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Let's Talk (about teasing, about violence, about boys & girls)

10/30/2017

1 Comment

 
Let's talk about the way we address bullying and teasing. Let's talk about how we address it differently with our boys vs. our girls. Let's talk about how we can best serve our sweet babies. How we can best help them to become strong, independent, compassionate humans. It's time. Past time really. 

My friend recently shared on FB that her daughter was teased at lunch. So much teasing that she cried and felt ashamed of her lunch choices. 

Many well meaning people responded to the post. The responses fell into one of three camps:
1. Poor girl, I'm so sorry that happened. 
2. Poor girl, I'll come over and scare the crap out of those boys. (really?!)
3. Poor girl, but probably the boys like her and they're teasing to get her attention. Boys will be boys. (nope-ity nope nope!)

PART I:

We have a problem. We are either accepting the narrative of our boys as aggressors, or we are attacking them with our own adult aggression. They're children. Stop it! Really, stop it!

Our boys need to be shown as much compassion as our girls. We need to teach our boys how to relate, how to make friends in ways that don't involve aggression. When we meet boys with violence we're teaching violence. I don't believe any of those well meaning protectors of my friends child would actually hurt or even threaten another child, but that we even rely on those old fashioned and outdated tropes is misguided and dangerous.

I KNOW, boys are more physical, boys play in different ways than girls, I KNOW! I hear you. That doesn't mean they can't be kind humans as well. That doesn't mean that they don't understand what it means to be a good friend.

Come on, let us, communally, give them a little credit. And while doing that, let's teach them about emotional intelligence. The same way we teach our girls to search out the meaning in someone's body language, in their lowered eyes, in their softer voice, or their raised voice, let us teach our boys. We owe it to them.

Let us show them that it is not weak to be kind, it is not weak to reach out to someone less fortunate than you. It is not weak to show empathy for your classmate. Teach them that it is strong and brave to stand up to a bully, not by offering more violence or meanness, but by offering kindness to the one being bullied. That it is strong and brave to turn your back on the bully, that it is strong and brave to NOT BE THE BULLY! 

Let us change the narrative for our boys.

PART II: 

Here's what we're teaching our girls when we suggest that we'll beat up their tormentors or that their tormentors like them and just don't know how to show it.

We're teaching them two things: 1. that they need a protector, or 2. that affection doesn't always feel good, but they should accept it, because, well, that's how boys are. Aren't you lucky he likes you?! 

No! Gross! I reject these messages. I will teach my girls something different. I will teach them that they do not need a protector. They are in charge of what they will accept and not accept in the way of treatment from others. I will teach them that they have value. That they are strong and powerful young women. I will teach them that they can walk away whenever they damn well please.

"Fuck the haters", is what I will teach my girls.

Not in a mean and aggressive way,
but in a you do what you want, girl, kind of way.
In a way that says you own your body and you own your feelings.
In a way that says you are not defined by what someone else says about you.
In a way that says surround yourself with people who lift you up.
Be one who lifts others.
This is what you deserve, child.
​Nothing less. 

1 Comment
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12/21/2017 02:57:35 pm

Teasing and violence are parts of what we called bullying. Teasing too much to the point that someone cried and felt ashamed can affect great impact on his/her life. The phrase "boys will be boys" should not be the reason for them to hurt someone physically or emotionally. I am a girl and I know the feeling of being bullied by a boy. That is why I learn to defend myself and be strong. You should not let them continue doing bad things to you. I am sure that the people who are reading your blog will have knowledge and will be aware of this situation.

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    I'm Molly. I'm all in for parenting.  I'm all in for good food. All in for big and small outdoor adventures. And really only partly in for homemaking. I want a Martha Stewart home and meal, but the truth is, we mamas just can't do it all. Not really. This shit is tricky!
    This is a collection of musings and missives about parenting like you mean it. I mean really mean it. About how you can pull off a really mostly decent meal, keep your house kinda clean, do some of your laundry, and also even remember to usually feed your pets. But mostly about  how being a mama is hard and we can totally rock it, but maybe that dream of perfection has got to give a little.

    Love, 
    Molly

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