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for larger version       First Experience With Bullies I had my first experience with bullying yesterday, September 24, at Riis Park. I brought my twin 18- monthold girls to the playground and met up with some moms from the area. All was well until two cars pulled into the lot and three children ran out. Two boys around 3 years old and a girl around 2 years of age. One of the mothers had another child in the carriage. The children ran amuck! I should have known then something was going to happen. It started with one of my daughters sitting in a play structure drinking her juice. The three children kept nudging her and telling her to leave; the moms, by the way, were sitting on the bench. I removed my child and set her to chasing bubbles blown by our neighbor. The two little boys also came to chase bubbles. They made a "gun" with their fingers and started popping the bubbles with their "gun". They then turned to my child and started pointing in her face and yelling. They continued yelling louder and pointing their fingers closer and closer to her face! They were not reprimanded in any way by their moms; it was I who told them to stop and again, removed my child. Then, the three children took toy shovels and rakes brought down by one of the moms in our group to be shared among the children. My daughter, enjoying the company of new children, approached them smiling and clapping (she's 18 months old!) They proceeded to point these toy shovels and rakes at her as if they were going to poke her. At this point one of the moms did tell them to play nice. They began playing peek-aboo. My daughter was laughing and clapping, playing with her new "friends". Since the mother was there, I turned for a moment to check on my other daughter. No sooner had I turned, when the mother walked out of the play structure with my crying daughter in hand. She told me my daughter was not hit with the shovel. Small consolation considering she had sand in her face, hair and down her shirt. I saw no consequences for the children. I DO realize these are children and that I may be overly sensitive, but what is this world coming to, when you have to worry about 3-year-old bullies?
KAY SULLIVAN
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