A father in Australia who was a victim of child-bullying took an amazing stand with his own children. From the Brisbane Times:
The father witnessed his 17-year-old son and 15-year-old daughter bashing a 13-year-old boy, breaking his jaw, because he wore glasses. Enraged after experiencing similar bullying in his childhood, he marched his children to a police station to have them charged with assault. He said he also sold his son’s car and daughter’s horse as further punishment.
The two kids have been formally charged with assault. (You can listen to the father here.)
The question here is what responsibility do we have as parents when our child is not the one being bullied, but rather the one doing the bullying? The father, in this case, said he felt that the environment at home was a healthy one and not the cause of the assault, so when he became aware of the situation he took matters into his own hands and protected the other child rather than his own.
Certainly, this is an extreme case, but it points to the importance of talking about what is and is not acceptable behavior with our kids before things get out of control. And if, despite our best efforts, bullying does occur, it’s the victim we have to protect, no matter whose child it is.
Amber, that might be true right now. That they only regret that they were caught. But as they grow and mature, they might look back on this experience and thank their father for what he did for them in that moment. There is no question in my mind that the dad did the right thing. I would turn in my own kids too if they did something like that. Too many people believe their “little snowflakes” are too special to be punished like other peoples kids. Too many people treat their children specially. That’s why we have a huge problem… Read more »
I read the article, and the only thing I want to say is the children only regret what they did because they got caught for it. You can’t regret something you’ve been doing for a while and then suddenly feel bad for it.
I respect that he is holding them responsible but I question his argument that giving them everything they want (your own car before you even have a full license?!) means that their upbringing had nothing to do with the bullying. When kids get everything they ask for they are more likely to develop an overblown sense of entitlement. Contrary to popular belief, not all bullies are insecure victims lashing out. Some are over entitled kids who truly believe that they are better than others and therefore have the right to treat others like crap. Turning them in was a great… Read more »
The father explains that he gave his lids everything. I think giving them a consequence for their actions means the dad’s an adult who won’t let his kids ignore him. (He had told them to stop it three weeks before). Listen to the father’s full statement at the link above. It’s interesting.
I was torn on this one but ultimately what that dad did was right (assuming there isn’t more to the story and his kids weren’t acting in self defense). If he saw someone else breaking the law he would’ve called the cops, so his kids need to know they are not beyond reproach.
Tough call but I like the tough love.