THANK YOU ALL for the kindness, genuine concern, empathy, contacts, referrals and feedback regarding what happened to Max yesterday. We are all still in a daze over it all. I am overwhelmed with gratitude to everyone (many people whom I dont even know!). I believe strongly that we are all connected and it is times like this that my belief is validated! Many of you have asked if you can share Maxs story. Thank you for asking, and yes, I think it is important, please do. I NEVER in a million years thought I would be in this situation. I have read things about bullying, seen it on TV, and knew it existed, but never did I think my kid would be in the ER because of it! I think awareness and education is the key. Many of you have asked what school Max is attending. He is at Ingenium Charter. As an update, the school called this morning to inform me that they have beefed up security in and around the bathrooms, 2) have assigned the kids to 1 week detention, 3) are putting in a referral for all thee kids to see the school counselor (separately), 4) the parents of the kids need to meet with the principal before returning to school after their 1 and 2 day suspensions, and 5) have removed the 7th grader from Maxs PE class. I told her that I wanted to sit down with these kids and their parents and have a discussion. I was told that they didnt speak English, so I suggested the school provide a translator (my Spanish is not good enough for me to use some of the big words I want to use!!). They were agreeable. The Principal said that they are willing to do whatever it is I need them to do to find closure with this situation. I explained that I would be filing a police report, and she (the Principal) was in agreement. I am not even sure what will bring us closure, but I feel both the parents and the children need to be made aware of how serious this could have easily been, and how their lives (as well as ours) could have been changed forever due to their lack of kindness, compassion, self control and respect. With that being said, it does not escape me that for an 11 and 12 year old kid to be this hateful, mean, and disconnected - well, they are learning that behavior from somewhere. So closure for me will be doing something to ensure that these things are introduced and instilled in their parents. Our kids will learn ANYTHING and EVERYTHING that we teach them! That doesnt mean that I excuse the kids, but I blame the parents. An update on Max - he is unwell. Physically he is fine (just a headache), but emotionally he is in pain. He just doesnt understand it, and I have no answers for him. A million things have gone through my head about how I may be responsible. Max can definitely defend himself. He chose not to hurt these kids back. Admittedly, I was angry that he didnt retaliate, but out of his own mouth he said hurting them back is me doing what they were doing - Im not that guy. Truthfully, and the doctor confirmed, there was not much Max could do after a blow like that to the head. He lost his vision temporarily. But deep down inside of me, I think some part of me wanted him to go find those kids when he came to and make them pay! But at the end of the day, that is not what I believe, and not what I have taught my son to be like. Is that a fault of mine? I dont know. Maybe. What is killing me as a parent is not being able to supply him with an answer to why? The world is brutal? Kids are mean? Bad things happen to good people? People raise bad kids? None of that really sits well with me. So, I am at a loss. Big props to the ER doctor, Jesse Sanchez at West Hills Hospital who spent more time than he was required to with Max talking to him about the situation. He explained to Max that by him coming forward, these kids may stop bullying other kids. He made Max feel like a hero. That was important to us last night. I am so saddened by all the stories people are sharing of their own children in similar situations, and even themselves. It makes my heart hurt that we can be so unkind to each other. It makes me feel stronger than ever that mindfulness needs to be taught in schools. If parents arent teaching it at home, maybe exposure to it in schools will help. So many issues . . so many thing to do! Again, thank you all for caring!
Posted on: Fri, 07 Nov 2014 21:11:58 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015