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[theducktumble-blog]

Today is National Anti-Bullying Day!! Wear ORANGE to support all the efforts to keep our kids safe and STOP BULLYING today!!! #wewillnotbully #whyisitpinkoutdayatourschool #standwithourfriends #wipeitout 🍊🍊🍊 (at Copper Grove, Houston, Texas)

[theducktumble-blog]

I've been debating writing this post over the last several days, but since it just keeps running through my mind & remains heavy on my heart, I feel that it is something I need to share. I am NOT sharing for sympathy or to demonize those involved or to bad mouth our school, but RATHER because bullying, in any form, is something I feel passionate about and we must shine a light on because it is very present in all our communities. Unfortunately, my boys have both suffered personal encounters with bullying at their elementary school. If you know my Sam, you know that he has his own special set of circumstances and "quirks" that can make the long school day super difficult for him & sometimes, classmates and teachers as well. Sam has encountered his "fair share" of bullies since kindergarten, but has found his safety net of friends and has a plan that is constantly evolving to help him be successful. Thank goodness no noteworthy incidents for him so far this school year. My Max is sweet, kind, caring, smart, athletic and has a really big heart. He has friends of all sorts, but really has a tight knit group of kiddos that I am thankful for always, but most especially this week. Max's encounter with a group of bullies at his school left all of us quite shaken this week. He was threatened in the bathroom on Tuesday by a "friend", who told him that "he and his friends had better watch their backs the next day because they were going to get their **&es kicked". No, he did not report it. He's 9 and trusting and didn't think that this "friend" or anyone for that matter would hurt him or anyone else at his school. Sadly, he was wrong. He was jumped from behind at recess the next day while walking with his friends. Thrown down to the ground with a chokehold around his neck and then repeatedly punched in the side of the face & back of the head. Thank God, 2 friends were in front of him & were able to remove the attacker from him because teachers were not immediately aware of the situation. Their actions saved him from further harm. This incident wasn't specifically about Max. It was about this "gang" of kids thinking that they would show Max and his friends that they ar