Coloroso reports that today her son is doing well as a professional artist.

Furthermore: 

~ Encourage your child to always tell you when she’s being bullied (kids are prone to keep quiet).

~ Demonstrate assertive behavior.  Teach your children to ask for things directly and to respond directly to others.  Demonstrate that it’s okay to say no.  Do so yourself, and let your kids see you doing it.

~ Teach social skills.  Show them how to resolve problems fairly and firmly.

~ Identify potential friendship problems and correct them.  Teach them how to ignore common teasing and, when possible, to respond with lighthearted humor.  Teach them the value of friendship and the importance of being a good friend.

~ Encourage them not to give in to bullies, to stand their ground with toys and territory.

~ Demonstrate the rewards of personal achievement.  Help them learn to trust their feelings so they can resist peer pressure and respect healthy adults.  Help them set realistic goals, and let them work toward their goals without taking over the process yourself.

~ Take bullying seriously.

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Paul Coughlin is the author of numerous books, including No More Christian Nice Guy and No More Jellyfish, Chickens or Wimps. He also co-authored a book for married couples with his wife Sandy, titled Married But Not Engaged. His articles appear in Focus on the Family magazine, and he as been interviewed by Dr. James Dobson, FamilyLife Radio, HomeWord, Newsweek, C-SPAN, The New York Times, and the 700 Club among others. Paul is founder of The Protectors, the faith-based answer to adolescent bullying, which provides curriculum for Sunday Schools, private schools, retreats, and individuals that trains people of faith to be sources of light in the theater of bullying. 

Visit Paul's websites at: http://www.theprotectors.org, and http://www.paulcoughlin.net

Visit Sandy's website for reluctant entertainers at: http://www.reluctantentertainer.com