Dear Bully,

Today you were at the neighborhood park with a bunch of your friends. I was there, too, with my three young children. My kids were doing what children normally do at the park—sliding slides, holding on merry-go-rounds, running, laughing, making friends. You and your dozen or so teenaged friends were congregating there, doing what I would guess you normally do together—laughing, yelling, skateboarding, flirting.

I don’t know if you remember my son; your interaction with him was just a minute or two long. In that short time, though, you teased him, embarrassed him, and intimidated him. I truly hope this is not one of things you regularly do at the park while hanging with your friends. I hope this was so out of character for you that you do remember my son’s sad face.

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With the boxes of crayons, notebooks, pencil sharpeners, and lunch boxes, Target and every other store has been reminding us for weeks that it is BACK TO SCHOOL time. There is much to do as families get back in the swing of the school routine. Bedtimes and early wake ups have to be reestablished. New gym shoes must be purchased. Those dreaded sack lunches need to be planned. Childcare, transportation, sports fees, band instruments, homework help…it’s enough to make a parent dizzy!

Now think back to your childhood or teens years. What concerned you about going back to school? What is concerning the kids who come in to my office each week?...

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