Instagram mum Rachelle Rowlings: 'What I'll teach my son about bullying'

The other day a five-year-old boy told my son Roman he looked like a potato.

Although I’m fairly sure it’s not the worst thing he’ll be called in his life, it occurred to me that even though he may not have understood it, it was in some small form his first taste of bullying. He’s not even 2.

My first instinct was obviously to elbow this kid's jaw. My second was to cry.

But mainly because I never want him to feel an ounce of pain, physical or emotional. 

RELATED: Cyberbullying is a real problem that needs a real solution

Then, my third instinct was to teach him strength. If I can’t protect him from bullies, then I’ll simply teach him to rise above it.

We’ve all either been bullied, or been the bully. It’s not until we are well into our adult life that we realise how meaningless it all was; that the bullies themselves are the most insecure, unsure, weak humans of all. But as children, we aren’t that wise - or strong.

In saying that, I hope to teach Roman kindness so in turn, he will also not be the bully.

I thought the hardest job as a parent would be the sleepless nights, the endless colds, the tantrums and the grazed knees.

I never imagined that I would be entrusted to teach another human being to believe in themselves, to never let anyone make them feel worthless and to never be the person to make another feel inadequate.

LISTEN: The Honey Mums podcast on how we can teach kids to stand up against bullies. (Post continues.)

In a world where cruel words can be expelled so easily via a keyboard from bullies hidden behind an invisible profile, there is no escape for our babies. So it is our job to be their strength when they’re weak, their biggest fans when they’re deflated, and their voice of reason in a world so tainted by insecurity, jealousy and fear. 

It's a gargantuan job that absolutely terrifies the shit out of me, but one that I’ll work on for the rest of my life.