How can I help my 8 yo stand up for himself?
My son is 8 years old, he is the most empathetic and compassionate person I’ve ever known but this seems to come with a price that he doesn’t stand up for himself when his friends/peers push his boundaries and play becomes bullying.
We’ve tried talking to him on multiple occasions. He’s trained in MMA and Brazilian Jui Jitsu, but if his friends are going too far he is ok at telling them that but beyond this if they don’t stop he simply says he doesn’t want to hurt them so he’d rather run away, but that is turning him into a victim and his friends antagonise this at times. I am very non violent but I’m at the point where I’d actually be so proud if he lashed out a bit to let his friends know they can’t push him around.
I don’t know if there’s a way we can get through to him that we are not trying? He is home educated so we get to choose who we hang out with and I don’t want to cut his friendships with these boys as most the time my son loves them and has the best time with them, but it’s digging at his confidence that he seems to just freeze or run away when things go too far.
I’ve spoken to the parents and they have talked to their kids when necessary but it’s a constant struggle still if it’s not one thing this week then it’s another the next week.