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What do you do when you find out your kid bullied someone<\/a>? For many parents, the first step is forcing an apology<\/a>. While this response is of course warranted, is it really effective? Some might argue that there are more constructive ways of handling the situation that teach a kid not only what they did wrong, but how to make things right again. <\/p>\n Single dad<\/a> Patrick Forseth<\/a> recently shared how he made a truly teachable moment out of his son, Lincoln, getting into trouble for bullying. Rather than forcing an apology, Forseth made sure his son was actively part of a solution. <\/p>\n The thought process behind his decision, which he explained in a now-viral TikTok<\/a> video, is both simple and somewhat radical compared to how many parents have been encouraged to handle similar situations.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI got an email a few days ago from my 9-year-old son’s teacher that he had done a \u2018prank\u2019 to a fellow classmate and it ended up embarrassing the classmate and hurt his feelings,\u201d the video begins.<\/p>\n At this point, Forseth doesn\u2019t split hairs. \u201cI don’t care who you are, that’s bullying,\u201d he said. \u201cIf you do something to somebody that you know has the potential end result of them being embarrassed in front of a class or hurt\u2014you\u2019re bullying.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n So, Forseth and Lincoln sat down for a long talk (a talk, not a lecture) about appropriate punishment and how it would have felt to be on the receiving end of such a prank.<\/p>\n From there, Forseth told his son that he<\/em> would decide how to make things right, making it a masterclass in taking true accountability.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI demanded nothing out of him. I demanded no apology, I demanded no apology to the teacher,\u201d he continued, adding, \u201cI told him that we have the opportunity to go back and make things right. We can’t take things back, but we can try to correct things and look for forgiveness.\u201d <\/p>\n <\/p>\n So what did Lincoln do? He went back to his school and actually talked to the other boy he pranked. After learning that they shared a love of Pok\u00e9mon, he then went home to retrieve two of his favorite Pok\u00e9mon cards as a peace offering, complete with a freshly cleaned case.<\/p>\n Lincoln would end up sharing with his dad that the other boy was so moved by the gesture that he would end up hugging him. <\/p>\n \u201cI just want to encourage all parents to talk to your kids,\u201d Forseth concluded. \u201cLet’s try to avoid just the swat on the butt [and] send them to their room. Doesn’t teach them anything.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In Forseth\u2019s opinion, kids get far more insight by figuring out how to resolve a problem themselves. \u201cThat’s what they’re actually going to face in the real world once they move out of our nests.\u201d<\/p>\n
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