Mr. President Speaks The Truth

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Let's do this!  Live an awsome and courageous life!

Protecting Your Kids Against Bullying

It’s a horrible fact of life in high school, middle school and elementary school – your kids are susceptible to the torments of bullies. It can happen to just about any kid for any number of reasons. A single bully could be the problem or an entire group could pick on a peer.

Schools are a common place where bullying occurs, but it is by no means the only one. Today, your kid’s bully doesn’t even have to be in the same room to cause trouble. They can go online and continue to harass your child through social media sites, or even via the phone through text messaging.

Bullying is a serious social issue that can have dire repercussions if it’s allowed to continue. If your kid is being bullied there are things you need to know and actions you can take to put an end to it.

Is Bullying on the Rise?

Media coverage of the issue has been at the forefront the last few years, but does that mean bullying is more rampant than it use to be? Recent reports suggest that traditional bullying is by no means non-existent, but it hasn’t increased dramatically compared to previous decades.

However, the advent of the Internet and social media sites have given bullies another outlet for tormenting their victims. Cyber bully attacks made headlines last October after Amanda Todd, a 15 year old in Vancouver, committed suicide after more than a year of bullying. Prior to the event she had posted videos online expressing her distress over the daily bullying she received.

Steps You Can Take to Stop a Bully

• Understand what bullying is and isn’t – not all types of harassment and violence are bullying. 
• Find out what has happened before taking action. Determine whether the bullying is physical, verbal, cyber or a combination.
• Become familiar with your state’s anti-bullying laws so you know how you are legally protected and what is required of schools.
• Look into federal laws that protect all citizens against discriminatory harassment.
• Notify school officials and teachers if it’s happening during school.
• Talk to the parents of the other child to try to resolve the problem.
• Teach your kids how to respond to bullying without retaliation.
• Do your best to block bullies online.
• Follow up on the situation to make sure the bullying has stopped.
• Utilize the U.S. Department of Education anti-bully site stopbullying.gov.

Understand that bullying can happen in a number of places outside of school and online. A bully can pick on your kid during after school activities, on the bus, around the neighborhood. Where the bullying occurs can have an effect on how you handle the situation.

How to Help Your Child If They’ve Been Bullied

The most important thing to do is talk to your kids if you know or suspect they are being bullied. Ask them how they would like you to handle things. You may think rushing to their aid is the right choice, but some kids may prefer you help handle the problem discreetly for fear that your involvement would exacerbate the situation.

Get them professional help if they need it. Bullying can cause serious depression, anxiety and low self-esteem in kids, especially teens. When talking to you child ask them if they would like to talk to someone else about the situation. Don’t make it a big deal. They may already feel like they’re a mental mess and abnormal. Point out that a lot of people, even sports stars and celebrities, see counselors and psychologists for a number of reasons.

Offer to get them self-defense classes. It’s not advocating violence, but rather a way for them to protect themselves if a situation calls for it. Self-defense classes can help your kid feel empowered instead of helpless. Sometimes simply having the courage to stand up to a bully and say “stop” is enough to fix the problem.

Keep an eye on your kids. If you notice changes in their behavior or signs of depression address it ASAP. Don’t write it off as typical moodiness. Being involved in their life and paying attention also shows them that you care. If they are being bullied knowing that someone loves them and is there for them can make all the difference.

CourageousLife.com is starting a movement that inspires individuals to overcome adversities such as bullying, fear and other emotions that prohibit people from living happy lives. Join the movement by visiting CourageousLife.com () or viewing their motivational video at (http://youtu.be/NZh2Lt3yWXI).

Wear Your Courage on Your Sleeve?

It has been said that some people wear their emotions on their sleeve, right? Okay, so a few of us around here are like that. It seems everywhere you look, whether it's big box stores or online there are more and more graphic tees popping up.

Rock bands, vacation spots, and sports teams all grace most of our closets, but what about your personal belief system? Do you really share that with others? You should, and if you aren't then it's time for you to get real, and get courageous!

Getting Real About What You Believe and What You Love! 

What if I told you that I just saw two or three graphic tees as I got out of my car and walked into my office? Would you be surprised or would you be shocked?

I for one  usually don't wear them, but because I believe in this organization, we are offering our apparel and accessories to share with others. It's important that people don't just hear you, but that they can see what you stand for without struggling to find it.

Let me share a story with you.....

Several years ago, I was walking through a Christian bookstore, and I saw a t-shirt that said, "Make war on the floor", and it referenced this scripture that mentions, "pray without ceasing". I Thessalonians 5:17.

As I took it off the hanger, and I looked at the picture of the man on the flloor praying with his face down to the floor and talking with God, it occurred to me that this picture hit me  harder about my prayer life and sharing my faith with others.

NOT JUST OTHERS, but those that are Christians too. It''s all about sharing your life, encouraging others, and sharing with people how to lead a more fruitful life.

So, it was just washed, and out of the laundry and onto my body the t-shirt went! I was making a trip to the grocery store, and ran into a man I went to church with. He saw the shirt, and said, "Wow, just wow".

Ah, it hit him like a ton of bricks. He stopped and said, "That t-shirt is so powerful, and this is something that God has been speaking to me about, and now I understand." Not really knowing what in the world he was talking about, he then shared with me that he had been struggling in his prayer life, and that he felt his prayers were hitting the ceiling.

It was this message, along with the image of the man on the floor praying that got his attention. It's the whole package, NOT just the words, and NOT just the image alone. This is about how both work together, and it's no surprise that he was so overcome with emotion over what he was struggling with in his life.

Isn't prayer our direct line to God?

If anything, you may not believe that apparel changes anything, but it can send a very strong message. Remember, you can be the only message people ever get to see or hear. As it has been said, "Wear it proud and wear it loud!"

LIVE COURAGEOUSLY!