Listen Everyday!

I recently attended an excellent workshop on bullying at Pine Hill Elementary School in Sherborn, Ma. The workshop featured Brigitte Berman, the 15 year-old author of Dorie Witt's Guide to Surviving Bullies and Margie Daniels, from the Middlesex County District Attorney's office of child welfare. Bridgitte spoke to the parents in the audience and offered suggestions to help them help their children deal with feelings of being bullied. Bridgitte told the parents, " it is important to react" when your child comes to you with hurt feelings from being bullied. She explained that "reacting means listening". She further explained that parents need to "listen every day" to their children. I couldn't agree with Bridgette more! I strongly believe that it is the responsibility of parents to "tune-in" to their children. Parents can tune-in by watching to see if the behavior of their children has changed. They can ask their children if there is a problem at school. They can listen to their children and they can help their children deal with behaviors of others; the behavior that is hurting their children. Thank you, Bridgette, for sharing your story and helping parents understand how important it is to listen everyday!