I Threatened a Fifth Grader 😳

It was my second day ever dropping my son off at school. As a homeschool parent, school drop off was not a part of my lifestyle until we began to transition my youngest son from his foster home into ours.

I waited, shivering in the January air, while my 6 year old spied a group of older boys kicking around a soccer ball. Intrepid and hopeful, he ran up and began to kick the ball with them. I tensed, ready to step in and pull him out, but the boys seemed to tolerate it. After a minute or two, I was stunned when I watched one of these boys expertly and deliberately kick the ball right into my kindergartner's face.

The other boys sniggered softly, while my little guy wiped his face, playing it cool.

My cool had all but evaporated.

Just as the assailant picked up his soccer ball, I snatched it from him, and leaned in close.

“If you ever kick a ball into my son’s face again, I will take you straight to the principal's office.”

His eyes were wide with shock. To be fair, my son and I don’t look alike. He certainly didn’t expect this little kid to have a mama bear five feet away.

“Are we clear?” I asked, reminding myself that I was dealing with a child, and not a saber-tooth tiger, though the adrenaline coursing through my body suggested otherwise.

He nodded, gulping. “Yes, ma’am,” he whispered.

I stared at him for a few more seconds. “Good,” I said finally, and held out the ball.

Spoiler alert– those kids were never a problem at school drop off again. But, I hated watching my little man walk through the gates that day, going where I wouldn’t be lurking behind him to ward off punk bullies.

I know every parent understands this. When our children are small and completely dependent on us, we are the protectors. As they grow, and become increasingly independent, our ability to protect them diminishes. It’s painful.

They need to know how to defend themselves. Many parents try self-defense courses, impassioned lectures given from parent to child, and firm boundaries on electronic devices.

These are all great strategies to implement, but often fall short of the mark that will most help our children navigate the pitfalls of life: resilience.

The American Psychological Association (APA, 2018) defines resilience as ”the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats or even significant sources of stress.”

High levels of resilience are scientifically proven to reduce mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and stress. Flipped around, resilience increases well-being.

A fascinating study from The Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing (2023) explored methods of developing resilience through storytelling. This study tested storytelling as a form of treatment in schools and in psychological clinics.

The findings? Storytelling was a breakthrough method, particularly for children. Specifically, storytelling aided educational efforts while removing stigmas, created trust and empathy, and increased awareness and well-being. Symptoms of depression and anxiety in patients measurably decreased.

I’ve linked the article below if you want to read it all yourself, but the message is clear. Storytelling, through reading printed materials or oral storytelling, is an invaluable tool that deserves a high place in our parenting arsenal.

Start using stories to protect your kids today, and if you missed last week’s newsletter about fun and free storytelling games to play, you can read it here: https://www.whitelakepress.com/blogs/news/let-s-play-a-game-%F0%9F%98%81

Read the study here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jpm.13008