An overweight child being teased

Question from a child:

My mom told me to write. I have a problem and maybe other kids and parents will learn something from it. I am overweight. Kids tease me all the time. How can I make them stop?

Your letter will help others. I bet lots of our readers will think you are as brave and sensitive as I do for writing to address this issue.

Your teacher needs to know if there are students in your classroom who are teasing you so that she can talk with them and the whole class about accepting others. The principal and the playground supervisors need to know if there are kids on the playground who are singling you out just to hurt your feelings. Do not let anyone suggest this is tattling, either. You have a right to go to school without being harassed.

Now, the school can tell the other children what is and what is not allowed, and some of those kids might not listen. Some of them might continue to be hurtful when adults are not around and some might even try to be hurtful when they know they will get in trouble. Ask yourself, “Why would these kids say things just to hurt my feelings or make me sad even when they know it is wrong?” Hopefully you come up with the same answer as I do: something is wrong with them and something is hurting their hearts to be able to say such hurtful things to you. Continue to report them until they learn to stop.

As you grow up, you need to let those people who love you, like your parents, family and friends, help shape your future. Who will grow to have the biggest heart, the most caring family, the most successful career, the best understanding of how to treat others? Do not let these other kids with problems of their own divert your attention from your hopes and dreams.