Mother Beats Son’s Bully Up On The Schoolbus
As a mother, there are two things you don’t do. You don’t talk about my child, and you don’t hit my child. I am the quintessential “momma bear” and proud of it. When my son was in 5th grade, for the better part of his school year, he experienced bullying from a classmate. This classmate was 2 years older than him, but was held back previous years. One day after school was dismissed, the boy once again picked a fight with my son, but this time my son fought back. The principal called me the next day and informed me about the incident and told me my son wasn’t in trouble, but he did schedule a meeting with the other boy’s parent.
Even though my son stood up to his bully, he feared retaliation. The next day I made it a point to show up for dismissal. Sure enough I noticed the boy approaching my son. I immediately ran up to the boy and grabbed him by his backpack. All of the kids looked shocked, and I heard a few, “Ohhh, that’s Jaden’s mom.” I asked the kid to tell me where he lived, because I planned on showing up to his house. He refused. So I followed him home in my car. I confronted his mother about the incident, told her what was happening for weeks, and she took matters into her own hands. As she closed the door after our conversation, I heard her tell the kid to grab her belt. Did I feel bad he was about to get whooped? Maybe a little, but better her doing it than me. After that incident, he’s been a welcome visitor in my home and has been friends with my son ever since. But he’s still deathly afraid of me.
Unfortunately confronting a child’s bully doesn’t always go so smoothly. Take Felecia Phillips, 35, of Bunnell, Florida, as an example. Felecia is currently facing child abuse charges after a school bus brawl was caught on camera and says she has no regrets about going after a teenager she says was bullying her son. Felecia’s 15-year-old son, Terez, was being tormented by his 17-year-old bully, Justin. Because she was worried about her son’s safety she escorted him onto his bus, even before they could board the bus, Justin allegedly started arguing with Terez. Things got heated and Felecia smooshed the teen in the face. “Words kept going back and forth or whatever, and he called me out,” Felecia said. “And I smooshed him in his face or whatever,” is what Felicia told NBC Orlando affiliate WESH.com. The teen then slammed Felecia onto the ground. Felecia then allegedly followed him onto the bus, grabbing his hair as the bus driver yelled that she needed to get off the bus and other students tried to stop the brawl.
Felecia was arrested and charged with child abuse and trespassing on school property. Her bond was set at $2,500. After paying bond, she told Florida’s News4Jax.com she felt Mickens got what he deserved. “That’s what they need; a good old-fashioned whooping,” she said. “We’re not able to do that because we end up in jail — child abuse charges.
Although Justin was also involved in the altercation, he was not charged, because according to the deputies, he was fighting in self-defense. Terez feels proud of his mother, and is glad she stepped in. “I feel great about it because I know a lot of people wish they had a mom that had their back,” he told News4Jax.com. “Some parents, when you tell them, they just ignore it.”
Let’s repeat that again: Some parents, when you tell them, they just ignore it. I can definitely see that as a huge issue when it comes to bullying. I’ve heard other parents tell their kids to handle it on their own, or let the school handle. Although there are anti-bullying policies in schools, what do they really accomplish? Most will hand down a suspension or detention, and only severe bullying will get the authorities involved.
Hopefully this incident will teach this bully a lesson, and also others that may have been on that bus. Lesson #1: Stop bullying Lesson #2. If you bully Felecia’s son, you’ll have to answer to her.
I would have protected my son too, to my own peril if needed. I always tell him if he’s wrong he’ll deal with me, but if he’s not at fault I’ve got his back 100%. Kudos to that mother for stepping up, but maybe she should have handled it a little differently. Besides these teens at 17 and older are not afraid to fight, shot or mame (sp?) a parent in the pursuit of their agendas.
that should have said shoot or maime…passionate replies overrule correct spelling sometimes
My blood, you touch him or her,IT IS ON AND POPPING!! We can laugh all day,but there are certain lines you don’t DARE cross!
Eh, some of the details of this story aren’t adding up for me. While I do believe that the son had been previously bullied, something sounds fishy and plain wrong about what happened on the day of the incident between mom and the bully.
Mom says she escorted her son to the bus and the bully immediately started arguing with her son. I don’t believe a child would do that in the presence of an adult, especially if the adult is the parent of the person you’re supposedly bullying…sorry, just don’t believe it. What I think happened is SHE started arguing with the bully, lost her cool and assaulted him. When she got slammed to the ground, she became embarrassed and followed him onto the bus and assaulted him again. I agree that she should have been arrested, sounds like she attacked the bully first and he was protecting himself.
I’m not excusing the bully’s behavior though, he should definitely be punished for his actions against the son.
” I don’t believe a child would do that in the presence of an adult, especially if the adult is the parent of the person you’re supposedly bullying…sorry, just don’t believe it.”
Yvette, your statement simply has no bearing on the reality that most people on planet Earth experience with, who you refer to as, a “child”.
Witnesses to violence mean NOTHING to these people! We live in a world where ‘children’, 17 as this person was and YOUNGER, shoot people in crowded parks during sporting events and during homeroom! No one believes that a woman would deter a violent person’s tendencies, parent, teacher, police officer – it doesn’t matter to a BULLY! Even by your own admission, the mother was possibly PHYSICALLY ASSAULTED by the “child” and reacted to that, You contradict yourself COMPLETELY and most of the events were caught on videotape anyway.
Hmm, I see what you’re saying about deterrents to violence (or lack of), point taken.
But it’s still my opinion that the mother provoked the fight and he was defending himself. I doubt if that portion of the fight was caught on video since it happened outside of the bus, though I’m sure there were plenty of witnesses.
Yvette, before I moved to New Orleans I would have been inclined to agree with you. However, so-called children these days are getting involved with the law earlier and earlier (my professor was car jacked at gun point by a high school student in his school uniform) and aren’t being raised by responsible adults figures who teach them to respect authority.
While I don’t condone this mother’s actions, I do believe she was acting solely as an agent for her victimized son. I grew up in a Caribbean household and everyone at school knew (and we attended private ‘white’ schools) not to mess with us because not only would our parents get involved and handle it on one end but if an issue persisted, one could expect an older, intimidating cousin to make an appearance.
Instead of aiding violence, this mother (albeit in a controversial, and I think misguided way) taught her son that she (not his fists, not a weapon) was his recourse. Bravo to her, a fully present parent.
I don’t know if you’ve been around kids this age recently, but many of them have absolutely no respect. They are not afraid to step to anyone parent, child, or teacher. It’s sad because when I was younger if one of my parents came to the school and talked to a bully of mine whatever beef I had would have been squashed, but now that’s usually not the case.
@Dee- No I suppose I haven’t been around kids this age, I guess times have changed. Thanks for the clarification.
A child called my friend who is a teacher a bitch in class this week at a school in Atlanta, you are underestimating some of these kids.
I am a teacher as well. I teacher fourth grade. I had one of my students call me a bitch to my face like it was my name. There was absolutely no consequence.
@ Ms.Alicia
I can assure you if you had reported that kid that called you out your name, and he or she happened to be mine, you and I would be BEST of friends, after the fact. For that kid would have the fear of African Mami, her African ancestors, and her God instilled in them, to DARE try come at you ever again.
it would have been a bus to knowwheresville might quick, the bus driver see’s my child being harassed does nothing, i tell the school about it & nothing is done, same old same old! it’s about time i took my mommy responsibilities quite seriously and sorted out this wayward child & the school district once & for all, listen to the son’s statement he is proud his mommy did something about it & had his back, I hope my son will say that of me one day, What is you parental responsibility if you do not protect your child!