Sticks and Stones…

This week, a friend of mine shared a story with me that was not only disturbing, but I could not get it out of my head.  It tells of an 11 year old boy who committed suicide after being teased repeatedly in school (video below).  I immediately thought of the kids that I come in contact with on a daily basis.  Although being ridiculed by your peers is a part of growing up, it can sometimes be taken out of hand.  I feel that it is extremely important to arm our young people with the tools necessary to overcome the scars left by constant tormenting.  It is just as important to talk to those who do the teasing, and help them understand what type of emotional damage teasing can do.  After the video, I’ve offered some suggestions to incorporate in you daily routines when dealing with the young people in your life.

1.  Constantly remind them how special they are! Use positive words like wonderful, intelligent, important to describe their worth.

2.  Tell them how pretty or handsome they are! Knowing that they are physically attractive is just as important.

3.  Be specific! Let them know what special traits/characteristics make them unique.

4.  Give hugs! Even as adults, physical signs of affection are needed.

5.  Promote self-love! Ask them what they like/love about themselves.  Motivate them to discover their own self worth.

6.  Encourage them to talk to you! Ask them about their day.  Don’t settle for “it was okay”.  Ask for details of things that happened throughout their day.

7.  TURN OFF THE TV! You’ll discover that spending quality time with a child means so much to them.

8.  Teach them to be sensitive! Help them understand the power of words, and the affects they can have on others.  (At your discretion), share the above video with them and use it to stimulate conversation.

My prayers go out to the family of Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover!