Savannah and I spent hours talking about her life in school. She is very honest about her feelings and shortcomings, but also determined to get her education, even though she struggles a lot.
Sadly, this darling little girl is one of 17% of children bullied in school. What makes things worse – in order to protect herself, Savannah admittedly “bullies” back. Since death and disability are abstract to most children, they don’t understand that fighting can lead to tragedy. And with so many parents, single and married, working one or more jobs simply to put food on the table, many of these children don’t get the investment they desperately need.
I discussed ways with Savannah how to handle a bully without it leading to a fistfight. In one particular incident, Savannah needed a paper to finish an assignment and a girl, (we’ll call her Sam),who bullies her took it away.
Savannah got upset and apparently said something to Sam that caught the attention of the teacher, but only after Sam pushed Savannah. And Savannah wanted to react. At any rate, the teacher told the Sam to apologize. She didn’t.
Savannah and Sam have had several altercations. Since Savannah admitted that she sometimes provokes the girl, I suggested that she apologize to her and forgive her. I explained to her that perhaps Sam needed some kindness. Maybe, her homelife wasn’t all that great, so she seeks attention by “bullying”. Who knows? One day they could become best friends, once they truly understand each other. And as I told Savannah, someone has to try to take the first step.
Savannah looked at me with her big blue eyes and said, “I don’t really like that,” with a curl of a smile, but she said she would try.
“Give children a conscious understanding of how powerful
and important and valuable and perfect they are.” Abraham Hicks
Living life, bedridden, how I ended up this way and how I cope
Categories: Mentoring
Nancy Jean Walker - Loving Life Fully 