Why I No Longer Tell My Child to Be Inclusive and Kind

Children being killed in our schools is unacceptable. From here the debate gets crazy. But this is why I will no longer tell my child to be kind.

Some support the #WalkOut.

I see this side. Our children deserve to be safe.

Some counter with the #WalkUp stance.

Inclusion. I get it. In fact, this is why I am here. All because I told my daughter to be kind.

I would like to share my testimony of the philosophy of inclusion and compassion.

You should know that I am the mother who talks to her children. I drill them after school. We have conversations about their friends and choices. We talk about everything.

We moved. My children were starting over in a new school. There was a child who would say, “Hello” to my daughter when we were out and about.

I am the mom who told my daughter to “be kind to everyone.”

My daughter would tell me that this child didn’t have many friends.

I am the mom who told my daughter “be inclusive.”

My daughter would tell me this child was disruptive.

I am the mom who told my daughter to “listen to what people have to say.”

My daughter would tell me this child had issues at home.

I am the mom who told my daughter, “have compassion; you don’t know what someone else is going through.”

Then one day I got a call from the school. The conversation started, “This is the school counselor, and I’m calling about your daughter. Everything is okay….”

My heart was racing. I have never been called by the school for my child acting up. I have never been called by the school about any of my children.

The call continued, “some of your daughter’s peers brought it to my attention that there is a child who has been giving your daughter attention.”

I listened as she revealed what my daughter’s peers has [have] told her.

Then it hit me, “My daughter has a stalker!”

I asked her to tell me who this child was, but by law, she could not.

I said, “How about I give you a name, and you tell me if I’m right?”

She could not.

I knew this child.