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Renee Allen Insurance
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Samantha Leininger
Renée Allen Insurance, LLC
947-A NE Jensen Beach Blvd Jensen Beach, FL 34957
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For What It’s Worth by Dr. Melfi , Ph.D.
Is there any more stressful time than sending your children back to school? It used to be, when the word “stress” was not a household word, way back in the 50’s and 60’s, that sending children back to school was a fun time for both parents and kids. ere was back to school shopping, meet the teachers, and the excitement of having time to yourself, while your children were learning, socializing, and bonding. at was then. Nowadays, going back to school has become its own job, lled with trepidation and worry. ose sneakers of yesteryear, probably Keds, costing under ten dollars, are now o en over one hundred dollars, and a must have, for children, so they can belong to the “in-group”. at’s right, I said it. Either you’re in, or you’re out, and if you’re out, prepare to have your innocent children feel the wrath of bullying, back-stabbing, and the brunt of whispers and jokes in the hallways of what should be, the best years of their lives. Of course, I’m not suggesting that you go into hock so your children’s out ts are not the laughing stock of the school, but I also have great empathy for those parents who have put their foot down, and decided there’s nothing wrong with sneakers from a big box store, especially when they probably won’t last six months before their feet grow another two sizes, only to nd their children are embarrassed and miserable. e same goes for clothing. I’m not talking about clothing that would be embarrassing to wear in, let’s say, a place of worship, but I am talking about the latest styles that are musthaves. In the old days, when saddle shoes were all the rage, and choices were slim, every girl basically had that cheerleader look, but today, girls in grammar school want to be dressed as if they are in college, and they won’t stop begging until either you, or they, give up. ere usually is a compromise somewhere, but it’s a long journey to nd it.
As if that wasn’t enough, we have to worry about whether our children are popular, have friends, have manners, are invited to birthday parties, school dances, whether they need braces or glasses, whether they carry a lunch box or buy lunch, whether the teacher likes them, or doesn’t, whether they are bullied, or are the brunt of nasty rumors. at, my friends, is what we call stress. Going back to school is no longer simply about education, it is about soothing the injured feelings of children who are the target of other kids’ aggressions and downright meanness. To my point, if you are the parent of a child who is being made fun of, it is not ok to tell the kids to suck it up, or ignore mean comments. ey can’t. ey are not equipped to deal with this type of torment. is is where the teacher steps in, and if not, this is where you step in, because your children cannot defend themselves, and if it doesn’t stop, the end of the story can be quite devastating. Children who are bullied do commit suicide, and that’s a fact, so please, pay attention and do something.
If you are the parent of a child on the other end of this, and you have a child who makes fun of other kids, or worse, spreads nasty rumors, you have got to step in and put an immediate stop to this behavior, which, if not eradicated, can follow your child into adulthood, and cost them a lifetime of misery. If your children get pleasure from hurting other kids, the rst step is to have a heart to heart, and if that doesn’t work, punishment, and I don’t mean a tap on the behind. Children today do not care if they are put in their room for a few hours, they care if they lose their cell phones, lap tops, computer privilege, television, sleep-overs, and the like. If you decide punishment is the only way you are going to have your kids take you seriously, don’t do it nambypamby. Do it right the rst time. A week without ALL their devices should show them that you are serious.
For what it’s worth, kindness
matters. It can be the di erence between a good school year, or one of torment, a happy child, or a miserable one. It can also be the di erence between life and death.
