holllllaaaaa - Thank you so so much for including me in your discussion! I love momversation and was phyched to see my comment used - thank you, alice - it really was a great topic and I was completely stunned to see how many DIFFERENT opinions there were on this - I thought all moms were the same on this one: no hitting ever, keep your hands to yourself - I was totally proved wrong !

This is such an important and difficult topic, thanks for addressing it. I'm not sure where I stand on the best way to react to it, I just think every situation is different but we do have to be careful in what coping methods we teach our children. Bullying does not end on the playground and not everyone grows out of it.

i love momversation

Thanks for including me ladies! As always, great conversation.

True story: the kids who bullied me in school have little or no recollection of it as adults. I've spoken to several individuals who have in one way or another initiated friendly contact with me after twenty, twenty-five years, and are shocked and mortified at my recollections. One guy was so upset at what he did that he apologized IN PERSON, and made it his penance to ensure that his sons are raised never to bully, and never to leave someone with such memories. Others just plain don't remember, don't get it, never will, and I haven't tried to talk with them about their bullying. It's interesting, though, that these particular individuals are now drawn to me as a successful, charming woman. One or two have hit on me. They apparently don't remember what a misfit I was and how they excluded or humiliated me. I seriously doubt they've lost any sleep, but others who have read about it in my book have written to say, "WEREN'T THEY AWFUL? I'm so glad you talked about it. They were assholes." So, we can hope for some to grow up and regret their actions enough to prevent it in the next generation, but others will be forever oblivious of their own impact on others' lives.