I know this is my pottery blog by I am first and most importantly a momma and today my daughter has amazed me and I’d like to share.
Bully
It’s such a strong word and not really one to bandy around willy nilly, but today there was a child attempting to try out her skills at the playpark.
It began with a boy, and a lightsaber.
My daughters friend got himself in a spot of bother when wielding his he inadvertently hit a girl. He apologised and let her take the toy and she began to wield it rather more viciously.
So he hid.
This is the story I was told when I found them hiding under the climbing frame.
Well, actually, I was told the story when we began to leave the park and my daughter told me what was going on and asked could she return to support her friend who was afraid and now alone.
So off she went, where I then noticed that the girl had approached the boy and did indeed seem to be intimidating him.
I left it to pan out for a while to see what they would both do, with the intention of stepping in if need be.
I witnessed my daughter standing with her back as straight as a rod and I could tell from her back alone that she was taking no nonsense. In turn I could see that the girl was giving it.
At one point she imitated a monkey. I actually thought that it was perhaps calming down and that this was a game.
I was wrong. It was at this point that she had pointed at my daughters arm, saying that she was so hairy. The monkey imitation had been for my daughter!
That back remained strong.
Further words were shared and the girl moved on.
I moved then to the children, now ensconced back under the climbing frame.
I joined them and invited them both to return to our house and walk away heads held high.
What should you do in the face of a bully?
Clearly this has been talked about in school, but I do back this up at home.
Today this person tried 5 different ways to verbally bully my daughter each peppered with such language that my daughter was shocked!
‘Does your mum know you swear like that?’
- At least I have a decent mum!
- Your arms are hairy! You look like a gorilla (this followed by the gorilla dance)
My daughter calmly replied, ‘I like gorillas.’
- Your just looking after your boyfriend! Im surprised you have one with your personality!
‘Actually this isn’t my boyfriend, my boyfriend is at home just now.’
- You should get new glasses!
‘I’m actually getting new glasses next week, no wait Tuesday, no, Thursday! I’m getting new glasses on Thursday’
- Oh my god you can’t even tell what day it is!
‘Do you know, I’m a bit surprised. I thought you were a nice girl, but it’s a shame because you’re not.
Come on *insert friends name here* lets go to my house.’
I could Not be more proud.
That girl couldn’t get to my daughter despite trying different attacks and ended up walking away.
Maybe that isn’t bullying, it’s becoming one of those hard to pin down words but the episode was not pleasant for either of the children involved and between coming to me to explain the situation and tackling it head on on behalf of her friend, I can’t see that she could have handled it any the better.
I know this is a proud mum post but sometimes it’s ok to be proud.
Yoga with Miriam 