Recipes for a Sweet Child Amid ChallengesChikamu

Bullying is a common issue that touches most families these days, especially with social media. I grew up with the adage, “Sticks and stones may break your bones, but words will never hurt you.” However, I think we’ve all learned how wrong that is. Bones heal, but harsh words leave scars.

One year, some kids decided it would be fun to exclude our daughter and run away from her anytime she came near them. Then they began to lie about her and call her hurtful names. It was a difficult season for all of us, and we had to walk her through how to set healthy boundaries, communicate her needs, and stand up for herself, while also teaching her how not to let others’ words and actions define who she truly is.

The following year, she was accused of bullying herself. She had seen a young man act aggressively toward a girl, so she began avoiding him within the group. It wasn’t until weeks later when a parent finally brought the situation up that we were able to bring the kids together and work through the issue.

It’s important for us to teach our children to be accountable not just for what they say and do in person, but how they steward social media as well. Our kids need to understand how their words and actions impact the lives of others. And they need to be held responsible for those choices. As parents, it’s our responsibility to help them understand the dangers of social media, including how to identify healthy versus unhealthy interactions—and what to do about them. We want to use caution and not expose them to social media too early, before they’re mature enough to handle it.

Teachable Moment

Jesus teaches us the importance of loving others and treating them well—even our enemies. I was always taught that hurting people hurt people. If we find ourselves hurting others, there’s probably some hurt inside us that we need to heal. And if other people are hurting us, we can remember that they are obviously hurting and going through something, which can help us to show compassion to them even when they treat us badly.

Parents’ Prayer

Holy Spirit, give me wisdom and discernment to navigate these issues of bullying with my kids. Give me the words to speak and strategies for overcoming this struggle. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.

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