"Bullying"...one of society's most over-used, misinterpreted current words
If someone looks at you wrong today, they are being a "bully" when someone has a different opinion than you, they are a "bully"... Now, don't get me wrong being bullied is a big problem and it makes me sick when I hear of real cases of it (seriously, if you want to cry your eyes out watch Bully on Netflix) but I feel like the term and word are being used very freely lately. I heard from a friend that just last week in a local Jr high two boys were disagreeing with each other and one boy ran up to that teacher claiming that he was getting "bullied" -mainly so he could tattle and get the other boy in trouble for something they were both guilty of.
Past my rant of the misconstrued, strongly popular word...I am raising a baby/toddler who I am preparing to send to the big bad world of the public school system. I tell her every day that she is 'pretty' and 'smart' and 'kind' and 'important'... I am filling her bucket pretty full of confidence so that if heaven forbid someone tells her otherwise she won't believe it or be bothered by it. I can say that if she takes after myself or her 'dad confidence will not be something's she lacks.
With boosting her confidence level comes the topic of where is the line drawn between self-esteem and narcism? Where do you cross over from thinking that you are great to thinking that you are too great? The mentality doesn't need to be 'pick on or be picked on' I just want any negativty she receives to be brushed off because she is sure of herself at a young age... Sure of herself but not too sure of herself... Does that make sense? Parents what do you do for your children with this subject matter?
I don't want my daughter to think she is greater than others but I do want her to believe that she is great none the less. It someone is unkind to her I don't want her to seek revenge or be devastated by it but rather just not be bothered by it. I have a bully myself, who has constantly done things just to hurt my feelings, using my daughter as a weapon... Clearly, I am not a prime example by not being able to shrug it off like I hope to one day be able to do.
Little Bullies are a products of big bullies... Just as little confident individuals are a products of bigger confident individuals and little kind people are the product or older kind people. Maybe these three things correlate with each other...? If you are kind to people and give them the self esteem they need yours will also increase? If we as adults (bigs) do this giving an example to our kids (littles) they will learn this? My mom used to always drill into my head the saying, "it's nice to be important but it's more important to be nice".
So... Feel free to shower me with your advice on what has worked for you?
XO:
Ashlynn
It's creepily obvious she reads eVERy comment anyone reads this I wanna make sure she reads this! It's pathetic how u post pictures of someone's child that u hardly see! Everyone can see thru u and that u are just being rude and tryinnto make it seem like u have anything to do with bronson. Get over it! Stop seeking so much attention!!! Stop being obsessed wit Ashlynn and her baby! Stop copying. Hell just stop! U are good for a daily laugh buy that's it!! Be thankful Ashlynn is a good person and doesn't post most of the comments my friends and I leave about ur crazyness. Ur not inspiring or interesting just a joke!
ReplyDeleteHaha I know. I was hoping people wouldn't notice that I end up filtering a lot of them out because I don't want her to go crazy on anyone else. I'm sorry :(
DeleteWise words miss Bronson! I also want to commend the above commenter and just add an agree to it
ReplyDeleteI think it's awesome that you tell Boston she is smart, kind, important, etc as well as that she is pretty. My sister and I rant about that a lot and how I hope it really adds to how valued girls feel but it is hard to remember to do because it's not dominant in our culture. I think just speaking kindly of other people as much as possible (realizing it's not always possible) and letting her see you compliment others as well will help her value others and learn to be kind, too. But I'm not an expert :)
ReplyDelete