How much do you really know about cyberbullying?

The term “cyberbullying” first appeared in 1998 and refers to bullying that takes place online through digital platforms. In simple terms, cyberbullying is bullying that follows someone wherever they go, through phones, tablets, computers, and social media.

Unlike playground bullying, cyberbullying leaves digital footprints. Old posts, comments, and messages can resurface years later, which is why you may hear about celebrities or public figures being held accountable for harmful content shared early in the internet age.

As technology has evolved, cyberbullying has increased. Unfortunately, laws and protections have struggled to keep up.

The Issue: Why Cyberbullying Is Especially Dangerous

Cyberbullying is not just online teasing. It is repeated behavior intended to shame, humiliate, threaten, or emotionally harm someone.

It is complex, constantly evolving, and often difficult to regulate or define legally. In the United States and...

The practice of eliminating repetitive “sorry” statements might not seem so harmful, or important, but hear me out. 

Research finds that women have a lower offense threshold, meaning that they tend to apologize significantly more than men.

This matters a lot because when women don’t say sorry at all or as much, they are perceived as too cold, not nice, b*!chy, or bossy. 

Always saying sorry is also used as a way to deflect tension and awkwardness and it is also used as a way to show uncertainty or self-doubt. 

Most importantly, when people overuse the word “sorry”, really apologies come off as insincere or meaningless. 

Eliminating this habit will help you become more assertive, develop a strong voice and increase your confidence. On a bigger scale, you will help change society’s view of what assertive women are like, and believe it or not, this helps us get closer to being treated equally.

So, here are some examples of how people overuse “sorry” and how you can reword the statem...

Bullying can leave deep emotional and physical scars and sometimes parents don’t realize it’s happening until the damage is already severe.

Recently, a parent shared her story. She had no idea her child was being bullied consistently for over a year. By the time she discovered the truth, her child was experiencing panic attacks, insomnia, frequent illness, and extreme anxiety about attending school.

Even more heartbreaking, some teachers had been part of the bullying.

This story is a powerful reminder: parents must actively listen, observe, and ask the right questions to protect their children.

Why Hidden Bullying Can Go Unnoticed

Children often hide bullying for many reasons:

• Fear of retaliation or escalating the situation
• Feeling ashamed or embarrassed
• Not knowing how to explain the problem
• Assuming adults won’t understand or help

Parents may also misread early warning signs or downplay incidents, thinking they aren’t “serious enough.” Unfortunately, bullying can esc...

It’s been a heavy week, hasn’t it? 

The news can be overwhelming for all of us. Recent events like the tragic shootings in Uvalde, Texas highlight how heavy the headlines can feel. Parents often feel the urge to protect their children by shielding them from the news. While this instinct comes from love, it’s important to remember: children are already aware of what’s happening, often through social media or conversations with peers.

Even when kids seem calm, they may carry fears and confusion. Checking in with them regularly helps ensure they feel safe, heard, and supported.

Why Talking About World Problems Matters

Children are naturally curious about the world. Ignoring difficult topics does not make them safer, it can lead to misinformation, heightened anxiety, and feelings of isolation.

When parents and guardians talk openly, they provide:

• Clarity – helping children separate fact from rumor
• Reassurance – showing that adults are actively thinking about safety
• Empowerment – ...

I try to be as involved as possible in my children’s lives. I do not accept short answers when I ask them how their day has gone. I try to have conversations with them to know what’s really been going on in their lives, but it's not always so easy. 

They are in their teens and sometimes, sharing about their lives is NOT something they're interested in doing.

Try A Different Approach

Since kids can be really stubborn about opening up, I've had to learn when to leave them alone and when to get them to engage without them realizing that they're doing it. 

It has to be subtle and all about them!

For example, this morning, my younger child was very cranky and didn't want to talk. As I drove her to school, I asked her if she knew what was making her feel cranky. Of course, she gave me the usual teen answer, "I dunno". 

Since I didn't want her to go off to school feeling down, I started telling her that I imagine that if her favorite stuffed animal were to come alive as all the toys did...

I recently spoke with a woman who had just moved to the U.S. She’d visited here for years and even attended university stateside—but she was shocked to learn how much power parents can have in the public school system… and how often we don’t use it.

She said, “I’m surprised parents are allowed to ask the schools so many questions. And even more surprised that they don’t.”

That moment reminded me: the issue isn’t that parents don’t care—it’s that they often don’t know what they’re allowed to ask.

Let’s change that.

Below are the questions and action steps every parent—whether your child is in a public or private school—should know. You can take control of your child’s education. Here’s how.

🧠 What Every Parent Can Ask the School (And Should)

✅ 1. Request Meeting Minutes from Any Parent Group

You have the right to ask for meeting notes from:

• PTA/PTO (Parent-Teacher groups)
• ELAC (English Learner Advisory Committee)
• School Site Council (SSC)
• African American Committees, or ...

Some parents do what they think will help stop it, not realizing their actions can make the situation worse. 

That’s what happened to a mother who decided to directly speak to her child’s bully. 

Perhaps she wasn’t aware that boarding a school bus was considered trespassing. That’s reason enough for her to be arrested or fined (depending on the state laws). 

But this mother went further. She began verbally assaulting the 11-year old child and she ended up fighting the child (physical assault). 

The whole thing was caught on video. But, let’s assume the child hit her first. As an adult, what are the chances that the justice system will side with the mother? 

You see, I have read many news articles about similar situations because, in my opinion, parents are not well aware of efficient ways to manage bullying situations involving their children and schools are not taking bullying complaints seriously enough. 

This is why bullying awareness and prevention education needs to be offer...

When I tell people that I’m a parenting coach who specializes in anti-bullying education, people ask “what does an anti-bullying coach do??” and “Oh, that’s a thing now?”

Yes, LOL! It’s a thing. I’ve been doing this work for five years so far and I LOVE IT! 

I decided to help parents in their journey because parenting hasn’t been so easy for me and I know that I’m not alone. Like many parents, I have had moments when I needed to ask questions but I felt that I couldn’t go to a friend or family member for an honest, unbiased answer or criticism of my kids or my husband and I’s parenting skills. 

There’s still a lot of stigma in society about parents reaching out for help. It doesn’t make sense to me because we get help for everything else in life, so, why would parenting be any different? 

There are also lots of advantages to going to a parenting coach. 

Coaches are people who give feedback without judgment, they don’t have personal knowledge of your life that can get in the way of...