
Dear Annie: I just read the letter from the mother whose son is being bullied at school and on a sports team. She says the other boy’s parents dismiss it with a “kids will be kids” attitude and claim their son is too young to be responsible. That’s a red flag.
As a retired in-home therapist, I’ve seen how unmanaged anger and low frustration tolerance don’t just go away; they grow with the child and lead to bigger problems. The boy may be modeling aggression he sees at home or struggling with emotional regulation, but either way, he needs intervention now.
The bullied child’s mother might consider speaking with other parents and addressing the coach as a group. Encourage the children to report each incident. Coaches can also bring concerns to school staff, who may already be aware of the situation. If there are signs of abuse at home, child protective services may need to be involved.
Ignoring this won’t make it go away. It only gets worse with time. — A Retired Therapist
Dear Retired Therapist: Thank you for your letter. I always love hearing from professionals with experience in the field. Your insight into how unchecked behavior in children can escalate over time and the importance of early intervention hopefully will help other parents struggling with similar situations. Your suggestions for involving other parents, coaches and school staff offer a practical path forward for those dealing with similar situations.
“How Can I Forgive My Cheating Partner?” is out now! Annie Lane’s second anthology — featuring favorite columns on marriage, infidelity, communication and reconciliation — is available as a paperback and e-book. Visit http://www.creatorspublishing.com for more information. Send your questions for Annie Lane to dearannie@creators.com.
COPYRIGHT 2025 CREATORS.COM
发表回复