A Texas mom recently made headlines when she decided to teach her son a lesson about bullying. After learning that her son was causing trouble at school and being a bully to other students, she took a unique approach to handle the situation.
Instead of scolding or punishing him behind closed doors, the mom, known as Star, wanted her son to face the consequences of his actions in a very public way. She made him wear a T-shirt that boldly stated, “I am a BULLY.” Her intention was to have her son recognized as a bully within the school community of Greenleaf Elementary School and beyond.
Star recognized that her son’s behavior had affected other students, and she wanted to show them that she acknowledged their experiences. She decided to share a picture of her son wearing the controversial T-shirt on Facebook, reaching out to the parents of the children her son may have bullied and offering personal apologies.
While some may argue that Star’s approach was too extreme, she firmly stood by her decision. She believed that her son needed to truly understand the impact of his actions and learn from the experience. According to Star, her son expressed remorse, saying, “I learned that I didn’t like the way that felt, and I don’t want anybody else to feel that way because of me.” This response validated Star’s intentions and reinforced her belief that the lesson had made an impact.
However, not everyone agrees with Star’s method of punishment. Some professionals in child development, such as a child psychiatrist from Baylor College of Medicine, criticized her approach, arguing that it’s not beneficial to embarrass a child and solidify a negative identity at such a young age. They suggest seeking help from resources like the school to address the issue.
Despite facing criticism online, Star revealed that her son’s school district supported her decision. Splendora ISD stated that parents have the right to make important decisions and take certain actions on behalf of their child.
What are your thoughts on this mom’s unique approach to discipline? Do you believe it was an appropriate way to address her son’s bullying behavior?
