Life in Central Asia
{insights from Christians serving in the region}
“In the end, I wanted to tell him to just slug the kid. Even the teachers whispered to me that my son should just hit the little boy ... ”
KAZAKHSTAN Winter 2008
Encountering a bully
My six-year-old son goes to Russian school and has a bully in his class. The child's bullying began when they were in kindergarten and has continued until 1st grade. Often my son would come home from school and report that the child had hit him, knocked him down, or pushed him out of his chair. I asked lots of questions to assess the situation. In the end, I wanted to tell him to just slug the kid. Even the teachers whispered to me that my son should just hit the little boy.
We prayed each night for my son and this child who constantly antagonized him. We discussed loving your enemies with our kids. We decided that when this bully tries to hit my son, my son should take his hands and hold them and say, “I'm your friend. Friends don't hit.”
One day when we were walking home from school my son told me that the little boy who usually bullied him had confided in him that no one loves him. My son told him, "somebody does." Now my son looks for chances to tell this child about Jesus, the one who loves him. Thank the Lord for our children who are often more Godly that we are.
*Photos do not represent the people in the story.