As a mum one of the worst things I found was being unable to stop my children being hurt by others' nastiness. I wanted nothing so much as to go and hurt those children as they'd hurt mine. (Obviously I didn't.)
But if I thought mummy tiger was ferocious, she was a pussy-cat compared to granny tiger.
Two of my grandchildren have been victims of bullies in the last few weeks. I can't tell you what a mixture of emotions that raises. I want to hug my babies close and promise them I'll never let anyone hurt them ever again.
But even if lockdown allowed for hugging I'd never be able to protect them from all the viciousness out there. And it's not my job anyway. But nothing prepares you for the love of grandchildren. I suppose all we can do is be there - even if it's only at the end of a text message - to take their side, and help them face the world.
And restrain our want-to-go-and-slap-a-bully-right-now feeling.
P.S. I don't believe in corporal punishment - except when someone hurts my babies. I am so rubbish at this 'turn the other cheek' when it comes to them.
4 comments:
A difficult dilemma indeed.
When he was younger I actually used to plot what I would do if anyone bullied my grandson!
My goodness! Our only grandchild, a girl, got in trouble in high school years ago for stepping in between two kids who were sparring. I thought her action appropriate in a situation in which she feared one or the other kid would get hurt. Since she merely presented a wall between the two, neither her mother nor I understood why she should take heat for it.
I was bullied in college by some frat guys, but they soon tired of it when I ignored them.
Ptrotecting our grandbabies is innate for sure. I hear you!
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