It breaks a mother’s heart to watch her child cry
Today my 6-year-old son started crying, saying he has no friends in school because he wears a turban. While my husband and I try to provide him with a good life, I realized, that doesn't compensate for what he thinks he lacks at school. I began to think about other Sikh parents who go through this but might not be equipped with the resources, responses, or time to help their children.
I am not sure if my son's situation is even solely due to his identity. At that age, children bully one another for a number of reasons. Regardless, I found it heartbreaking that my son thought it was due to his Sikh identity he was a target. In an attempt to create self-realization, I started to ask him, 'If you didn't wear a turban, do you think the bullies would really leave you alone?' But halfway through my question he confidently said, 'Waheguru said I have to wear one.'
I thought of the important messages of maintaining Sikh pride instilled by UNITED SIKHS in their ABC workshops: "Never alter your faith or identity for a bully. Use our tips to constructively stop a bully, all while continuing to be confident in your commitment to Sikhi." I am grateful such values have been instilled in my son. UNITED SIKHS' efforts might be a source of someone's happiness and well-being more than you probably even realize. We don't know which one of the kids sitting in the sangat today, in the past, or in the future, is someone depressed, or someone contemplating suicide because they feel alone and cannot cope anymore. UNITED SIKHS might have avoided all of that by telling children and their parents that they have to be there for each other and that this organization is always here for them."
   Ashween Kaur , Califorina