Sadly, this is probably one of the saddest post that I’ve ever written. My neighbor’s 13 year old daughter committed suicide. They found her around 3:00 am. One of my neighbors came to visit so she could let me know of the tragedy. We discussed how we come together as a community to help this family. That’s the type of neighborhood that I live in. We look out for each other regularly, and help each other out in time of need. Today, I’m sharing parenting tips on teen suicide in our society.
Like many, my neighbors stated that they hadn’t seen the suicide coming. Their child was being bullied, but they didn’t see it as a big deal. In their mind, she wasn’t being bullied anymore than anyone else. My immediate thought was, here’s another child being bullied and nobody does anything about it. Sadly, this child as ended her life. She was a beautiful little girl with so much to live for. However, in her mind she had nothing to live for. Her pain was far greater than future.
After my neighbor left, I wondered how her parents could possibly find the strength to deal with this tragedy. Furthermore, I wondered how they could not take bullying seriously. How could they just chalk it up as her not being bullied anymore than anyone else. Bullying is a serious problem. I thought about the guilt that they must be feeling right now. So many things have crossed my mind. I wondered what I would say to them when I see them. I wondered how they could continue to live in a home that was so lovingly built 3 years ago to one that would now hold a memory that would be unbearable. How does life go on after you loose a child in any manner, especially to suicide?
Teen suicide is not unheard of in today’s world. Why do kids think it’s acceptable to torture another person? Why are we so accepting of bullying, and so willing to chalk it up as kids being kids? Most importantly, what’s happening to our parenting skills? I guarantee children aren’t just acting out and bullying other kids in school. They’re misbehaving at home too. Behavior problems start at home. To single out another person and torture them is beyond my comprehension.
My daughter was bullied in school, and I’m here to tell you that it was not acceptable to me. I took action. I let the school and the parents of the girls involved know that there would be hell to be paid if it continued with my child. At that point there was two things that you didn’t mess with 1) My daughter and 2) My money. I labored for 8 hours to bring my daughter into the world. She was an investment. I invested all the love, time and money that I had into my daughter. She became my life and my most prized possession. I’ve just added to my portfolio now there’s my grandson and granddaughter. Anyway, I told other parents that if they weren’t investing in their child, that wasn’t my problem. And, they weren’t going to make it my daughter’s either.
As my readers know, I have been writing about bullying for some time. Unfortunately, bullying has an effect on families for the rest of their life. You just don’t get over it as some people think. It affects your self-esteem and self-worth. Children don’t understand that the problem really lies with the kids who are doing the bullying. As children it is easy to believe what the other person is saying about them. Parents must counteract bullies. Children today have no respect for authority, their peers or themselves. They think it’s okay to just say or do whatever they please. I would venture to say they have no respect for their parents either.
Wake up America, this is a serious problem in this country. It is not kids being kids. The Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, works with a charity as a result of being bullied herself. Her parents pulled her out of the school where the trauma was occurring. I wonder what her bullies think of her now.
Finally, I pray that this family finds peace and the strength that they need to move through this difficult time. No parent should have to lay their child to rest. Parents, teen suicide is real in America. And, it could become a reality in your life at any time. Teen suicide changes everyone’s life. All will remind in my prayers.
I just found your blog when you followed mine, and what a sad story. Thanks for putting the word out again about bullying. We all need to work to stop it.
I am very sorry to listen about the little 13 years old child,and I am wonder that why she thinks to do suicide, this is very very disgusting.
Thank you for sharing with us.
Wow! What a tragedy. Bullying is definitely a problem. I really believe that how a child treats another child is a direct reflection of the treatment or care at home. It has always taken a village and now it seems as if our villages have diminished. We have to bring the accountability back.
I cried when I read your post about this little girl. My heart aches for her family. There have been so many similar stories on the news lately. It is so sad. Everyone that has a child or is connected in any way with children needs to address this rising problem immediately. We must find ways to protect our most valuable resources – our precious children.
I cannot imagine the pain the family is going through. My thoughts and prayers are with them. I remember kids being mean when I was in school, but it seems to be taken to a whole new level with the rapid introduction of technology. Bullying needs to be addressed as soon as the problem is identified.
Someone very close to me commited suicide in 1996 and it still feels like yesterday.
I'm so sorry the parents didn't see the pain their daughter was in, but, I also can relate to the guilt that I'm sure they'll be feeling….omg, the guilt is just crippling.
No words can really help….I send them my prayers and pray for all who are currently being bullied or feeling such desperation.
such a sad situation
Gosh how sad. Bullying is horrible and I do not understand it at all. I watched my sister get bullied her entire life. You know the sad thing? She has down syndrome, still cries and cries over it. It breaks my heart. I'm so sorry to hear about your neighbor, may her family find peace.