Dear

#Mum&I 

We watched a disturbing video with the children, it was an incident with two young girls who had a fight after one of them kept on taunting and bullying the other while their friends cheered on. 

We shall call the bully G1 and the bullied/victim G2 for the purpose of this post.

 In that video, G2 finally had enough and charged forward and gave the G1 a good beating-quite violent if you ask me, which led to her passing out. I just pray she recovered from it.

While analysing the incident that led to the fight and the entire situation as a case study with the children , the first question my 11year old son asked was , "I don't get it, why would G2 continue to stand there in a toxic situation,when she isn't a rock? 

Oh, I remember my own fight in school even though it wasn't this serious, and how we talked about it afterwards. I have since learnt to identify toxicity early and excuse myself " he added.

Our 6 year old whose perspective always trills me said," their friends are wicked o...one even cleared the place for them to fight!"

When I asked why they think G2 didn't walk away, my 6year old quickly chipped, "maybe no body taught her." 

And her brother said, "sometimes it's because you don't want to seem like the weak one."

Wow, great perspectives I said, now here's what I told them...

🔺️The person who knows how to identify toxicity and put a distance between himself/herself and it is the strongest one. So walk away everytime. You have nothing to prove to anyone.

🔺️ If ever you notice your friend talks you down or talks ill about you with other friends, then have very little to do with that friend, a true friend talks to you about you, not others. 

🔺️Never allow other people set you up for anything at all, good or bad, do only the things you are convinced about .

🔺️ Never be afraid to miss out on what is happening. You don't have to be in on everything or be everywhere with your friends. There will always be other times, or do something you love doing alone or with family.

🔺️ Walk away from friends who roast you so others can laugh, and people who enjoy shaming others. Some poeple will roast others just so they can smell the smoke.

 And those who laugh at your helplessness and never put a word of defence for you, smile and never take them seriously again.

🔺️ Never allow yourself be an onlooker when someone is being bullied, use you voice for the voiceless and be the peace agent.

⚠️ And then my little madam added, be friendly with everyone, but know your inner circle! A choose who gets access to you! That's what you always say!🤣

Dear parents, 

We owe it to our children to teach them how to build great friendships. 

✅ They need to learn what to give ,and accept from their friends . 

✅ How to preserve their mental health and identify toxicity in their relationships from now.

✅ How to walk away from toxic people .

Stop assuming they should know it.

It is an attention seeking , validation hungry , 'I can't miss the action' generation. Save your child🙏

This is a whole module in our Mentor Parent Program . Have you registered yet? 

Use the link join the list and register . We kick off October 2nd.

https://parentingthroughmentorship.com/mentor-parents-support-program/

Marybeth Chima

Educator & Parent Coach 

The MentorMum 

#mentormum 

#advocateofpremiumparenting 

#homeeducationsupportexpert 

#childenabler 

Photo: Friends Hangouts