6 Year Old Son Being Bullied

[StrugglingTilMyReward]

I wanted to share something wonderful that happened Tuesday morning.

My 6 year old son is being bullied by another boy at school. I'm not a helicopter parent, but I did bring it up with his teacher and she assured me it was being dealt with. At the same time these are 6 year old boys and I'm trying to keep a healthy perspective. I thought it was being handled but then Monday morning a neighbor came over to say she saw this same boy hitting my son's head. The neighbor was dropping off her two kids when she saw this happen on the playground and that there was no supervision so she intervened until the bell rang. I went and met with the VP right after finding out, and I decided on Tuesday morning to drive the big guy to school and keep an eye myself.

I work shifts, and had just finished a 12 hour night shift, I leave for work at 7pm and get home about 8am....school starts at 8:15 and is just 5 minutes away. My biggest concern is that my son will feel ashamed and like he doesn't have value, I have this concern because this is how I remember feeling when I was his age. I've given him some coping strategies, told him to stand up for himself and how he is allowed to protect his space....not to hit the other boy, but to fix his jaw and get mad and use his hands to keep the other kid away.

Anyway Tuesday morning as I'm getting ready to leave the house with him I stood on the stairs going down to the entry with him at the top so we're eye to eye. I told him how much Mommy and Daddy love him and not do worry about what this other kid thinks, I even said "he's a dummy poo-poo head".

Then I asked him: "You know what you are"? I was expecting him to say "I'm an amazing boy" which is something I say to him often, but not as often as I should. He knocked me for a loop though....instead of telling me that he's an amazing boy he said: "I'm a child of God". I almost choked up, and I gave him a huge hug.

 

[ArtsieSteph]

Hope everything goes well with this delicate situation. So happy this little man knows exactly what he is ✨

 

[StrugglingTilMyReward]

Hope everything goes well with this delicate situation. So happy this little man knows exactly what he is ✨

I'm confident everything will be fine...I haven't yet witnessed anything first hand, but I know its happening. I don't know the kid who's doing it I just know his name, but there's a reason why he's doing it. My son is of mixed race, and we live in a lily white rural area...there's some diversity, but not much. I just hope this isn't motivated by that kind of thinking....it can start early depending on what kids hear at home.

 

[GracethroughfaithinChrist]

Psalm 34:15
The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry.

1 Peter 5:7
casting all your cares upon Him, for he cares for you.

Have you considered speaking with his parents?

It may help to address your concerns with them as well.

May it be so, that God will change the situation your son has had to deal with recently.

 

[LittleMermaid]

Aw that is the sweetest reply ever! I hope and pray that his situation improves.

 

[Whispered]

Your son has a great vision of himself. God bless him.
If it is as you say, a lilly white community, I'd have confidence things will get better, however I wouldn't leave it at that. Especially when someone saw your son being struck in the head by a bully and there was no supervision on the grounds.
Being a helicopter parent isn't always a bad thing. Especially in this age when wicked people are in stealth mode.
I pray for the best for all of you. Please keep us updated

 

[StrugglingTilMyReward]

Thanks for the thoughts and encouragement all. I'm confident the situation is being dealt with appropriately.

As mentioned I met with the VP on Monday. On Tuesday she called me to provide an update, but because I'm working night shifts currently (leave for work at 7PM get home about 8AM) I was asleep and missed the call, she simply left a message asking me to call back. I rang her back Wednesday morning, she was in a meeting but called me back within about 10 minutes.

She met with both my son and the other boy individually and then the two of them together and reiterated the schools "no touching" policy. She also spoke with the other boy's mother, and it may be that my son used to play with this boy but lately has stopped. My son is an awesome kid, but obviously he's far from perfect....it may be that he did something to hurt this other kid's feelings and at 6 years of age kids often don't have the tools to deal with all their feelings....heck there are times when I react in ways I shouldn't.

I agree that so called 'helicopter parenting' isn't always a bad thing, sometimes it is warranted. I don't think this is one of those times however. The reason I shared the story was because of Amazing Boy's answer to the question: "You know what you are". I was floored by his answer, and like a lot of parents I worry if I'm doing everything I can to raise my child right. I know I'm not perfect, but hearing him say "I'm a child of God" let's me know that even though I'm not perfect, my wife and I are doing okay. I have Christian music on in the car and at home all the time, and there's a Hillsong song that I love and I almost always crank the volume when it comes on.

 

[Locoponydirtman]

I wanted to share something wonderful that happened Tuesday morning.

My 6 year old son is being bullied by another boy at school. I'm not a helicopter parent, but I did bring it up with his teacher and she assured me it was being dealt with. At the same time these are 6 year old boys and I'm trying to keep a healthy perspective. I thought it was being handled but then Monday morning a neighbor came over to say she saw this same boy hitting my son's head. The neighbor was dropping off her two kids when she saw this happen on the playground and that there was no supervision so she intervened until the bell rang. I went and met with the VP right after finding out, and I decided on Tuesday morning to drive the big guy to school and keep an eye myself.

I work shifts, and had just finished a 12 hour night shift, I leave for work at 7pm and get home about 8am....school starts at 8:15 and is just 5 minutes away. My biggest concern is that my son will feel ashamed and like he doesn't have value, I have this concern because this is how I remember feeling when I was his age. I've given him some coping strategies, told him to stand up for himself and how he is allowed to protect his space....not to hit the other boy, but to fix his jaw and get mad and use his hands to keep the other kid away.

Anyway Tuesday morning as I'm getting ready to leave the house with him I stood on the stairs going down to the entry with him at the top so we're eye to eye. I told him how much Mommy and Daddy love him and not do worry about what this other kid thinks, I even said "he's a dummy poo-poo head".

Then I asked him: "You know what you are"? I was expecting him to say "I'm an amazing boy" which is something I say to him often, but not as often as I should. He knocked me for a loop though....instead of telling me that he's an amazing boy he said: "I'm a child of God". I almost choked up, and I gave him a huge hug.

Hitting someone is assault and prosecutable regardless of age.
And why isn't your boy allowed to defend himself? Self defense from physical assault is not sin nor a crime.

 

[presidente]

This must be very difficult for you. I know it was difficult for me when I saw a big kid wrestling too rough with my son on the playground when he was small. I broke it up. I don't want to teach my kids to be violent either. However, calling a kid a dummy or a poopoo head probably isn't teaching something good either. Remember what Jesus said about calling someone 'raca' or 'thou fool.'

 

[Bingo]

I wanted to share something wonderful that happened Tuesday morning.

My 6 year old son is being bullied by another boy at school. I'm not a helicopter parent, but I did bring it up with his teacher and she assured me it was being dealt with. At the same time these are 6 year old boys and I'm trying to keep a healthy perspective. I thought it was being handled but then Monday morning a neighbor came over to say she saw this same boy hitting my son's head. The neighbor was dropping off her two kids when she saw this happen on the playground and that there was no supervision so she intervened until the bell rang. I went and met with the VP right after finding out, and I decided on Tuesday morning to drive the big guy to school and keep an eye myself.

I work shifts, and had just finished a 12 hour night shift, I leave for work at 7pm and get home about 8am....school starts at 8:15 and is just 5 minutes away. My biggest concern is that my son will feel ashamed and like he doesn't have value, I have this concern because this is how I remember feeling when I was his age. I've given him some coping strategies, told him to stand up for himself and how he is allowed to protect his space....not to hit the other boy, but to fix his jaw and get mad and use his hands to keep the other kid away.

Anyway Tuesday morning as I'm getting ready to leave the house with him I stood on the stairs going down to the entry with him at the top so we're eye to eye. I told him how much Mommy and Daddy love him and not do worry about what this other kid thinks, I even said "he's a dummy poo-poo head".

Then I asked him: "You know what you are"? I was expecting him to say "I'm an amazing boy" which is something I say to him often, but not as often as I should. He knocked me for a loop though....instead of telling me that he's an amazing boy he said: "I'm a child of God". I almost choked up, and I gave him a huge hug.

"Thanks for sharing"
'Praise God'

 

[Lanolin]

That is amazing to know who you are at such a young age I wish everyone knew they belonged to God.
Youth suicide wouldn't exist if everyone knew how much God loves His children.

 

[Locoponydirtman]

One of the most harmful things that we do to a society, is to require our necessary violence be done by someone else.
We should all be ready to not only defend ourselves, but also the weak and defenseless.
Requiring our defense be done by others is how we end up with over reaching govco authority invading our personal lives and encroaching on our personal freedom.
Even Jesus told his disciples to buy a sword, he even said to sell your coat if necessary. When the authority of the day came to collect Jesus he told them not to use the swords. Practical reason stands to say the swords were not for insurrection and rebellion, but the defence of the defenseless, and self defense.
I taught my son's honor and defense of the defenseless, and their fellow righteous family in Christ, but if they know yours was taught not to defend themselves, they will not intervene.

Why is it ok for Christians to call on heathens and unbelievers to defend and to intervene on our behalf. If we call self-defense a sin then it is certainly a sin for someone else to do it for us, and a great hypocrisy for us to cause someone else to sin on our behalf.

Please understand that I am not trying to sound mean. I am only trying to bring a perspective, and you certainly may disagree.

 

[StrugglingTilMyReward]

Just an update if anyone is curious....all is well, Thursday night I came home from shift and my son told me that the other boy is ignoring him.

 

[presidente]

One of the most harmful things that we do to a society, is to require our necessary violence be done by someone else.
We should all be ready to not only defend ourselves, but also the weak and defenseless.
Requiring our defense be done by others is how we end up with over reaching govco authority invading our personal lives and encroaching on our personal freedom.

Do you think a parent should go to the playground and rough up the kids that bully their kid?

 

[Locoponydirtman]

Do you think a parent should go to the playground and rough up the kids that bully their kid?

This has to be rhetorical, sarcasm.
Did my post say that in any way what so ever? No it didn't.
What I said was teach your kids to defend themselves, because it will be their own responsibility one day.
Untill then stop giving your kids to someone else to raise.

 

[Oma19]

That's an awesome response on the part of your son!
What has his Dad said and done about the situation? Has he also talked with the school administrators?
Has your family prayed for the boy who is bullying your son? Obviously, there is something giving him stress that he likes to take out on your boy.
I will pray that you and your son have peace and safety really soon!!!

 

[StrugglingTilMyReward]

That's an awesome response on the part of your son!
What has his Dad said and done about the situation? Has he also talked with the school administrators?
Has your family prayed for the boy who is bullying your son? Obviously, there is something giving him stress that he likes to take out on your boy.
I will pray that you and your son have peace and safety really soon!!!

You bring up an excellent point, about praying for the other boy....which I did not do. In prayer I do frequently ask for peace and security and well being, or words to that effect, but maybe I do need to be more specific. You're gonna get me to watch all of the movie War Room I think.

Oh, and I am the Dad of the boy....I guess that isn't necessarily clear with my username. And I should add that there hasn't been an issue now for about 2 weeks thankfully, my son says the other boy is leaving him alone. He did complain that 'he looks at me' and I told him that's fine....don't look at the other boy and you won't know whether he's looking at you or not.

 

[Oma19]

You bring up an excellent point, about praying for the other boy....which I did not do. In prayer I do frequently ask for peace and security and well being, or words to that effect, but maybe I do need to be more specific. You're gonna get me to watch all of the movie War Room I think.

Oh, and I am the Dad of the boy....I guess that isn't necessarily clear with my username. And I should add that there hasn't been an issue now for about 2 weeks thankfully, my son says the other boy is leaving him alone. He did complain that 'he looks at me' and I told him that's fine....don't look at the other boy and you won't know whether he's looking at you or not.

Haha! Go ahead and watch the War Room. It has its corny parts but the overall message is a good one. We really do have to be prayer warriors on behalf of our little ones, don't we! I'm glad you have good news about your son and his relationship with the other boy.