Retraction - Coach Bully

May 8, 2012

I guess people do read my blog!  And I have to print my first retraction.  Apparently Coach Bully isn't a coach at all.  Just a fellow softball parent, like myself.  I apologize to all coaches out there.  I also must say that since this person was just a parent, he was volunteering his personal time to help out at a practice - which is honorable.  What I think he, and others, may not understand is how bullying can affect a person.

Here's a great illustration:

Take a piece of paper and crumple it up, stamp on it and really mess it up but do not rip it.  Now  unfold the paper, smooth it out and see how scarred and dirty it is.  Tell the paper you're sorry.  Even though you say you're sorry and try to fix the paper, there are scars left behind.  And those scars will never go away no matter how hard you try to fix it.  This is what happens when a person bullies another, they may say they’re sorry but the scars are there forever.

Now I don't think 4 minutes of crumple has really scarred my daughter and I do think that saying sorry is a great start in all matters of hurt feelings!  What I do hope is everyone will have a better understanding that all the time in the world may not take away the scars from negative words and we should all take a few seconds to think before speaking, ensuring that we are building up rather than tearing down.  We will keep praying for Parent Bully.