Most (if not all) kids will deal with bullying in one form or another at some point in their lives.
While the degree to which a child is bullied can vary, as a parent, it's always heartbreaking to see the impact it has on your son or daughter. Even worse is the feeling of being powerless to stop the emotional (or even physical) pain that bullying inflicts on your kid.
Bullying is a very serious issue. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, it's linked to many negative outcomes, including an increased likelihood of depression and anxiety, substance abuse, decreased academic achievement, and tragically, even suicide.
Stevie Niki is an Australian mom of four who writes about her family and their adventures. In a recent Instagram post, Stevie powerfully addressed the impact that "relentless bullying" has had on one of her daughters.
Scroll through to read Stevie's heartbreaking confession and her plea to other parents.
Photos: Instagram / @mytribeofsix
You can follow Stevie on Facebook and Instagram, and read her website.
[H/T: Scary Mommy]
In a powerful post, alongside a photo of herself and two of her kids at the beach, Stevie wrote:
“I want to pretend like today was a good day, I want to say something positive and inspiring… but I can’t, not today.
I sat with my daughter after school, and we both cried.
My heart aches for all her pain and sadness.
Most people don't see what I see, they see a loud kid, a silly kid, a happy kid, a kid that won't sit still and a sometimes defiant kid. A child with a mind that wanders, a spirit that roams free, and a heart that has a wild spark. Some may even see a 'naughty' kid.
The truth is, all she is is a kid (my kid), just as special as yours or anyone else’s.
And the kid I see at home is a kid that hurts. She's changed a lot in the last few months and challenged me even more. Her spark has dulled and glow has gotten darker.
We have high highs and low lows.
I asked her today where she has gone? And we cried.
I want my happy girl back, the one who lights up the room and radiates vibes I wish I could create. My nice girl, who loves her mama and her siblings, my kind girl.
Today she broke down because of the relentless bullying she experienced the last six months after we moved and changed schools. Questioned me as to why she doesn't have friends and that she's not good enough.
Today, she had a good day at school. She played with a kid and had fun.
But this is what it's like: it doesn't matter if it's a good day when the pain's still there and the wounds are still raw. The damage has been done and it's not yet repaired — will it ever [be]? I hope so.
Maybe we should have never sold the home we brought them home from the hospital to and changed their schools from their first. Maybe we shouldn’t have relocated.
She doesn't fit into a box, and I don't want her to either… Raising kids was never going to be easy, but it shouldn't be this kind of hard.
I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what the answer is. It’s day one back [at school], and it was a good [day], but I’m already questioning the schooling system and her place in it.
This year, I will not allow the system or any one else's child to defeat her like they did last year.
So talk to your kids, teach them kindness and inclusiveness — because no mum and no child should have to sit through this and feel what we feel.
Please SHARE Stevie's powerful message with your friends and family on Facebook!
