Have you had “the talk” with your child, yet? by Guest Blogger, Carole Aksak

Hopefully by now you've had the talk. Not once, but as an on-going discussion with constant reinforcement. I am writing, of course, about your child’s responsibility to do the right thing.

The airwaves, the cyberworld and the print media are rife with information about sexting and texting, cyberbullying, social bullying and just plain overall meanness. There is a lot of angst out there about just who’s responsibility it is to make sure your child does not suffer at the hands of a bully - overtly, covertly, anonymously or in plain view. Parents expect the schools to address it; schools say it all starts at home. Our policy makers have jumped into the fray and are desperately trying to legislate behaviors, responsibility and culpability. The bottom line is:

We all have a responsibility to fully understand what bullying is; where and when it happens. We need to look at the way we each think about bullying and understand what action, re-action, or inaction does within a bullying situation. Because…

Our own understanding and feelings about bullying is imprinted onto our children. If we never learned to recognize and react in an appropriate manner, we can’t expect our children to react to conflict or bullying in a different way than we do. And, this I know…

All parents want their children to grow up to be leaders, not bullies.

All parents want their children to be compassionate, caring and kind; to be confident and strong, rising up against the physical, social and emotional denigration of someone weaker than they. So I ask you once again…

Have you had “the talk” with your child, yet?

For more information about healthy relationships or to bring a speaker to your parent group, please contact Carole Aksak at 516.741.2550 ext. 254.