Sandy from Canadian Blog House, one of my favourite Canadian bloggers, posted earlier this week about Pink Shirt Day – which is tomorrow – encouraging people to join in the Shaw Communications campaign and contest and make a #PinkShirtPromise to help end bullying.
I remember how moved I was when I first heard the story that sparked this Canadian movement.
For those unfamiliar with it, you can read about its origins here.
But briefly, in 2007 two high school students in Nova Scotia decided to take a stand against bullying and, in response to seeing one younger male student bullied for wearing pink, they organized a mass wearing of pink shirts the following day in a show of support.
In my time, I’ve been both the bullied and the bystander. I reflected on my experience last year here as part of the #1000Speak for Compassion blogging movement.
In both roles, I remember the feelings of powerlessness. In the former wishing someone would help. In the latter, confused and wishing I knew HOW to help.
So I LOVE a movement that encourages that discussion and works towards those solutions.
As my daughters start school – my eldest is in Grade One and my youngest will start kindergarten next year – I find myself thinking a lot about how I will handle many issues – including bullying – as a parent.
With my eldest, we’ve already had three incidents that fall within that area. Two in the preschool years, so still very much where kids are learning how to interact and behave properly (ie: kids hitting etc…), and a third that was clearly bullying by older kids on the bus.
In all instances, learning how to handle these as a parent was challenging. Not being able to just “fix it” for my child was beyond difficult.
In each of the instances communications – both among the adults – and with my daughter – was key to resolving the issues for everyone involved.
And teaching her how to help resolve it was key.
So that brings me to my #PinkShirtPromise. I know these last three years are only the beginning. So, as a parent:
My #PinkShirtPromise #PinkyPromise. Have you made one? Let’s help stop bullying! @ShawInfo pic.twitter.com/fd0ZE749nn
— Louise Hayes (@Louise_Hayes) February 24, 2016
Because do you know what else those three instances have already taught me? Education about bullying makes a big difference.
The incident on the bus started right at the beginning of junior kindergarten. Two older kids singled my daughter out and were grabbing her legs and pulling her under the seat, tripping her etc…
How did I, a full-time working parent, ever find out?
Two other older kids from her bus stop told their dad. They said the other kids on the bus hadn’t wanted to intervene because they were also scared of these kids.
But they did something about it. They told their dad, who told my daycare provider, who told me, who told the school, who promptly stopped the issue. My daughter has loved taking the bus ever since.
In the world of awesome, I even had the chance to personally thank those kids a few months later when we ran into them at an open swim.
I want to help my kids have the strength to be like those kids and help others. I promise to do my part as a parent to help stop bullying.
Who’s with me?
Vαηєѕѕα said:
I love it! As someone who was bullied it was a big deal to me to teach my kids to not only not be bullies but to also step up. I wish all parents just taught their children to stand up to bullies like those kids on that bus did (by telling adults if they can’t physically stop it for whatever reason) .
I guess I know what my OLW will be tomorrow 😉
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Louise said:
Thanks! I just remember being so very thankful to those two kids for finding a way to help and acting. I really think they helped my daughter’s first year of school go smoother. AND I love that I got to thank them later.
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Sandy said:
Thank you so much, Louise, for your kind words and support!! I truly appreciate the mention of my post and loved reading your story! Wow. The fact that the two kids spoke to their dad about what happened to your daughter…and the way the story traveled back to you, is nothing short of amazing. It goes to show you that education is key. I am doubting a similar situation would have worked out like this did back when I was in school before we all started sharing and talking about bullying. I’m sorry to hear you were the victim of bullying at one point. It’s truly more common than we think (sadly).
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Louise said:
My pleasure for sharing – it’s an important issue and your post was a great reminder and opportunity to reflect on it.
As for that story getting all the way back to me – I was so happy it did.
And, yes – looking back, I’m still impressed with those kids and am pretty sure education was key there: most likely what made the kids take the action they did – tell an adult they trusted to fix the problem. Good kids, good parents, adults paying attention, school taking quick action – all the right steps that turned what could have been a rocky start to school into a great example of how things can work.
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Julie S. said:
Love this! Teaching children compassion and trying to reduce bullying is a wonderful cause. Love the pink shirt theme.
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Louise said:
Thanks!
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catherinemryan said:
My girls aren’t yet in school, but bullying is such a scary specter of those years to come. I’m grateful for aware, determined, compassionate parents like you!
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Brenda Davis Harsham said:
Down with bullies.
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Louise said:
Hear hear!
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Jennifer | The Deliberate Mom said:
Awesome. I was bullied as a child and nobody heard me. I think that was the hardest part. The education and awareness is rising but it’s also a tougher world now. My bullying stopped when I left school – now kids are bullied 24/7 because of social media, cell phones, etc.
I’m all for pink shirt day – and education is critical!
Thanks for sharing (and for linking up to the #SHINEbloghop).
Wishing you a lovely evening.
xoxo
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FrugalCanadianCouponMom said:
Sandy is awesome! We’ve known her online in the blogging community for 5 years now and she’s an amazing lady. I (J) will have the opportunity to meet her and a few other great Canadian bloggers hopefully, when I go for my Pancreatic-Kidney transplant in their area or surrounding area. I enjoyed browsing your posts when looking through WordPress blogs to follow. When I saw that my friends blog being mentioned as one of your favorites I just had to follow 🙂
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Louise said:
How very nice to “meet” you through Sandy! She certainly is wonderful. I will be by for a closer visit to your blog as well and hope everything goes as well as it can with the transplant (oh my! and good wishes your way!)
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