Rude = Inadvertently saying or doing something that hurts someone else. Mean = Purposefully saying or doing something to hurt someone once (or maybe twice.) Bullying = Intentionally aggressive behavior, repeated over time, that involves an imbalance of power. Experts agree that bullying entails 3 key elements: 1. an intent to harm, 2. a power imbalance, and 3. repeated acts or threats of aggressive behavior. Kids who bully say or do something intentionally hurtful to others and they keep doing it, with no sense of regret or remorse—even when targets of bullying show or express their hurt or tell the aggressors to stop.
Learning to deal with mean, rude, or unkind people is really a part of life that we all have to learn. Bullying, on other hand is a different matter entirely and ought to be be addressed immediately.
Here at MIS, we talk to students about having small, medium, and big problems. We will all face a problem from each of these areas at one point or another. While at school, your children are surrounded by adults who guide them toward solving their own problems or stepping in to provide assistance when it is needed. This goes for parents as well. If you are worried about something your child has shared about his/her day, send us an email or give us a call so that we can talk it through.