Next week is Do It For Dolly Day — a day that holds deep meaning for our family.
I’ve touched on this before, but I think it’s time to truly share our story.
I’m writing this from a mum’s heart, hoping that even just one person reads it and sees things differently.
Because what happened to us… it could happen to anyone.
This is our story.
An open letter to parents 💙
If I could ask just one thing of you, it’s this:
Please don’t shut down the idea that your child might be capable of hurting someone else.
For around two years, my eldest was on the receiving end of horrific bullying.
In the early days—when things were awful, but I still didn’t know how bad they’d get—I reached out to the parents of the kids involved. I explained what was happening. I was calm. I wasn’t accusatory. I simply said, “I just want to let you know this is happening, and I really want it to stop.”
The responses?
“Oh, my daughter wouldn’t do that.”
End of story.
Later, when it escalated—at a new school, with new kids—the bullying became terrifying. Death threats. Maps of our home shared online. Hundreds of vile messages. I contacted the parents again—one by text, one by phone. The response?
“That doesn’t sound like her. She must have been hacked.”
Case closed. Again.
I wasn’t looking for a fight. I was just hoping for a conversation. A moment of reflection. A chance for change.
But what I got was denial. And defensiveness.
Here’s the truth:
Being a teen is brutal.
And I’ve given birth without pain relief during a 40-minute labour—not by choice, and I’d still pick that over being a teenager again.
Your child can be lovely. Sweet. Kind. Wonderful.
And still, at times… they can be an asshole.
Because even the best people are capable of poor choices. Especially when they’re growing up.
A psychologist once told me: schools are strange places. We throw a bunch of hormonal, developing humans together and expect them to thrive.
But their bodies are changing.
Boundaries are unclear.
Social media is relentless.
And sometimes, kindness gets lost.
I don’t think my kid is perfect.
But she never deserved what she went through.
So if a parent, teacher, or school ever comes to you and says, “Your child has done something…”
Please—just pause. Take a breath.
And instead of “My kid wouldn’t do that,” try:
“Thanks for letting me know. I’ll look into it.”
Because maybe your child is struggling. Maybe they didn’t mean it. Maybe they didn’t understand the damage. Or maybe… they did.
But if we shut it down, we lose the chance to help them learn, grow, and change.
Girls are especially clever at covert bullying. It’s exclusion. Eye rolls. Silence. “You can’t sit with us.” It’s hard to prove, and harder to call out.
But it’s still bullying. And it still hurts.
Please don’t shut it down.
We’re dealing with kids’ lives.
Be open. Be brave. Be willing to listen.
Let’s do better, for all of them. 💙
If you or someone you know is experiencing bullying or mental health struggles, please reach out for help.
You can learn more about Do It For Dolly Day and how to get involved here: https://www.dollysdream.org.au
