A few weeks back, my son’s principal reached out to me regarding an altercation he had at school. She informed me he had been struck in the face and didn’t look as good as he did that morning. Thankfully, he was alright, but she insisted I pick him up immediately. Not only was he a bit banged up, but since he retaliated against an older student, drawing blood in the process, he was facing consequences. The principal had reviewed the surveillance footage and confirmed that my son was acting in self-defense, but apparently, he should have simply fled from the situation.
Yes, fled.
However, my son explained that in the chaotic hallways of a school, running isn’t always an option during a confrontation. When a fight breaks out, kids gather fast, and finding an escape route is nearly impossible.
I understand this policy is in place to protect all students, and I can’t say I’ve met a parent who would encourage their child to wait passively to be harmed until a teacher intervenes. No one I know would condone their child being inappropriately touched without defending themselves in some way.
Fortunately, two teachers intervened quickly, and the situation ended swiftly. While my son refrained from retaliating to avoid further trouble, he admitted he was tempted to do so. This older kid had been threatening him for days, and my son was hoping it would all just blow over — but it didn’t.
I recognize my views might not resonate with everyone (and frankly, I don’t mind), but I refuse to teach my kids to be doormats or to neglect their boundaries. While I don’t endorse violence as a way to resolve conflicts, I certainly instruct my children to defend themselves if they are being harmed.
Absolutely.
In my eyes, running away only makes someone a more attractive target. If a bully knows you’ll flee, they might feel emboldened to attack. If I instruct my kids to simply endure mistreatment, where does it stop? Is it acceptable when an older child shoves them before French class? Or when someone invades my daughter’s personal space and disrespects her? At what point is it acceptable to strike back?
I say, when their personal space is breached and their words are ignored, when they are subjected to bullying or physical aggression, it’s okay to defend themselves.
It’s crucial for our children to understand their rights and to know how to protect themselves. This doesn’t mean I promote using violence at every turn; there’s a distinct difference between avoiding conflict and resorting to force as a last resort.
Knowing that my kids can stand up for themselves provides us both peace of mind. So yes, if they feel threatened, my child might indeed punch yours — and I fully support that decision.
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In summary, teaching children to defend their boundaries and protect themselves is vital. While promoting non-violence is essential, knowing when to stand up for oneself can empower children in a challenging world.
Keyphrase: Why My Child Might Strike Yours
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