Posted on 06/23/2012 4:09:21 PM PDT by chessplayer
If you want to get depressed about the state of humanity, read just about any YouTube comment thread.
In all my life, I never thought I would be apprehensive around children. But if I see a large group together, it worries me.
You could very well be right. :(
I went through a similar ordeal. I have a walking disability due to having Cerebral Palsy, and I know just how you feel. Teased every single day, picked last for every single team in gym every single time. Oh, and I also had a stutter at the time which certainly didn’t help things. One time in grade school a teacher did as yours did, chewed out the entire class. I was the most popular kid in my class- that day, the two cutest girls in my class told me they were sorry and invited me to sit with them at lunch. I thought I had it made and things would get better. However, that was short lived. Now that I’ve gotten older, however, I understand the power of forgiveness and forgiving those from my past. Just a couple of weeks ago, I was told that a guy I went to high school with had died suddenly of a heart attack (he was 37, same age as me of course). He was my worst tormentor in high school, made fun of me more than anyone, but still I felt a genuine sadness at his sudden passing. I reached out to his best friend from back when we were in school (who also tormented me nearly as bad) through Facebook and told him how sorry I was to hear of his friends passing knowing how close they were. It turned out to be a very soul-cleansing experience. The friend seemed genuinely thankful that I reached out to him, and we had a good, friendly talk about what had happened. I tell you this just to show that some people can grow wiser and more mature with age, people who treated you badly in school may be good people nowadays. Of course I know it’s hard to forget, too.
I agree with you.
I don’t think they should be allowed to ride the bus again...ever.
Let the parents figure out a way to get them to and from.
A couple of weeks in alternative school would work.
I have a couple of friends that drove school busses for retirement income. Even though they love kids, they had to quit. The kids were too unruly and put everyone at risk.
Heck..I have a friend that was a school crossing guard...she quit as well.
My Friend, you have the key to a happy life and are very special.
I loved your post.
In all my life, I never thought I would be apprehensive around children. But if I see a large group together, it worries me.
Same here. I’m in my 60’s now,,,easy prey. If I see a group of kids I will cross the street to avoid them.
I am sorry that you experienced that treatment. I think it did make me stronger. I can’t say that I was bullied so much as left out. There were those who did torment. The majority of it was just being so totally on the outside.
I got through it. Now, with the advent of facebook and after so many years, several of the classmates have “friended” me. They ask me, I haven’t sought them out, but I will accept if they reach out.
However, as a group, no thank you! Back to the recent reunion which was held this April. The organizer of it wasn’t a friend in school, but she is one who has become friendly in the passage of time. I did not want to attend, but I also didn’t want to dredge up and rehash old grudges. It is time to let them rest. I truly did not want to hurt her feelings.
I spent time in prayer about how to graciously decline without accusing. I ended up with an unassailable excuse. My mother-in-law, who had been in declining health for some time, passed away on the Monday prior. I was attending her funeral the entire weekend. I didn’t plan it that way, but it sure did help!
I know the feeling.
They could be sincere...for whatever reason.
That should not exclude punishment, imho.
I do the same.
And I worry it will only get worse. Kids are desensitized by the media, internet and video games.
Not all kids...but a lot of them.
“Exactly. The father is just shrugging off the future problems by not being a responsible parent and just saying the “Oh well- Boys will be boys” line.”
Fast forward six or seven years. What will this guy think when the little bastard slits his throat because daddy wouldn’t buy him a car.
I’m just a cynical old fart, and just see this as a “we were bullied too, now will someone give us a couple hundred thou so we can feel better”
Bingo! Make the parents suffer as well.
I put “deceased” on my first reunion invitation and sent it back. Haven’t been bothered since (just bypassed my 30 year reunion last year).
I would agree with you and add that peer pressure is very strong at that age.
Thank you very much for your kind words. Life is a growth process- I used to be much angrier about my past than I am now, but with age comes wisdom. Also, becoming a Christian helped me become a much better person. I look at how I was in my angrier, atheist days- God loved me even when I would curse Him. He forgives all that I did, and saved me at the lowest point in my life even after I rejected Him for all those years. If God can forgive all that, I can certainly forgive the people who teased and made fun of me.
School yrs were torture for me. I have very bad depth perception so I could never hit a ball etc.
ALWAYS the one who they had to fight over who HAD to take me on the team.
And as the tallest kid always, the shortest kid ALWAYS had to wait for me after school. Until one day in 10th grade I kicked the living shit out of the current one. Never got bothered again. Should’ve done that in 1st grade.
ROTFLOL!
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