Bullying

[hanvan2]

I have a question. Something struck me today. Bullying is not new. People have bullied and have bullied since forever. I know it doesn't make it right. I would be heart broken if my children were ever the subject of bullying. But it's not new. It's always been here, and honestly I don't see it leaving. People can just be plain mean. In a perfect world we would never see this. One can dream I was lucky I guess because I was never bullied. But people of my generation and generations before all survived it. Sure, they have scares and that makes me sad. Emotional wounds of never feeling good enough etc are probably still there or somehow they rose above it and were made stronger.

But what IS different is this generation. People are killing themselves over it. Why? I don't understand it. Do you think it's the dynamics of families (meaning that more families are crumbling leaving these kids no "safe place") Parents spend more and more time at work, online (and for the record my kids aren't home right now) or out and about with friends leaving kids with no structure? Kids aren't feeling loved by parents because parents aren't parenting their children? Kids are over scheduled and parents think because their child is in preschool, summer camp, soccer, ballet and etc etc, that is whaat they need. What these kids need is TIME. Serious quality time. Talking, laughing, crying. Not another "thing" to do. Now, don't get me wrong. We do activities but we limit ours because I don't want to be busy.

Do you think it's online bullying that is making it harder for kids? I mean, PRAISE the sweet Lord in heaven that digital ANYTHING wasn't around to document my screw ups in high school and college. Can you imagine how damaging that can be? I can't even imagine it. But again, this can go back to parenting. Parents need to monitor their kids (even teens) usage of the computer, phone, internet etc. Now monitoring it doesn't mean it won't ever happen, but when it does maybe the parents would discipline their kids.

I wonder if it's because of media. Kids see more and more people (parents included) with plastic surgery, weightloss this and that. Even the $$ clothes and such. Maybe kids feel like they aren't good enough.

Whatever it is it's something. People went from being sad and emotional scared (which isn't good I know) about being bullied to KILLING themselves. I just don't understand it. It makes me very sad for my girls generation.

In my gut a lot of these issues fall back to parenting though. I wish people would realize that parenting is more than giving your kids stuff and food. They are these tiny souls that need to be shaped and formed. People don't discipline their kids, they parent on "feelings" and what's left is one screwed up person.

Just curious if anyone else had thoughts on this? Why is it worse? (maybe it's not; maybe it's media hype??) idk...