Dear Editor,

I read and hear opinions from people who are tired of bullying among our children and younger generation. I agree the bullying needs to stop, but why doesn’t somebody try to find out where the bullying started? Most people have heard the saying, “To fix the problem, you have to start at the root.”

Well, I am a parent, and I’ve been around for a while—not the wisest person in the world, but the longer you hang around, the more you see and hear, and the more knowledge you gain. Because of the knowledge I have obtained during my stay here on this planet, I want to share what some parents and grandparents know: A child bully is a child bullied! The best place to start looking for the root of the bullying problem is in the home of the bullier.

The ways of a bully is not a natural way of life; I believe a bully has to be taught how to be a bully. The teachings might not come from a parent, but too often parents are disciplinary bullies. Sometimes the bully teachings might come from another family member, and in some cases I believe a child sees the parents inflicting anger discipline (bullying) on a sibling and the child seeing will activate knowledge gained, thinking they are pleasing their parents—and if pleasing them the parents won’t treat them like that. The bullying—whether family bullying or parental bullying—leads to destruction and too often tragedy.

Won’t somebody please dig to find the root? Children do not need parental bullies; children need Godly parents. Treat your child as you want God to treat you. God is the greatest father a child can have, so, parents, as God disciplines you, then you can learn to discipline your child in unconditional love with self-control!

Margie McMinn, Maplesville