Bullying isn’t something to be brushed off easily. At some point in our lives, we’ve all been on the receiving end of bullying and admittedly, have had instances wherein we did the bullying. While it is never okay to bully, it is a behavioral issue that can be countered until eventually, the person grasps proper reasoning: that bullying is never okay and calling it ‘joking around’ or ‘teasing’ doesn’t quite cut it.
As adults equipped with common sense and the invariable truth that wrong is wrong, we automatically respond to bullying by fighting back or raising the issue with parents, teachers, and even employers. After all, the issue is not something confined to childhood alone. Child or adult, bullies should not be fed the idea that what they’re doing is comical and acceptable.
Unfortunately, the issue of bullying seems to worsen with each year. There are numerous factors that explain where bullying stems from: low self-esteem, little to zero guidance at home, and exposure to equally ill behavior (receiving the same treatment at home and presenting the notion that it is normal).
To further stress just how impactful bullying can be, Carrie Golledge shares the heartbreaking effect it left on her six-year-old daughter, Sophia. You’d think at six years old, all kids can manage is tease each other, call each other names, and go back to screaming and playing and running around. Sadly, at this age, some children already know how to torture their peers by making them feel bad about themselves and purposely excluding them.
According to Carrie, Sophia would always be miserable when she’d return from school. Her daughter simply wanted to cry and would have trouble sleeping at night because she would always think back to the terrible things she had to endure that day, and would worry about the following day at school. How sad it is to realize an innocent six-year-old would already have to worry about something as distressing.
In an interview with The Mirror, Carrie shares, “Things were so bad by the end of the summer term that Sophia was out of school for a couple of weeks because her sickness was so severe — she would be up all night and vomiting 20 times an hour.”
The emotional, physical, and mental stress caused by the constant harassment and bullying led to Sophia’s body giving up. “She’d be in so much pain and because her upset stomach was so violent, it would lead to a water infection and her body struggled,” Carrie said. “We’ve had her in the hospital with high fevers which they’ve struggled to control.”
The mom relayed how it was actually a girl whom Sophia called her “best friend” causing the stress. Apparently, this particular classmate of Sophia’s would dictate what Sophia could and could not eat, what she should do, and even went as far as discouraging other kids from playing with her. The anxiety was too much for the six-year-old that it almost caused paralysis in her brain and body.
Carrie decided to share the story on Facebook along with a picture of Sophia lying on a hospital bed, suffering from stress, anxiety, and exhaustion. This was the heart-wrenching caption on her post:
“This is what bullying does… This is my 6 year old daughter, hospitalised, due to bullying…
This is my child with such a caring heart that despite being so ill “doesn’t want anyone to get in trouble”…
This is my child who has stopped eating, has cried herself to sleep, had anxiety so severe she’s up sick over 20 times in an hour through the night…
This is my child whose ‘best friend’ has emotionally abused her for so long she thought it was normal…
This is my child who has been in and out of hospital for countless trips due to being so sick with anxiety…
This is my child who was told off for ‘telling tales at school’…
This is my child who has been mocked on social media by the bullies parents for just having such a pure heart…
This is my child who when addressing the issues with her school we were told “It’s just 6 year olds being 6 year olds”…
This is my child who was told by the school she should be the one feeling ashamed and be snuck in a side door of a morning…
This is my child who her school failed her so badly that we had to move her schools…
This is my child who is one of too many that are going through this…
This is my child whose story is being twisted and manipulated by the very people that were meant to protect her at her school when she was in their care…
This is my child who doesn’t want this to happen to anyone else. So this is my child’s story we are sharing but she is one of many …too many!
Please help us share her story. Lets show her the support her school couldn’t afford her.”
It is both enraging and heartbreaking to think that parents and teachers would dismiss the issue as a simple “kids just being kids” situation. Moreover, how those responsible for guiding them and helping them at school barely attempted to correct the bully’s behavior and assist Sophia through proper, unbiased intervention.
Sophia’s parents decided once and for all to transfer their daughter to another school. They shared how greatly things improved and how their daughter has transitioned from weak and frail to healthier and much happier.
Sophia and her parents may have had their happy ending, but the battle continues for those facing bullies everyday and not having anyone to stick up for them. This is why standing up for one’s self and for others is a trait that must be instilled in children while they’re young. Taking the high road isn’t letting others continue treating you poorly. Always say ‘no’ to bullying.
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
