Be A STAR

Tonight I will be participating in a Twitter chat along with the WWE Moms. While the chats are always fun, they are usually focused on very serious subjects, which is the case tonight. Tonight's chat is about the Be A STAR movement.

Be A STAR (Show Tolerance And Respect) is a program to stomp out bullying. The goal is to teach everyone to be kind to one another, and to be an example for others to follow. The message in itself is very encouraging, but it just means so much to me that it is coming from the WWE.

WWE has such a huge global presence, and the fact that they choose to use their influence to spread such a positive message is so inspiring. Bullying is, unfortunately, such a huge issue nowadays. Anything that helps teach kids that it is cool to stand up against bullying is wonderful.

As a parent, bullying is something I will always worry about, but the fact that my son has autism and it is likely that my daughter does as well(we have been having her evaluated), my fears are only intensified.

I want my children to be different, because being different makes a person interesting, but I don't want the differences that they have no control over to be a source of stress for them. I experienced bullying as a child, and I would never wish it on anyone.

My experiences were not nearly as severe as many cases I have heard about, but I was Caucasian girl in a neighborhood nearly exclusive to African Americans. I did not fit in. They did not want my family there, and it was made very clear. At school, while there was more of a mix, I was still the target as we rode the same buses.

The fact that we were also very poor did not help at all, and almost nobody wanted to be my friend. I was not a target of violence or horrible teasing, but I was very clearly unwanted, and it is a horrible feeling. I would never want any child, especially my own, to feel like that.

I will do anything I can do to help prevent my kids and other kids from being bullied(or bullying others), and the fact that WWE is doing everything they can to help as well means a great deal to me. I hope that through the Be A STAR initiative, we will be able to put an end to bullying once and for all. We all need to work together to prevent bullying.

To learn more about this wonderful program, please join me tonight for the #BeASTAR Twitter chat from 7-8pm EST. You could win some great prizes, but supporting the cause is the best prize of all. I hope to see you there.