My Middle Schooler Says He’s ‘Fine,’ but Is He Really?
“How’s school going?” I ask my 7th grader almost every morning and always get the same response. “Fine.” “Fine?” I question. “Fine? So your friends are all good? No problems with any classes? I hear so...
View ArticleMy Son is One of the Dreaded ‘Popular’ Kids
My oldest son came home from school beaming. “I got picked first in gym today and my team won!” The look on his face reflected the wince I was trying to hide. I should have been happy, right? The fact...
View ArticleA 10-Year-Old Judged My Parenting Skills. Really.
As mothers, we’ve probably all been judged by other moms, dads, in-laws, our own parents, or even perfect strangers. But what do you do when your parenting style is being judged by another child? A few...
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How My Daughter Took Down Her Bully…Who Was Also Her Dad
Recently I witnessed my 8-year-old daughter rather effectively deal with someone who was bullying her. My daughter started taking dance classes when she was 2 years old. When she was 5 years old she...
View ArticleMiddle School Was Hell for Me–And Now My Kids Are In It
I always look forward to a new school year and the potential for growth and change that lay ahead for my kids. I also love how the High Holidays are so perfectly aligned with the start of school....
View ArticleShould Moms Intervene with Their Teen’s Friend Drama?
October ushers in not only high pollen counts but the hugely anticipated and often dreaded homecoming dance. Non-stop chatter regarding the “right” dress, the “right” date, the “right” group, the...
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Meet the Jewish Teen Who’s Taking a Stand Against Bullying
The Challenge: Bullying. With the rise of social media, bullying has taken on new methods and momentum. Matthew Kaplan saw it eating away at his brother’s confidence and hurting the ones Matthew loved...
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Boy Writes Letter to His Bully—What He Says Is Incredible
Bullying is never OK. Which is why 8-year-old Nicolas Neesley stepped in when he saw his friend getting picked on during recess earlier this month by confronting the bully. What Nicolas did...
View ArticleWe Need to Stop Saying the ‘R’ Word
Over the past few months, I have heard a resurgence of the word “retarded,” both by adults and kids. Since my background is in linguistics, I am always thinking about words and their usages, and I...
View ArticleThis Powerful Anti-Bullying Film Was Created by a 13-Year-Old Boy
Bullying can leave real scars that last for years–and sometimes, they never truly go away. Now with the internet and smart phones and new social media apps, like Snapchat and Twitter, online bullying...
View ArticleWe Need to Talk About the Suicide of Bullied 12-Year-Old Evan Ziemniak
Bullying is unacceptable–and is often not taken seriously enough. While it seems like it’s just something all kids go through, the affects of bullying can have traumatic and lasting effects. Recently,...
View ArticleShouldn’t We Encourage Our Kids to Navigate Bullying Themselves?
“You mess with my kid, you mess with me!” Say what?! Was my response supposed to involve something about meeting at the playground after school? Should I bring boxing gloves in tow? Over the course of...
View ArticleMom Completely Slays the Web Trolls Who Called Her Baby Fat in the Best Way
Landon Benton has nearly 53,000 Instagram followers already, and he’s only 10 months old. It’s not hard to see why either. His cherubic cheeks are too adorable to resist. So, how did he get so many...
View ArticleThis Transgender 14-Year-Old Girl’s Viral Video About Bullying Is Essential
14-year-old Corey Maison recently opened up and shared her incredibly harrowing story about getting bullied for being a transgender girl–and the video now has close to 2,000,000 million views. In...
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That Time My Neighbors Left an Anonymous Note Saying My House Is Embarrassing
Yesterday was the first day of summer vacation. That meant that, instead of the solo walk I take down my driveway to the mailbox every afternoon, I was joined by my kids—my beautiful, happy kids, who...
View ArticleA 13-Year-Old Boy Killed Himself After Being Incessantly Bullied: ‘I Gave Up’
A 13-year-old boy took his own life last Thursday after being severely bullied in school. In a letter he wrote that’s now being shared on social media, he also claimed his school did nothing to stop...
View ArticleThis Deaf High School Student’s Reaction to His Bullies Is So Inspiring
When a new school year starts, we all automatically think about that sweet smell of school supplies, and the fact that you can pee in privacy now that you’re kids are back in the classroom....
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This Teen Made an App That Helps Students Find Lunch Buddies
There’s a new app that helps teens find friends in the school cafeteria–you know, that dreaded place millions of movies were made about. 16-year-old Natalie Hampton created the app “Sit With Us” as a...
View ArticleWhy I Forgave My 5th Grade Bully for Yom Kippur This Year
Before Yom Kippur, it is a tradition to seek out those we have wronged and ask them for forgiveness. However, in my case, I was the one who had been wronged. Despite the passage of years, I could never...
View Article5-Year-Old Walked Alone on Road After Refusing to Take the Bus Due to Bullies
Not seeing your child get off the school bus at the end of the day is one of the most terrifying situations that can help to a parent. This is what happened to a mom in Louisiana when her 5-year-old...
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