Today’s post is probably the most serious post I’ve ever written, so please take your time to read.  It’s about an addiction that I have and I’m not sure what to do about it.  I’m not sure when or how it started but I’m currently looking into counseling for this obsession.  I’m sure many of you will be able to relate, and if so, more power to you.

I’ve always thought that panda bears were cute, but after seeing the commercial below, their cuteness level became coupled with what I can only describe as “awesome”.  In these commercials you have a very innocent looking panda causing hell because no one wants to eat his branded milk product.  “Ok, you’re not going to eat my panda cheese?  Well how about I disconnect your IV?”  Yeah, you don’t want to mess with the panda.  He’ll mess your world up.

The image that we receive from pandas for the most part is one of peace, chillin, eating bamboo all day long and playing on little green kids horses. Every photo or video you see of a panda they’re playing or sliding, or sitting like a drunk human with a stick of bamboo in their hand. They know that eating bamboo from the side of their mouth is more cute than eating it with the front teeth. They’re much cuter rocking on a green horse with ice cream in their hand than any baby could ever be. They don’t appear threatening at all but from what I’ve read, they can be the most aggressive bears out there.

Anyway, if I could go to china and buy one, I would. I would bring him home, have lots of toys for him to play with in the back yard, build him a huge swing set, and teach him how to cut my grass and make breakfast tacos. This is my confession and I’m not ashamed.  So if you want to get me anything for Christmas, make it visa gift cards, which I will use to go to China this coming year and pick up a panda.  Only costs about $2 million a year to rent one.  Power to your people . . . I mean, the panda!

- Hector Garcia

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It was still morning, probably around 10am, and we were headed outside for our daily dose of exercise, also known as gym class.  The sun was out, the weather was cool, and as usual, I was in my favorite class of the day.  Most people hated gym class because of having to dress in uniform, but I loved it.  As we walked out that morning, my friends and I were goofing off like we normally do as well as trying to impress the girls.  Lots of laughing, jumping around, and big smiles.  Well, all of that came to a halt after I did something that sucked not only for me but for the person I did it to.  As “innocent” and playful as it may have seemed at the time, it served as a wake up call to my little 12 year old self.

You see, I had been bullying this little white kid for most of the semester.  Not sure how it all started, but everyday or at least every other day I was picking on this kid by intimidating him with “toughness” and making him give me his lunch money.  Yes, just like in the movies, I was getting lunch money from this kid and it was easy.  I never got violent with him or hit him, but there was enough intimidation there to get him to comply.

So there I was, walking out to the field during gym glass, and in front of me was this little blond headed kid.  Remember, I was hooked on impressing my friends, so a perfect opportunity was right there.  I remember coming up from behind him and in an instant, I had pulled his shorts down to his ankles.  He was totally caught off guard, but more than that, I embarrassed the hell out of him. All red faced and in shock, he quickly pulled his shorts back up.  As quickly as my friends started laughing and making fun of him, it all came to an end by the grip of my gym teacher’s hand on my shoulder.  It wasn’t funny to him of course, and a few minutes later, I found myself sitting in the principal’s office.

I was a “good” kid overall and to be sitting in the principal’s office, waiting to receive a good paddling, was not consistent with who I was.  I felt bad for what I did to that kid and I remember realizing how much of an a-hole I was to him.  The paddling didn’t hurt that much, but what did hurt was the guilt that I felt for being a bully to this kid.  I didn’t immediately apologize for being a jerk to him, but I think he was very relieved that the bullying had stopped and we actually became friends at some point.

I’m not proud of this, but I definitely learned a lot from it.  There’s been a lot of talk about bullying lately on television and online.  Not sure why, but either there is an increase in bullying or it’s just receiving more attention.  Whatever the case, bullying is bullying and it shouldn’t happen.  If I could take back what I did to that kid I would, as well as push myself in a corner and beat the crap out of myself.

Kids get bullied all the time, and if you have a son or daughter, they could be a victim without you ever knowing.  It’s not something your kids will gladly share with you, so you would have to be proactive and look for signs.  I’m sure this kid that I was picking on never wanted to come out and share this with his parents or friends and was toughing it out as much as he could.

Next week I will share a few tips that could help your kid combat bullying.  I will also share some signs that your parents can look for in your child if they are being bullied. Later in the week I will share some thoughts that could benefit any young people that are bully’s themselves.  Till then, give your kids a big fat hug when you see them later today.  And if you’re a bully, punch yourself in the face.  At least 15 times.

- Hector

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