Mama Bear and her cub!

I love this little cub!  I love his sweet and gentle spirit.  I love that he's obedient (most of the time), that he loves on me, even in front of school and classmates.  I love that he plays with any toddler that wants him to play with them.  I love that this boy is loved on by his teachers, peers, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.  I truly heart this little cub of mine.  This cub is 10 years old.  Only 10 years old.  I often look at him and expect him to behave like a "big boy", but what does that mean?  He is, after all, only 10 years old.  This little guy has been coming home crying to me about a boy at school that has been making him feel little.  Using unkind words to criticize and ridicule.  My cub cried to me in front of other kids telling me he couldn't take it anymore!  My heart ached.  I wanted to cry. My cub's had a rough year thus far, not because of punks like the boy, but because my cub struggles with so many learning disabilities.  My cub gives it his all, all the time and he is exhausted!  

My heart couldn't take it.  Not. This. Week.

  This boy (the one doing the picking on my cub) hasn't stopped for months.  And, I try to tell my cub to use his words and set this boy straight.  I try to teach my cub that it's okay to defend yourself when others get a laugh at your expense.  I realized that this boy that's been picking on my cub has also been picking on a lot of other boys.  That this boy brags about all sorts of things.  What I came to realize is that this boy (not my cub) is insecure and that all the material possessions can't change that.  I know this boy's parents and I know they wouldn't tolerate it, NOT ONE BIT!  So, this mama bear picked up the phone and called the boy's parents.  I told them about all the things that were going on.  I know these amazing, God-fearing parents and let me tell you - THEY TOOK CARE OF IT IMMEDIATELY!  When they asked why I didn't call sooner, my answer was that I wanted my cub to learn to take care of things on his own.  And, I gave it several months, but seeing my cub cry today, broke my heart.  

Why am I sharing this with you?  Because although it wasn't easy for me to call these parents, it was my duty.  My greatest job is to be the advocate for my child.  I knew it was probably hard for those parents to hear, but I also knew that if I didn't stand up for my child, this would continue and my little cub's heart might change from it.  Don't be afraid to put on your mama-bear gloves and fight for your child...it will be the hardest thing you have to do, but it will be worth it.