A Texas mom recently took a firm and controversial stance against bullying after discovering her son’s troubling behavior at school. Administrators approached her, revealing that he had been tormenting other students, calling them “idiots” and “stupid.” Determined to address the issue head-on, she devised a unique punishment that would make her son face the consequences of his actions.
In an effort to make her son truly understand the gravity of bullying, the mom made him wear a T-shirt that boldly proclaimed, “I am a BULLY.” This decision stemmed from her belief that he needed to be publicly recognized as a bully, not only by his peers at Greenleaf Elementary School but also by the larger community.
Many students had already experienced her son’s hurtful behavior, and she wanted to show them that she took their words seriously. To ensure maximum impact, she posted a picture of her son wearing the T-shirt on her Facebook account, reaching out to the parents of the kids he may have bullied. She hoped that each of them would receive a personal apology from her son.
While the mom, using the name Star, received a fair share of criticism for her bold approach, she staunchly defended her decision. Star explained, “I don’t coddle my children. I don’t sugarcoat the world to them.” She wanted her son to understand the pain he inflicted on others and learn from it. And it seemed her strategy was effective as her son admitted, “I learned that I didn’t like the way that felt, and I don’t want anybody else to feel that way because of me.”
However, it’s important to note that professionals in child development do not endorse Star’s method of punishment. A child psychiatrist from Baylor College of Medicine cautioned against embarrassing a child and cementing a negative identity at such a young age. Instead, they suggested seeking help from school resources to address the underlying issues.
Despite facing criticism online, Star revealed that her son’s school district supported her decision. Splendora ISD stated that parents have the right to make important decisions and take certain actions on behalf of their child.
The incident has sparked discussions about the appropriate measures to combat bullying, particularly among older-age audiences. What are your thoughts on this mom’s unconventional but well-intentioned punishment?
