Cat's Eye

I LOVED Margaret Atwood's "Handmaid's Tale", but I have tried other books of her's (like "Blind Assassin" and "Moral Disorder") and didn't like them at all. I started to wonder...

Then I read this one and I LOVED it. Again, it's a story that chronicals a young girl's torments as a child and the dynamics of groups of girlfriends. The reader saw things through the naive and innocent eyes of the child in the story, but in the back of your mind, you really felt for her. It was heartbreaking to see some of the situations she walked right into and just put up with. I don't even think she was mature enough to realize the damage she was doing to herself, even later in life as an adult and a mother herself.

It really hit home with recent stories of a few of my students about being bullying. Some of the sweetest and nicest students I have in my classes put up with the nasty torture of their peers during the school day. They come to me, as some source of comfort (usually, more of just a sounding board or a friendly ear), but I feel powerless to help them. They don't want to stand up to their tormentors for fear of making things worse, and they also won't tell an adult (besides me) or let the adult tell an authority figure for fear of looking like a tattle-tale (and again, making things worse). Growing up is hard. I try to be the best support I can for these students without making things worse for them, but it's difficult. My only advice to them is that eventually, they get through this period of their life and it will all be in the past. What else can I do?

All I know is that I vow to raise my children to not only NOT be bullies, but to stand up as advocates for those who won't speak up for themselves AGAINST the bullies of the world. I want my children to be secure enough in themselves to know right from wrong, to make wise decisions and to stand up for the underdogs in society. At least, I hope I can do that! :)