Wow this Mother should be ashamed for telling the mother of the young girl she could recommend online articles to build her Daughters confidence.
She’s allowing her son to go down the bullying path. If he has nothing nice to say then he should be taught to keep quiet!

I think the mother also needs a talking to.
Uneducated and ignorant.

The boys mum sure is oblivious to the long term affect on “picking” on someone if not addressed sooner to the child. the earlier they learn respect and whats appropriate or inappropriate, the better structured they kids are when they grow up.
We all know, kids go through phases and sometimes becoming a bully is a phase due to not understanding difference in culture/clothing/etc, or they are jealous or they want to act cool to make friends… Its not ok and this is when the mum of a boy had a great opportunity of taking the feedback of her son and teach him that or ask, why he picked on the girl’s lunch.
The mother of the daughter had every right to bring up the concern and yes, she will her daughter about how to deal with bullies or insecure moments cause to be honest, can’t cotton wool them as they will be insecure. As the daughter and the son grow up, they will learn how the world really works. Respect is the important issue here. Kids will be kids yes but there is enough is enough.
I have an almost 10yo son with ASD, who has laughed or mocked others cause he didn’t understand… We stomped that habit out real quick and his been such a better kid to not judge by others. He will ask in private if he isnt sure and that is clearly how important it is to teach respect young.

Wow the mum of the boy missed a fantastic learning opportunity!!! There is nothing wrong with him noticing the girl’s lunch is different to his own and being curious and asking questions is great. What a way for her to teach him about other cultures and expand his knowledge!
She is saying the girl will have to grow up being used to getting bullied, no your son should grow up understanding everyone being different and appreciating these differences!

Jeeze! It’s definately up to parents to teach their kids openness, tolerance and being aware of how their words can affect others. Sure you can think that others food/ culture/ traditions are ‘weird’/ exotic/ different to your own. But how about learning about it, trying the food and then you’re more worldly and experienced and you might find something you share in common and something new you like!

Personally I think that it’s the parents responsibility to teach their child to respect all.

Personally I would prefer to teach my child tolerance, respect and inclusion towards differences in culture, foods and other traditions. Not saying that the child needs to be punished

It’s all in the delivery. Teach your son to be respectful but do not quash his right to have his own opinions and voice them. The little girl should learn to accept different opinions and rather than get upset, deal with it in a respectful manner. Too many kids these days are being taught to take offence at anything that is not their norm. Teach your kids to adapt, adjust, accept or walk away. What is the saying…’Sticks and stones…’ Build strong people parents, not whingers

The boy is totally at fault. You should be raising kids to not say anything if you’ve got nothing nice to say.

I got teased for the food I use to bring to school by a boy I had to do school with for 6 years in my class. I hated being part of my culture and wanted boring sandwiches that I actually didn’t like. As adults we bumped into each other and he actually apologised and explained he’d always been so jealous of my Asian lunches.

As a primary school teacher I always use this as a teaching opportunity. Mocking different foods, pronunciation of words, accents etc. I say is not on because this is part of who this person is. Their culture would disappear, they would disappear if they tried to be like everyone else. It’s all part of being unique and different.

The way the mum could’ve approached the other mum could’ve been different. Maybe not ‘respect’ being the aim but just having a conversation with her son about how he will meet different people with different backgrounds and that just some people do things a different way. That in certain countries HER food is considered common and his food isn’t. How would he feel if he was teased for his food? There are so many missed teaching opportunities from both parties.

Children do need to be taught emotional intelligence and have empathy for others. This is an excellent teaching opportunity. The child needs to be taught how to be sensitive to the feelings of others.

Sounds like they could all have a conversation together to explore the different foods, make it a fun learning experience for all and not one person should do this and the other should do that.

Stop making excuses for your child and teach them to be respectful of others. You are teaching him he can say whatever he wants and that’s not the case.

• • 
  • • mom93821 replied
    • 01 Mar 2023 , 7:13 am

  ---

  Indeed, words are powerful and need to be used wisely.

Calling someone’s choices weird is just not very nice. Perhaps she could help her son to embrace differences rather than be horrible to be people who are different in whichever way.

This mum is not seeing the bigger picture. Today it is someone’s lunch that it is ‘weird’, tomorrow it is someone’s clothes, or their skin colour, or their religion, or later their gender and sexuality. Her son needs to be told that life is full of differences and that just because something is new or unusual to you, doesn’t mean that it is weird or wrong. The mother needs to take the opportunity to teach her son an important life lesson.

Sorry you are a bit of an Ahole. You could have used this as a teaching opportunity to teach about world foods, accepting everyone that is different around us, ect ect. Instead you victim blamed and let your child get away with making a young kid feel bad about themselves.

If you gave me that for free I would want a refund. Your son is doing just fine let him form his own opinions he is not doing anything wrong.

Sounds kind of like the other mum is racist. I don’t think it’s okay to make negative comments about someone else’s lunch just because it’s not the norm. The mum should be teaching her child to be respectful towards different cultures.

I mean passive aggressive much sending articles about building confidence to the other mum? How hard is it to tell your kid: different countries/cultures have different eating habits. Instead of commenting just ask why to the girl? We can learn so much by being kind instead of telling people they’re weird!

Personally I think the whole thing is ridiculous both parties need to reevaluate their reactions.