Upset by parental ‘bullying’

I feel like I want to go up to a certain woman in town, grab her arm and shake her. Boy, do I feel like a bully, but I can’t stand to see her bully her daughter.

The media talks about bullies in school, but here I see a master bully in the form of a mother. The poor girl just takes it, assumes a humble demeanor and accepts it as though she deserved it, because she does not have the mental means to stand up for herself. It frustrates me to be in the position of observer who has her hands tied and cannot take this woman aside and tell her how vulgar she comes across to me, but most importantly, how damaging she is to her young adult daughter.

She throws orders to her daughter. She seems to resent what her daughter is and tries to teach her daughter how to behave as an adult by throwing gruff orders at her and even pushing her seat in when she sits down. She condescendingly corrects her in front of others. Instead of learning to be self-confident, this poor girl is learning to please mommy and that as hard as she tries, she will never succeed.

My autistic nephew is blessed with two parents who know how to guide him with effective tough love and understanding. They respect him as an individual. They do not bully him. When they go out with him, they are not embarrassed, but enjoy his company.

Perhaps I should mind my own business, but this bullying is so obvious and evident to me. I should not cast stones of judgment, but I can’t help seeing those invisible stones of resentment being thrown at a beautiful young person by a bully of a mother.

A. Steckley

Bolton