I just watched the film, Alice and Wonderland, with my grandchildren. What a powerful message the children’s story presents about friendship and standing up to bullying. The queen in the film reminded me of some of the politicians and media personalities of  today.

To me the ugliness of the bully personality is at risk. Why? Because the courageous self esteem it takes to stand up to a bully will always win out. I often wonder why everyone can’t work together in a more civilized manner as role models for our children. I remember twice being bullied as a child. Though it was decades ago, I still remember the hurt and anquish it caused. 

On our TV’s and cell phones we are bombarded with the criticizing and name calling of others that depicts these despicable traits of the bullies who, to me, are all cowards. As in Alice In Wonderland, the queen doesn’t win in the end. Alice ends up with the friendships and the powerful courage needed to thwart the Queen.

I write novels about angels. And I’m happy to say, in my fantasy writing mind, there is always a bully character. But in every one of the novels, the bully learns a lesson and ultimately moves in a new direction towards kindness. The possibility of change is always present. Every one of us has the power to stop the bully in their tracks and to teach them by our actions.

Psychologists can answer why human bullies become bullies. I only know that I happily watch my own children teach their children how to act, how to care for others in a kind way. Teaching starts with the parents. Being a role model of  kindness for our kids matters and could change everything.

I will keep on writing the bully into my stories and pray with hopes and dreams in tact that one day real bullies will take a look in the mirror and find their own aha moment. Will they learn there’s strength in love and conviction? Will they learn there’s courage in standing up for oneself and in standing up for the vulnerable ones, our children?

The queen in Alice In Wonderland, ended up friendless. Actually, if she was a real person, I’d feel sorry for her. The bullies in the world are missing the sheer joy that being kind can bring. That’s why the bully never wins. The words joy and kindness are not included in the definition of a bully .

Bullying is hurting our children and we can all do something about it. We realize our children are watching and listening to bullies on TV, in schools and neighborhoods. Recently, I spoke at Desert Foothills Library in Arizona about my writing the Mystic Bay Series and my memoir Special Needs Children The Angels On My Shoulder. All my books include thwarting bullying as a theme.

A wonderful family came late to hear my talk. As I sat with them after the others had left telling them about the books, the mother stated, “The Archangel Michael sent our family to hear you speak about angels.” She told me she wants to write about angels and I encouraged her to keep her dream of writing alive. Then my daughter called. Our grandson is learning a most valuable lesson in his kindergarten. The teacher’s lesson is Fill your bucket with kindness? Isn’t that a wonderful message for young ones to learn? Kindness is healing. We can reach our children by being true examples of kindness ourselves. Bullying never wins. Let’s ask the angels to help us. I’m sure they’ll listen.

I posted my latest YouTube titled, Bullying Hurts Children. A song from a musical always enters my mind when I think of the hurt bullying causes children. ‘Careful what you say, children will listen. Careful what you say, children will see.’ Our children are our precious ones, we are their voices. We need to protect children by being role models. My late daughter, Kate, was bullied by a girl in our neighborhood years ago. I immediately called the little girl’s mother. I’m sure I was unpopular with the mother from then on but my goal was to protect my child. Children need our examples of kindness and empathy not the bullying we see on social media, TV and in schools and our neighborhoods. Of course, the bully never wins because they themselves are hurt too.

In my third in the Mystic Bay Series called, Town of Angels, Klaus Waxman, a bully, comes to town to reap havoc and mock the angels sightings in town. Children with special needs have seen angels and the whole town is jubilant and hopeful that angels are near. But bully, Klaus, is taught lessons in humanity by the indomitable Madam Norma, the oldest and wisest psychic in town. Klaus changes for the better with kind words and counseling. All bullies could change if helped like this along the way.

This is my prayer for the children of the world, that we, the grown-ups of the world, would see our way to help stop abusive bullying. Prayers are hopes and dreams, and if we all work together, what a wonderful world it would be for our children.