Why I Love Mondays

In the business world (and school world!) Mondays get a lot of flak. It is the least favorite day of nearly everyone's week, with apparent good reason. Who wants to wake up early and hit the road to go back to work after a lovely weekend, full of relaxation and fun?

Well, me.

Since the middle of March, right around spring break, I have been working with local elementary school SACC programs to spread the word about anti-bullying. Luckily for me, the company I work for has a strong anti-bullying curriculum that focuses on addressing the problem and solving it without making it worse, and I have been blessed to be able to share this message (free of cost) with literally hundreds of children. The great thing about Mondays, and why I love them, is elementary schools let out at 1:25 on Monday afternoon. For the SACC participants, these leaves extra time for arts & crafts, stories, and make believe with other children. And occasionally a special guest, like me :) So far I have been to about 10, with a few more before the end-of-the-year bedlam hits with full force. Because Monday has more time than any other afternoon, it is ideal for our 30 minute talk and a greater number of children are around to hear the important message. The more children that hear it, the more lives we can touch to stop bullying and its effect.

We discuss what bullies look like, and why they bully; we talk about how to ignore them and how to talk to them; we go over when it's time to tell an adult, and even how to pinpoint times we may accidentally bully someone. It is always great to see the teachers get into it, with head nodding and knowing looks. At one point I ask a few questions about possible bullying situations to the whole group, with everyone replying 'yes' or 'no', and the teachers are just as honest and outspoken as the children! It's always a fun time for me, and such an encouragement to see the children really listening. This past Monday afternoon I was out in the Herndon area, so if your child gets to participate in the wonderful SACC program, ask them if they got to do anything different Monday! You may get a lesson on how to stand up to bullies.