It should come as no surprise that bullying is a real issue in our country. That is nothing new. I am not here to rant about the fact that bullying exists or to stage a coup to strike at dawn. This is different. This is deeper. I have spent the entire year this year getting the run around regarding my 6 year old son and the bullying that has been taking place all year. B and I have hit our final straw.

My son came home from school Friday with his third set of broken glasses and a blackened eye with a scratch. He is six years old! He has been bullied this year relentlessly, and it seems it is heavily focused on his face! Regardless of where, when, how, or why – it should not be happening in first grade.
Imagine my disappointment when I have spent months trying to create a proper dialogue with his teacher, especially regarding all of these incidents. Numerous calls, handwritten notes, and emails all to leave me feeling like I am banging my head on a brick wall. Why doesn’t my child matter? WHY?

I recognize that in this experience, I am probably stirring up PTSD from my nightmarish experience with my oldest son. He was always getting in trouble for not holding still. He was on the high honors for his entire middle school years, but the teacher would call me daily to literally complain about him. I had calls while I was at work for various, asinine reasons – for example he licked ranch dressing off his tray, or he ran his fingers down the line of books on the shelf… You cannot make this up. Like, seriously!? This is what I dealt with. So yes, there’s a good chance I am over-stimulated by the situation, at the very least.

Here we are in it again. This teacher would give me every excuse she could find to not communicate, even as far as just blatantly skipping our planned meetings. Why be a teacher if you don’t care about your students? This woman is at least 10 years younger than I am. I could almost empathize if it were an older woman, but she is too young to have so much attitude.

Like when I asked if she could simply write on the paper where it states, “Communication Log for Parents and Teacher,” why my child has a frown face again, she replied that she would never be able to get anything done if she had to write “every little thing” every day. Mind you, that is not at all what I asked. Terrible teacher, but amazing drama student.

Either way, aside from ranting to get this all off of my chest, I just really wish we could do better all around. The principal agreed that they will bill the parents for his glasses. I am not sure why it had to take three times, but I guess the old saying rings true in this case.

I love my children! I want them to go to school, learn, and make memories in an environment that is safe. I realize there will be fights and there will be scuffles… sure. It genuinely builds character. When it’s causing a 6 year old to hate school and act out at home, I have to draw the line.

So as of today, we will be continuing our year via the “unschooling” method that I so firmly trust. It is an indescribable gift to be able to watch your child learn about things that light the fire inside of them! There isn’t anything more precious than our babies. I will continue to do so with all that I am. I just pray that we are always making the most vigilant and astute choice for them all.

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