Tackling Bullying: One Mom’s Unconventional Approach

Mom goes viral after making her son wear "I'm a bully" t-shirt to school

Bullying is an issue that continues to plague our society, even within school settings. However, one Texas mom decided to confront this problem head-on, garnering both praise and criticism for her bold and controversial approach.

A Mom’s Uncompromising Stance

As a parent, I believe in teaching my children to embrace their true selves and to treat others with respect. In our household, bullying is simply not acceptable. Fortunately, I have not received any distressing phone calls from school or other parents regarding my children’s behavior. But I often wonder how I would handle the situation if they were to engage in bullying behavior.

A Bold Response

In 2018, a Texas mom named Star found herself facing exactly that predicament. She discovered that her fifth-grade son was using hurtful names such as “stupid” and “idiots” to taunt his classmates. Determined to address the issue head-on, Star decided to take a bold and unconventional approach.

“I did what I had to do to stop it from progressing,” explained Star. “I’m a very old-school parent. I don’t coddle my children. I don’t sugarcoat the world for them.”

A Powerful Consequence

To truly make her son understand the impact of his hurtful actions, Star made him wear a t-shirt to school with the words: “I am a BULLY.” She even shared a photo of him wearing the shirt on her Facebook account, accompanied by a heartfelt message.

“My intention was to reach out to the parents of any kids my son may have bullied, so that each one of them could receive a personal apology,” Star wrote.

Mixed Reactions

Star’s decision to publicly punish her son ignited a wave of mixed reactions. Some commended her for taking a strong stand against bullying, while others believed that her approach had crossed a line.

Dr. Richard Pesikoff, a child psychiatrist, expressed concerns about the potential negative effects of such punishment on a young child. He suggested that seeking assistance from the school might have been a more suitable approach.

Star, on the other hand, maintained that her son’s school fully supported her decision and understood her intentions. In response to the criticism, she eventually removed the picture from Facebook.