Thai mum’s advice on handling bullying praised by parents online

A three year old girl returned from school in tears, asking her mother if she could fight back when being hit. Her mother’s response was praised online and encouraged her to seek help from teachers instead of retaliation.

The story, shared by the girl’s family, detailed an incident involving Li (a pseudonym) and her daughter, who recently started kindergarten. One day, upon picking her up from school, Li noticed her daughter crying and asked what had happened. After some coaxing, the child asked, “Can I stay home from school tomorrow?”

The mother, sensing a problem, gently inquired further. The daughter revealed she was often hit by a classmate and had been struck on the head with a toy that day. She then asked, “Mummy, when I get hit, can I hit back?”

Li, deeply pained by the news of her daughter being bullied, had always prioritised her children’s education and taught her youngest not to steal toys or food and to avoid fights. She never imagined her child would become a victim in the classroom. Despite her initial distress, Li composed herself and provided a thoughtful response.

“Are you sure you want to fight with your classmate? You might get hurt even more. What I want you to remember is that fighting back is not the best way to solve problems. But I don’t want you to just endure it either. If something like this happens again, tell your teacher.”

This story, once shared on social media, garnered significant attention from parents. Li’s response was widely praised for its wisdom. She acknowledged her child’s suffering but also rejected the idea of her daughter using violence, instead promoting seeking support from adults.

Social activities

As children engage in social activities at school, they may encounter bullying. Some parents teach their children to ignore such issues, which can lead to long-term psychological harm, damaging their self-confidence and leaving them unsure of how to protect themselves.

Conversely, some parents encourage their children to fight back, but violence is not an effective solution. It often escalates tensions and can lead to further isolation for the child.

In another related story, a four-year-old secretly took sweets from a supermarket and the store imposed a tenfold fine. The mother, however, refused to pay, and her reasons resonated with everyone.

Additionally, a five-year-old boy who fought with a friend was taught by his father to accept the consequences maturely, which left his mother amused, reported Sanook.