A kid comes home and tells his/her parents about a kid calling her names. They are usually juvenile insults such as one being ugly, fat or stupid. These are the beginning and when it's important for the situation to be stopped. What can a parent do? The first thing is to go to the school, talk to the teacher and principal.

What happens after that is very important. Many principals believe that bringing both students in together is a great idea. WRONG! The kid you are bringing in who is being bullied will not say anything, they will be too scared to say anything in front of the kid who is bullying them. Duh! After that, the bully knows that they have the kid in real fear and they feel like they can do and say anything to that kid. As an adult, you just encouraged that kid to put their hands on them, steal from them and all because they know the other kid will no longer tell anyone. Why? Because nothing was done the first time.

What needs to happen first?

Both kids should be brought in with their parents. This way the parents can say all the things the kids cannot say and the other parents are involved. Half the time the bully's parents don't know what their kid is doing. So it will let the bully know that this is NOT a game. Also, it gives the parents a chance to get the conversation started to stop the behavior.

Now this way can go wrong too. The parents of the bully can be bullies too, but that's where the school has to become extra involved and REPORT the parent for dangerous behavior. Make the no bully zone a REAL no bully zone. Make the bully parents feel that you are not playing with them either.

What happened to 'it takes a village?' Oh I know, parents are getting younger and not listening to anyone about their kid because no one listened to them as a kid. It's a tragic cycle that is clearly getting out of hand. I say that because what happens in the kid's life who was bullied? They start with depression, anxiety, and possible suicidal ideations and self-harm. They feel like no one cares and they take personal insults to the heart due to low self-esteem and low self-appreciation.

We have to step up for the underdogs, even though many don't realize that the underdog always wins, and the bully usually goes nowhere in life, but right now, the fear is real. The threat is real and self harm is serious. These kids are killing themselves at an alarming rate because bullying now is more than just in school. It goes to the internet and explodes.

Parents, if your kid comes to you saying a kid is picking on them, go to the school and find out the steps the schools take, don't wait until it's too late.