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If there's one thing that makes me the most nervous about raising a teenager, it's the fact that other kids can be super cruel. I want to weep just thinking about anyone breaking my child's spirit. I know, I know, toughen up, mom.
I need to take lessons from a 16-year-old boy named Brandon Bowen, who has found fame on Vine for all the right reasons -- and how many times can you say that happens? Brandon, who is from Georgia and describes himself as a "professional fatty," got a pretty funny idea from a member of his church about how he could block out anyone foolish enough to "hate" on him. He calls his Vines "Blockin Out the Haters," and his is a silly, adorable, and inspirational idea that all teens should watch.
Brandon's unique method involves pressing plastic spoons firmly against his eyes (actually, he says he uses duct tape, but we wouldn't recommend that) so that he can't see anyone who thinks it's funny or cool to bully him.
A little too simple? Yes, of course, but that's not the point!
Brandon's message is honest and clear: no matter what you do, you'll never be able to stop others from saying or thinking negative thoughts about you, so turn a blind eye to them instead. So often, we feel helpless when our children come home from school with stories about how another kid was mean or said something terrible that stuck in their head. As adults, we know we can't make others act the way we want them to, but that lesson is a bit difficult for kids to grasp. Maybe the best advice we can give them is that we teach others how to treat us. And if we refuse to be affected by their negativity -- if we'd rather place spoons over our eyes than acknowledge our "haters" -- there isn't much power they can have over us.
Thanks, Brandon, for this amazing message!
Oh, and just so you don't think I'm the only one who wants to high-five this kid, he has a whole slew of admirers who have viewed his Vines and posted vids of themselves with their "hater blockers" in place.
Here's Brandon's Vine:
What's the best advice you gave your teen for how to deal with haters?
Image ©iStock.com/bukko
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