When I was a child, I was… “fluffy,” “chunky,” “plump,” or “hefty.” Whatever word you use, I carried more than my optimum weight. Food was, and still is, a big part of family life. For my mom, cooking was a way of showing love. Eating her food was my way of showing love back.
However, when at school, I faced the singsong voices of classmates chanting, “Fatty, fatty two by four, can’t get through the cellar door.” By today’s standards, it might seem mild. But decades later, I can still picture the time, the place, and the faces. Bullying leaves a mark.
Since 2018, Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch has observed National Bullying Prevention Month each October. This year, on October 8, we’ll celebrate our own “Bee Kind Day” under the theme, "Everyone Has a Story." Children, staff, teachers, board members, thrift store workers, and volunteers will wear matching shirts that read, “Bee Kind. Everyone Has a Story.” Guest speakers will share with our children, and together we’ll pledge to stand against bullying—in person, online, and in every corner of life.
This focus matters deeply. Every child in our care has been touched by bullying—some as victims, some as aggressors, most as both. Children who are demeaned at home often carry that pain outward. As we’ve seen too often in national headlines, untreated bullying can have tragic consequences. The damage is real and lasting, even when the bully is a child themselves.
But one day, or even one month, isn’t enough. In the weeks leading up to Bee Kind Day, our trained staff invite children to reflect privately and discuss in groups questions like:
- Why is it important to stand up against bullying?
- How has bullying affected your life or the lives of those close to you?
- What does it mean to be kind?
- How can we raise awareness about bullying prevention?
These conversations make the issue personal. For many of our kids, bullying has always been “normal.” By reflecting, they begin to recognize its impact and imagine a different way forward.
I tried answering the questions myself, and they gave me pause. They reminded me that the ways to be kind are limitless.
As we prepare for Bee Kind Day, I invite you to also reflect on the questions. Share kindness wherever you go. And please, keep our children and staff at Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch in your prayers.
In His love,
Joy Ryan, President/CEO
Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch
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