The Ups and Downs
'My Interview with my Aunt'
Dealing with the hardships
School bullying in the United States has been a problem for such a long time. Teachers and parents have tried to conquer it, but kids, mostly teens, disobey and keep implementing it through the internet or physical harassment.
Girls bullying has been the most aggressive, not physical, online. Cyber bullying- the use of electronic communication to bully a person, typically by sending messages of an intimidating or threatening nature. Cyberbullying can happen 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and reach a kid even when she is alone. It can happen any time of the day or night. And you know how girls take everything to a worse level? Well, that’s exactly what they did. If someone told them that their hair was ugly, or worn out, they may cut it off. If someone told them they dressed like a grandma, they may cut their clothes so basically there was nothing there. Overall, girls bullying is definitely unusual, but it hurts. Badly.
On the other hand, boys bully the way you may think. In a movie with the big guy who steal’s your lunch money and bullies the little nerd with glasses. Boys are more “acceptive” of bullying in the way that they get over it much more easily than girls. They boys punch each other in the face, and go on in life. Like it never happened. 61% of students said they are scared to go to school because they have been victims of physical abuse from boys.
A Little Piece of My Interview
My aunt Annie has really struggled in her life because she grew up with a mom who is disabled. Since her mom lived with a horrible disability that no doctor knows, it deterred Annie from playing and she ended up being bullied a great deal. Instead she had to worry about parental jobs like grocery shopping versus completing homework; duties a kid should not worry about. Despite the challenges, Annie feels that her mom made her who she is today. If her mother wasn’t disabled, then her and her kids wouldn’t have the personality and strength they have today. Please take a moment to listen about the hardships my aunt endured.
Now You Can Follow Along
Emma:
How was it like growing up with you mom with her disability?
Annie:
It was hard because I had to take on adult world. And do a lot. I had to do everything because she had the mentality of a 12 year old. And even though we had help, I had to take on the world like a parent, basically.
Emma:
So then how did you feel?
Annie:
It was difficult because I would be at school and be thinking about going to the grocery store and things that a kid shouldn’t be worrying about.
Emma:
What do you think the hardest year for you was with your mom?
Annie:
The hardest year for me was probably when my brother went to college. I felt alone.
Emma:
Do you think your life would have been different if you didn’t have a care-giver? Would it be a lot harder?
Annie:
Ya because she had to do a lot, but she couldn’t drive or anything. Either did I or anything when I was younger. We had to take taxis all around.
Emma:
Did you ever have friends over or anything?
Annie:
Ya i did. I just felt embarrassed. But she did her best to raise us. She tried and did everything she could to her capability. She wasn’t able to provide for us emotionally, but she provided everything financially for us because her parents left her money. She bought us everything needed to grow up in highland park. And to have a good education.
Emma:
Were you ever teased or bullied because of your mom?
Annie:
We were teased a lot because of my mom. And my brother too. He was smaller than me so I would always have to help him get out of fights. That was probably the hardest part of growing up because kids are mean and so kids teased us a lot because my mom was different.
Emma:
I your mom didn’t have her disability, do you think your life would have been completely different? Do you think you could have still done some of the things you have done today?
Annie:
I just think I wouldn’t have such empathy and I think because of my mom, I became a better person. And I think my kids are better for that too.An interview to remeber
A Girl's Life
What do you think a 12-year old girl should worry about? Doing well in school and worrying if there makeup is ruined. Right? Not for this girl named Ann. Ann had to worry about getting groceries, paying the bills, and taking care of her disabled mom. Not about makeup, popularity, or good grades. She had to struggle her whole life through bullying and dealing with being alone.
Even though she had a brother, she still felt alone because she had no one to talk to about her problems. No one knew what the disability was and Ann didn’t really know how to help other than doing the dishes and spoon feeding her mom.
According to the Women’s and Children Health Network, 11 to 12 year old girls should worry about confidence, puberty, and friend groups. This can be a difficult time for some parents, particularly mothers, as their child becomes more independent and less welcoming to the parents. But for Ann’s mom, she couldn’t really be involved in Ann’s life because of her disability. Even though she tried to help as much as she could, it just wasn’t the same having a caregiver like a mom rather than the mother that actually gave birth to you.
Physically Mean
Guys have an easier time handling bullying, that does not mean it's still ok. Speak up.
Girls Are Mean
Don't be a bystander to girls gossip. Don't just watch it happen. Help out.
Online Drama
By: Emma Olson
Works Cited
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