Some schools are trying to teach empathy which I applaud. However, all of society has to work to make our world a kinder place for everyone. This includes, the teachers, the administrators, the parents, and all of the students. It also includes everyone else in society. America’s recent election certainly pointed out that adults need to grow up and be kinder too. Until we do we cannot expect our children to understand that mistreating others is wrong.

I have been supportive of bully prevention programs. Yet, some do not seem to be going far enough.

There are schools that are too afraid of being sued or of hurting their reputation to admit their part in the failures. I live for the day when schools help those who are bullied to recover by offering them a sincere apology. I dream of the day when they finally realize that they need to truly change the school climate including educating teachers by talking about ways they unknowingly contributed to the school climate. It makes sense to me that learning from mistakes helps us avoid future ones.

I hope you will click on the links to some of my bullying posts below for more information about bullying and some ways that might help prevent and stop it. For more information you can also click on my Special-Ism Posts from the menu at the top of this blog.

Life? Do We Learn From Our Past or Are We Condemned to Repeat It?

The Quote Most of us know some variation of the famous line by George Santayana, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Yet, we keep repeating past mistakes again and again. Those We Admire Most of …Continue reading →

Reflections: Where Do I Begin?

The last two days I have sat in this swing trying to decide how much I want to share with you to explain why I have been MIA. I realize no matter what I say it will not fully explain …Continue reading →

Is Aloha State in Denial Regarding High Teenage Suicide Rate and Bullying?

Da’Nile is more than a river in Egypt! It is a common saying although I added the Hawaiian lingo Da’ for the. Despite support from many around the country, the movie, Bully is only showing in one small theater on Oahu …Continue reading →

“Bully”

I was first in line to see it this morning. Initially, it looked like I would be the only one there, but thankfully a few more showed up. Kindness Matters! It’s just one of the take away messages of the …Continue reading →

Help Eliminate Bullying! Get Involved!

Appearing on Blog Talk Radio: Autism As They Grow.

Mahalo To Bobbi Sheahan and Amalia Starr …Continue reading →

PTSD and Ambiguous Loss

I am reading When Someone You Love Suffers From Posttraumatic Stress by Claudia Zayfert, PhD and Jason C. DeViva, PhD and yes, someone I love is experiencing PTSD and as a result so is our entire family. The book states, “ambiguous …Continue reading →

Still Working on Forgiveness and Emotional Healing

I did not plan to do a post today, but I find I need to write. Yesterday was all about fun. Still, in the mist of having a good time with good friends, my anger about the bullying surfaced. I saw …Continue reading →

Critique of “Bullying It Stops Here”

I could not find the time to post about last Sunday’s Anderson Cooper’s “Bullying It Stops Here” until now. We still deal with the after effects of bullying everyday at my house. Yet, I hear how surprised people are about the …Continue reading →

Small Voice in the Universe

Yes, the title is a knock off of Jojo’s “One small voice in the universe.” I just attended two performances of Seussical Jr. this past weekend to watch my son perform in his first musical, and Jojo’s song keeps running … Continue reading →

Misfits on the Island of Misfit Toys

I love Jess at A Diary of a Mom and Leigh at Flappiness is… too, so I completely understand why all of you love them. I followed Jess closely as she went to the White House and I went with …Continue reading →

Small Part in Helping to Make the World Better

There are times I feel smaller and less significant than this Gecko, but I am not about to let that stop me from doing my small part for bully prevention.  Everyone who knows me knows this is a cause very …Continue reading →

Teachers Please Inspire and Support Our Children

I left a comment on a blog back in April about what I would want to tell the teachers of tomorrow. This is what I said: “Please remind them that they have a responsibility to help our children and judging …Continue reading →

Input and Support Needed
Robert suggested a series on bullying and agreed to be my first guest. I am calling on parents who have children who have been victims of bullying or who have been a bully, as well has …Continue reading →

The Effects of Bullying: Robert’s Story
Join me in welcoming Robert to my first “Effects of Bullying Series.”

Robert’s Story:

I’m convinced that schools and me were never meant to get on; my trouble with handwriting, spelling and mental mathematics caused a …Continue reading →

Accountability for Protecting Our Children

My blog today is related to 20/20′s episode last Friday that has been all over the Internet this past week: “Bullied to Death” and to Lee Hirsch’s The Bully Project. I’m not posting links, as they are so easy to find if you chose to google them.Instead, …Continue reading →

Still Hoping for the Times to Change

The University of Utah held a conference on bullying this week at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center for Community Caring. You can read about it here. You might believe they addressed just school bullying. That is not so. Susan Swearer, a keynote …Continue reading →

Protecting Your Children From Bullies

Your child starting kindergarten is scary. You have heard all the horror stories about mean children. Children as young as nine have committed suicide and children as young as kindergarten were expelled at some schools. How do you protect your child and make …Continue reading →

Protecting Victims of Bullying

I dedicate today’s post to all of the young people who have been senselessly bullied especially to those who died because they were “bullied to death.” Asperger’s, which is a high form of autism spectrum and an “invisible” diagnosis started …Continue reading →

The Good, the Bad, the Ugly of Media Use

Media provides so many good things especially for special needs children.  It offers educational programs, a means for those without a voice to have one, and a place to stay in touch with far away family and friends.  It also provides support from others around the world. This is the good.

However, there is another side to media devices that most of us are aware is bad…Continue Reading →

Education Instead of Force for Real Change

One of the advantages of being laid up with a back injury is that I have had the time to watch more movies. That’s What I Am is one that needs to be shared. There are so many things I …Continue reading →

Coping With Emotional Scars of Bullying

The following is an excerpt from my book, Delightfully Different. Mia is talking as she tries to heal from the emotional scars bullying left. Part of me wanted to become an advocate for all of the kids who were delightfully …Continue reading →

Do We Bully When We Strongly Disagree with Others?

This topic came up after I innocently posted a link to President Obama and his family performing community service for Thanksgiving. I even posted the following disclaimer: “I know many of my FB friends aren’t fans of President Obama, and …Continue reading →

Mele Kalikimaka and Hauoli Makahiki Hou

From the land where palm trees sway, I want to share with you my dream for the future, as I wish each of you much peace and joy during the holiday season and throughout the coming year. I hope and …Continue reading →

Redux: Did You See Santa Bully Rudolph?

I originally posted this last December after someone started me thinking differently about Rudolph. This week political correctness run amuck has multiple sites talking about a segment on Fox News: War On Christmas | Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer Ban | …Continue reading

Inspiring Man and Movie

Front of the Class is the story of Brad Cohen, a teacher who has Tourette’s. I love this movie for several reasons and I highly recommend it. I believe it should be required for teachers to help them understand how teachers can … Continue reading →