We need to stop normalizing violence & minimizing its impact. I found one of my kids crying today in the hallway. She told me that boys in her class were calling her names & pushing her repeatedly. Another adult happened to overhear what was said as we were walking to my office.

The adult said, “Girl, don’t you know boys at this age? If they like you, they’ll be pushing you, hitting you, & picking on you.” My kid looked confused by this. Not only did this invalidate her feelings, it also sent a horribly inaccurate message about healthy relationships.

I told her the other adult made a mistake. I told her that for someone to like you, they have to respect you first. If anyone is putting their hands on you, they are not respecting you, your body, or your personal space. Which means that they can’t like you. She nodded her head.

We talked about what it would look like if someone genuinely liked her & how she thought they would act. She went back to class with her head held high. Please, stop telling kids (boys & girls) that hitting/pushing/kicking/etc. means that someone likes you. Please.
#SocialWorker