The Scary World Our Children Live In

We live in a world where it is necessary for even elementary schools to practice “lockdown” drills in school. Using my son’s description, a lockdown drill is “when we practiced hiding in class and being really quiet, in case a bad man ever comes to our school.” How incredibly sad that a 6 year old child even needs to have that thought, let alone practice a drill to prepare for it. Of course I want my kids prepared, but it still breaks my heart.

Not only do our kids have to be aware of “bad men”, but they also have to deal with bullying, from their very own peers, on a daily basis. Where did we go so wrong as a society that bullying seems to be getting worse rather than better? Bullying starts as early as preschool, or daycare. I had naively thought for years that this sort of behaviour only began in middle school. Was I ever wrong.

We need to raise, strong and confident children, kids who respect each other and themselves, kids who know right from wrong. We need to treat them how we want them to treat others. We need to set good examples for them, from day 1 of their lives, so that they grow into kids who stand against bullying, not become a bully.

We need to teach our kids to be accepting and understanding, not just “tolerant”. I don’t want my kids being taught that we simply tolerate differences, I want them to embrace them. They need to know that even though people appear different on the outside that we are all the same on the inside.

We need to teach our boys, from a very young age, to respect girls. We need to teach them that no means no. We need to teach them to not fall into the whole “mob mentality” and how to think for themselves. Could Rehtaeh Parson’s life have  been spared if this lesson had been instilled? Maybe she wouldn’t have been raped by 4 teenage boys if they had a greater respect for women and also a better understanding of their actions.

We need to teach our girls how to defend themselves, protect themselves and stand-up for themselves. We need to educate them about what potential threats are out there and hope to hell that if they are ever faced with a really horrible situation that we have prepared them enough to save themselves.

Our kids need to be able to talk to us. We need to be approachable. If they are in trouble, they need to feel confident that they can come to us...no matter how difficult a situation. We need to be involved in our kids lives and know where they are and who they are spending their time with.

The world is becoming a very scary place, but it’s not too late to change the course we’re on. Change can start with one person, one class, one community. Educate your kids. Give them all of the foundation you can before they are put into the world to face difficult situations on their own. Send them out there knowing you’ve done all that you can. Help make sure not another single child commits suicide because they simply cannot live through another moment of bullying. Help end the heartache.