I have a close relationship with my 11yr old and reading this makes me wonder whether I will always have that. As they get to Teenagers, it seems they lose or they don’t know how to communicate their fears and problems, in the same way they do when they are pre-teen. I sincerely hope that things between my son and I don’t change and he always knows that I am here for him regardless but I know that is part of my responsibility to ensure that he is aware, avoiding it and just taking it for granted will never achieve anything.

Your last paragraph : Teach them how to be a good friend. How to be aware of other people’s feelings. As well as their own. Teach them how to ask for help if (and when) they need it. Who they can turn to. And how. – So true. Thank you for sharing this.

Although not a new phenomena, bullying should never be accepted as a ‘rites of passage’. A sort of ‘get out of jail free’ card for the victimizers.

Instead, victims must be empowered to believe that they, indeed, have control of an otherwise desparate situation.

Again, Great Post. We MUST empower our children.