Last Updated on August 29, 2018
You may think your child is not a bully because he or she does not pick on others. But do they ignore others? That can be a form of bullying too.
I have spent a few years as a substitute teacher and I have consistently observed the ignored in the room and quite frankly it breaks my heart. So much so that I spent some time writing a little essay based on my observations.
The Ignored Teen
Her alarm goes off, she hits snooze and snuggles in a little deeper, the bed is safe and warm and away from eyes and opinions never uttered, but understood through the silence.
Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.
Heavy sigh … she realizes she has to get up – no matter her desire to remain hermit-like safe. She moves silently through the rooms one enters to ready themselves for the day and then out the door – all the while in silence.
No words of encouragement, no looks of adoration and love, no feeling safe, or even seen, in this world.
The pressure begins to creep its way into her thoughts and take on the physical manifestations that are so apparent but discreetly disregarded.
Her daily prison awaits her and she walks through the school hallways with her head down, her shoulders slumped, conveniently and unduly overlooked. For others to look would require involvement, involvement sometimes gets messy and messy takes precious time. Time is a commodity too few are willing to give.
The sound of laughter and raucous activity fill the hallways, but bounce around her form without penetration, for such revelry is discarded like trash by her.
To see it as unneeded and unwanted is much safer than longing to have that which is never offered.
There are many other young voices skilled and adept at vying for attention and for one who is hiding under a slender bent neck, untrimmed bangs and over sized clothing it is comfortable to remain unnoticed.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but beauty trapped behind antipathy for oneself can never be found because the beholder’s eyes opportunely scan over one who is so easy to ignore and desires to remain unseen.
She feels alone, because she is alone and you are partly to blame if you do not take the time to engage her and ultimately expose her to her own beauty.
Everyday in our schools the ignored teen is there. Are your kids looking for her?
I hope you will discuss with your children the importance of reaching out to other students. Especially those who seem to spend a lot of time alone at school, at church, or anywhere students gather.
Adults who spend time with students need to constantly be on the look out for the unnoticed or the loaners and include them. We need to intentionally encourage others to do the same.
Tracey Eyster is the Founder of MomLife Today and the annual Mom Camp event. Her book Be The Mom, LifeWay Bible Study Beautiful Mess and speaking engagements have allowed her the privilege of speaking into the lives of women sharing what God is teaching her. “Be intentional. Be relational. Be selfless.” In a nutshell, that’s her life and message. Tracey has been a mom since 1993 and she and Bill have been married for over 30 years.
A very appropriate topic in our culture today. However, I want to suggest that the quiet child could be very shy or a person who doesn’t have good social behavior patterns.
Thank you for sharing Nell! I get shy, I used to be painfully shy. Regardless of why a child is “left out” my heart here is to ask others to notice, reach out and be kind. I observe that far too often children are overlooked or ignored and that sends them deeper into aloneness. Isolation can be a tool of the enemy. it could just be that other children have never been taught to notice. I hope and pray parents help their children learn to “notice” be kind and reach out beyond the “normal” circle.
This is great food for thought, Tracey. I agree. Too many kids are ignored. Even as adults, we do it to other kids and adults all the time. I think seniors are often ignored, too, or at least marginalized. SIGH.
Thanks for bringing us awareness on this topic. I think Jesus went out of his way to talk to some very ignored people, like the woman at the well. I need to learn from His example, yes?
Hugs to you!