When Mean Kids Strike
“Worst. Day. Ever.” Those words make my heart drop as my son hops into the car after school. I don a fake smile for encouragement purposes. “Hey, bud! What do you mean? What happened?” But I already know the answer. The boy that was his bestie just days ago has apparently found a high-paying spot on Satan’s payroll. It’s been a week now that he’s been excluding him and ostracizing him for no apparent reason. “He doesn’t want to be my friend anymore, Mom. He and the other boys were making fun of me today. They even tripped me. He hates me. And I hate him. I just want to punch him in the face.”
Sounds like a plan, son. I’m on it. I’ll call your dad. He’s got this. When he gets home tonight I’ll have him teach you some military-style hand-to-hand combat. Tomorrow that kid will be toothless. I can’t wait to hear all the gory details.
Okay, I didn’t say that. But I’d be a big fat liar if I said it didn’t cross my mind.
The emotions are overwhelming! If there’s anything worse than surviving mean girls (or boys) or bullying yourself, it’s watching your kids go through it. I’d sure go back and take a double-dose of it for my boys to not have to experience it. Or would I? The truth is that it doesn’t stop when you’re a kid. Guess what? Mean kids grow up. We call them jerks. And sadly, oftentimes they’re still equally as unpleasant at 35 years old to that which they were at 11. My logical reasoning tells me that this is a good learning experience for him. I can’t protect him from fools his entire life. On the other hand, my mommy-heart hurts and wants to slip nunchucks into my 4th grader’s backpack. You know, just in case.
As usual, God has some words of wisdom to pour into us if we’re willing to seek them out. As our good Lord so often does, He placed in my path some words of wisdom to share with my boys (and myself) during the sermon this past Sunday at church. He gave me the foresight to write down some key verses that “just might” be useful for memorization for my kids. Thank you, Father. It’s almost like you know exactly what you’re doing!
“Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.” Proverbs 13:20
“Do not be misled. Bad company corrupts good character.” 1 Corinthians 15:33
I heeded the voice of the Lord and talked with my son about how his jerkface “friend” had made some bad choices about who he’s starting hanging out with to the detriment of his own character. What a good lesson in not being a follower, but being a leader and focusing on the importance of hanging around good, wholesome, like-minded friends (i.e., not mean kids!). In case he didn’t understand those same conversations we’ve had before, perhaps now he does. A life lesson.
The Lord also brought to mind this verse:
“But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Matthew 5:44
I’m not gonna lie. This one wasn’t popular at bedtime prayer time.
“I can’t, Mom.”
“Oh, so are you saying NO to GOD?” (A pretty dramatic tone was used for extra effect.)
“No…(proceeds to pray for the little squirts)”
For now, we wait for the Lord to follow through. I remind my boys EVERY DAY that this house, our home, our family is home base. No matter what mess we trudge through outside these doors, mean kids or otherwise, when you come home you’re in a place that you’re accepted, loved, and surrounded by people on your team, who have your back. We can figure out anything together, and that’s the most important place to be.