Bullies

I hate bullies.

I've never met so many kids I didn't like before moving here.

I think if my kids could somehow laugh it off and not get so affected, the bullies would find it a lot harder to pick on them. (I wish I had a video of someone role-playing getting victimized, and then role-playing the same situation where they are able to let words roll off their back and leave the bullies to their own puny, lame-o selves, actually. It would show the difference I wish I could explain) Still, wanting to emotionally fortify your kids does not mean it is your kids' fault when a bully acts mean. I'd like to grind their little faces into the snow, but that would be bullying back now, wouldn't it?

This is actually the second time in two days. Today's bullies are known elements. The ones from yesterday I've never seen before--but one followed my kids and their visiting (German) friends home, all the way into our stairwell, where we found him and dismissed him.

And no, the b-word is not a bad word in Germany. I could say a lot about history right now, but I'm trying really, really hard not to.