Next, you have to tell someone about how you've been bullied. A teacher or principal might help, but it's really your parents who need to know first. They realize that bullying can't be ignored, and they will make sure that other adults know that as well.
This is the part of the letter that's for your parents. If you're being bullied, what should they do?
Well, your aunt Ali taught me what not to do.
When Debbie and Ali were in school, a bully on the bus gave them a terrible time. He teased viciously, swore, and physically intimidated them. When Ali told me about it, right away I called both the bus company and the school principal and insisted they do something about it.
The next day, when Ali came home from school, she was angry with me. Because of my intervention, the principal had talked to my daughters. He meant well, but that was beside the point. From what the principal said, Ali knew at once that I'd told him everything. Then Ali and Debbie had been singled out, which embarrassed them. That wasn't what she and Debbie had wanted when they talked to me. I was supposed to listen to them. Then, together, we were supposed to figure out what had to be done.
As parents, we're outraged when bullies make our children miserable. But we have to understand that it's not about us and our outrage; it's about our children and their needs. We have to put aside our own anger and anxiety to help in the way that's best for them. If a child is in danger, of course we need to act at once. But short of that, we need to listen.
