There was an article that circulated last year, written by a friend of mine, called “The Reason My Daughter Might Punch Your Son.” At the time, my daughter was in kindergarten, and I thought we had plenty of time before facing incidents like this. I read and shared the piece, but I didn’t fully grasp its importance—until now.
Recently, as we walked home from school, my daughter confided, “I got bullied today.” My heart sank. I’ve always viewed the term “bullying” as overused, and I couldn’t fathom that my spirited, independent little girl was experiencing it. However, her dramatic flair pushed me to investigate. By the time we reached home, she relayed how some boys were chasing her on the playground. I told her to avoid them, and we moved on with our evening.
At dinner, she brought it up again during our daily highs and lows sharing. This time, I leaned in closer. “What exactly happened?” I prompted. Her response made my blood boil: some boys had been hitting her backside, and when she asked them to stop, they mocked her appearance.
Let that sink in for a moment. Two boys physically harassed my daughter and then insulted her when she tried to assert herself. I couldn’t help but wonder where they learned such behavior. I suppressed my rage and asked her what she did next. She told me she informed a teacher, but the boys continued their antics.
The more she spoke, the more my anger grew. She demonstrated what they were doing, and I realized it was nothing short of inappropriate touching. But how could she understand the gravity of that? She’s only 6!
We talked about how wrong this was, and I praised her for reporting it. Then she lowered her head, saying, “Tomorrow, I’ll just hide during recess.” I gently lifted her chin, looked her in the eye, and firmly stated, “Absolutely not. You will not let two boys ruin your free time. They are breaking the rules. If they touch you again, say, ‘Keep your hands to yourself.’ If they don’t stop, tell the teacher. If they continue to bother you, feel free to step on their feet or kick them where it hurts. If you get in trouble, let the teacher know to call me.”
I ensured she felt empowered to defend herself. Our boys learn from us; it’s not instinctive for them to respond to a girl saying “no” with insults. This is learned behavior. As parents, it’s our responsibility to teach our children to respect everyone. If I found out my son had behaved like those boys, there would be serious consequences at home. He understands the importance of treating others kindly, including your daughters.
Parents, it’s crucial to instill in your sons and daughters that they are not entitled to touch anyone without consent. My daughter’s body is not a playground for anyone. If they cross that line, they won’t get away with it because she will stand up for herself—potentially in a way that includes a swift kick to the shins.
For more insights on parenting and empowerment, check out this informative resource on home insemination from Make a Mom, or dive into more advice on parental hope at Intracervical Insemination. Additionally, WebMD provides excellent resources for understanding pregnancy and home insemination treatments that can be beneficial.
In summary, it’s essential to teach our children about boundaries and respect. When faced with harassment, they should feel empowered to defend themselves, and we, as parents, must support them in doing so.