In-laws or Outlaws?

Apr 212010
 

Sorry, I’ve been a little AWOL. Other kinds of work have intervened.

In-laws or Outlaws?…Big Ideas for Keeping a Little Peace in the Family is the name of a conference presentation I just recorded.

My focus was on taking a long view and making a plan to work WITH your spouse to make decisions that enhance ALL of your family relationships. Of course I talked about starting with yourself first (when you want to make changes become a good role model and know your limitations) but “selfish v. elfish” and “me first v. we first” surprised even me! (Examples of some approaches to thinking differently and minimize arguments.)

I’m one of ten presenters in these new Marriage and Family Conferences online. Each month we address a different family-related topic. I think they’re a great (and inexpensive) way for people to get exposed to a variety of points of view and new information — from the comfort of your own computer!

Conference founder Shirley Cress Dudley, a licensed professional counselor who specializes in working with blended families, is offering an early-bird discount. Those who register by Friday will get $10 off of the $39 conference price. (In the interest of full disclosure, if you sign up using this link I receive a portion of the registration fee.)

Click here for more info — or to sign up.

Bully List: Right or Wrong?

Apr 192010
 
Checklist

Checklist (Photo credit: o.tacke)

 

In an effort to be more proactive about bullying prevention, a Spencer, Massachusetts school gave students the opportunity to -anonymously – submit a list of bullies to some of their teachers.

Apparently the the five kids whose names showed up at the top of most of the lists were separated from the other kids for a period of time and carefully monitored in the halls, the cafeteria and in the bus lines. For a while.

I have seen a number of news reports about this. One features a Mom whose son was on the list. In that video, both she and her son admit that he has been a bully. Her son said that although he didn’t like the school’s intervention, it was effective. He doesn’t like the fact that other kids have been saying that, because he’s on that list, they don’t want to be friends.

The focus of that report, however, was on the Mom’s anger at the school — although I haven’t been able to pinpoint exactly what she’s angry about. It seems to be for spotlighting the top five kids on the list and monitoring their behavior. The superintendent, while supporting the teachers’ intent, apparently has stopped ‘the list’ and the intervention.

But here’s something that only showed up in one of the reports: the young man in the report had been bullied at school for a long time prior to adopting the aggressive himself.

I’m confused. What do you think of what the teachers did? Is it discipline or is it abuse? The mom? Embarrassed, enabling or protective? The superintendent? Seeking fairness or avoiding headlines? Does responsible parenting mean asking ourselves whether or not OUR precious children could be perpetrating such behavior?

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Anti-Bullying Awareness in the Pink

Apr 152010
 

Here’s a news update (including video from CTV news) about the success of this year’s Pink Shirt Day.

I find the comment about the internet making it harder to prevent bullying…. but I wonder if it (internet communication) also makes easier to share what works???

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