“Mrs. B.? This is your son’s principal, Ms. C. Please don’t worry, your son is okay, but I wanted to discuss an incident that occurred yesterday involving him.”
My heart plummeted. I felt a wave of dread wash over me, making it difficult to respond.
“Alright.”
I soon learned that my son had been bullied. Bullied. A “target,” as she put it.
My son. My sweet, bright, and compassionate boy.
While waiting in line with his classmates, a child whom my son helps due to some learning challenges kicked him in the back three times. My son turned around and firmly told him to “stop it.” Instead, he was met with three swift kicks to his groin. My anger surged, and as I took a deep breath, I wondered how I had missed this. Why hadn’t he confided in me immediately after it happened? I’ve heard countless stories about bullying; how could I have overlooked this?
The principal explained that after the incident, my son went to his teacher, crying as he recounted the events. The school handled it admirably. His teacher promptly notified the principal, the other boy received a serious reprimand, and my son was comforted.
However, the principal hadn’t received the email until the following morning, the same day she called me. She brought my son into her office and shared their conversation, along with her heartfelt reflections:
“As a fellow mother of two boys, I want to tell you that your son is incredibly special. We’ve dealt with many bullying incidents and have broken up numerous fights, but your son stands out. He took matters into his own hands and chose to use his words, not violence. When he sat in my office, he was confident in his decision, and that’s because he made the right choice.”
Her words left me speechless. I frequently share therapeutic insights with my son, yet it was his response in that painful moment that truly moved me. That’s the essence of who he is.
Although hearing how well he managed the situation briefly numbed my pain, it quickly returned as I replayed the story in my mind. The thought of my kind-hearted child being bullied is gut-wrenching.
When I picked him up from school, his face lit up the moment our eyes met, and the familiar scent of his skin reminded me of Crayola crayons and home. I longed to hold him tightly, to cry and apologize for the pain he had experienced the previous day.
As we walked hand in hand, I mentioned what I had heard about the incident. With an ease that surprised me, he looked up at me and said, “Yeah, I figured you’d hear about it, Mom. Everything’s fine.”
Where does this strength come from? I urged myself to stay composed.
At home, I asked if he wanted to share more about what happened, and he did, almost to humor me. I could see the confidence his principal had mentioned. After he finished, I asked, “What made you choose to respond that way?” He replied, “Because that’s what you taught me, Mom. It was the right thing to do.”
He mentioned the other boy by name and expressed empathy for him, noting how difficult school must be for him. “I feel bad that he misses out on fun days because of his behavior. But don’t worry, Mom. He won’t do that to me again. We talked, and he knows it’s not okay.”
Overwhelmed with pride, I got down on my knees to hug him tightly, covering him with kisses and praise. He looked me straight in the eyes and said, “I need to help him like you help kids at your work. I was going to tell you, but I was tired of talking about it yesterday, so I needed a break.”
I held him close, not wanting to let go.
Later that night, he came into my room wanting to spend time together. I set aside everything to enjoy our conversation and laughter. We held hands as he traced the lines on my palms.
As he drifted off to sleep, he clung to me tightly, as if I were the keeper of all his dreams, and I clutched him back, knowing he holds my heart. My love for him is beyond words, and I am proud of the wise, compassionate person he is becoming.
Most importantly, I am proud of the person he is when I’m not around. He shows me his true character when I’m not watching, and I couldn’t be happier to call him my son.
Parenting is an incredibly challenging journey, but he is worth every moment. They all are. A million times over, worth it.
Summary:
In this heartfelt reflection, Laura Bennett shares her experience of learning about her son’s confrontation with a bully at school. Despite the distressing news, Laura finds pride in her son’s mature response, which reflects the values she has instilled in him. The article emphasizes the challenges of parenting while celebrating the strength and compassion that children can show in difficult situations.