We were a happy family in the spring of 2001. We were in the land where wishes and dreams all come true. Yes, I mean Disneyland, but I also am talking about our hopes and dreams for our family too.  The future looked bright.

Traveling was difficult at times even then, but we managed. That was before my daughter started kindergarten at a highly competitive school. It was prior to the diagnosis, prior to the bullying, and a decade before the term “social combat” was heard. If only, I could go back to that spring and somehow shield my daughter from all of the mistakes that followed, I would in a heartbeat.

Of course, I cannot, so instead I try to educate you so hopefully you can avoid our mistakes and the world can remain innocent for your children a little longer.  I have learned the hard way that highly competitive schools and parents who push their children to always be number one at everything inadvertently encourage “social combat.”  I want to help put an end to this.

I interact with many on Twitter who are working to prevent bullying and I keep trying to get the word out locally.  Still, it feels like I am hitting my head against a brick wall and I am not sure for what anymore.  My son already attends the school that I think is the best in the state at preventing and addressing bullying when it happens and my daughter no longer attends a brick-and-mortar school.  I am not sure if anyone even listens to what I have to say except for those who already get it.

I am not giving up, but at times I do feel like I am giving out.  I get frustrated because I have been trying to get through to people for five years and we still only have baby steps to address the problem.  I get impatient with the experts who make it sound like the latest study is “groundbreaking” when the study only confirms what I have known all this time.  Please world wakeup!  Become kinder, gentler, more supportive, and more empathic.  Save our children.  They are our future.