your identity will not be disclosed outside Iconic Fashion Kids in any way.
There are also government and non-profit organizations dedicated to helping with bullying. These websites offer resources, support, and sometimes online reporting options. You can check these out in the links below:
- StopBullying.gov: https://www.stopbullying.gov/ (US focused)
- PACER Center: https://www.pacer.org/bullying/ (US focused)
We are grateful to the mom of the 4th grader for sharing her story and raising awareness among other moms, and special thanks to our model Adele Rayna Bouchard [Instagram- @adeleraynab] and her mom for putting in efforts to represent this gesture beautifully!
