When our kids were younger we made a point of saying to them that we stick together as a family and do not pick on each other, this was part of our parenting strategy. The world can be a tough place, there may be bullies at school but home is a Safe Place. We support and encourage each other at home so that we can go out and face the world. We did not just talk about it but handed out discipline for anyone that violated that principal.

I read with interest the recent article about kids being bullied by siblings at home. Researchers found that bullying at home can have the same severe consequences as bullying at school. Science confirms what my mother’s heart already knew.

I often see kids that are bullied at school and they desperately need for home to be a place of restoration. A small comment from a stronger sibling can actually be the final knockout punch in a long day of difficult encounters. So parents; let’s not just walk away and “let the kids figure it out” but rather stay vigilant in keeping home a Safe Place.