Health & Fitness
Bullies: Teach Your Kids to Defend Themselves
When I was a kid, I was pretty small for my age. So bullies loved picking on me. One day I got sick of it. So I went to the library and checked out a book called, "Better Boxing for Boys."
When I was a kid, I was pretty small for my age. So bullies loved picking on me. One day I got sick of it. So I went to the library and checked out a book called, Better Boxing for Boys.
I went home and took my pillow out of its case. I stuffed it with jeans and shirts and then hung it in my closet. I used it as my punching bag.
It was a great idea because it taught me to punch straight towards my opponent and not telegraph my punches because if I got wild, I ended up hitting the door jam of the closet. I learned very quickly. I tied a string of yarn to me ankles so that my feet would be the proper space apart.
Find out what's happening in O'Fallonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Until I got confident, I had to use my words to try to keep the bullies at bay. Some of the bullies moved onto someone else. One, in particular was hell-bent on picking on me no matter what I said to him.
Soon the day came when I had had enough. He started in on me and I just decked him. Yes, I got into trouble because this happened at school. But he never said another word to me. He left me alone. And all the other bullies saw what I did to this kid and they left me alone too.
Find out what's happening in O'Fallonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Parents, teach your kids how to defend themselves. Violence is not the answer in most cases. But there may come a time when fists will win out over words.