Bullying. 

I am in Las Vegas this week.  Tim and I were eating breakfast in a little breakfast restaurant.  It was busy. What caught my attention was a very “type A” personality who was next to us.  She thought everyone was there solely to help her.  She spoke loud enough for everyone around her to hear her. 

She was the person in the restaurant who had to ask 10 questions about the very basic menu.  She finally ordered. 

At one point the server brought her food over.  The server was immediately reprimanded and instructed to take it back and pitch it.  She expected her food to be served at the same time as the person she was with.  The server apologized and returned the plate to the kitchen grill area.  She watched to make sure that the plate of perfectly good food was thrown away.  In a few minutes, both plates were delivered at the same time.

After they ate, the server gave her the bill and she paid.  A minute later her friend was given her bill.  The type A gal, didn’t approve.  She expected the server to know (through osmosis obviously because she didn’t mention) that it was to be one bill.   Again, she was unhappy.  She told them that she was in a hurry and she didn’t have time for their incompetence, she was in a hurry and they were ruining her day. 

After they left, Tim (my husband) apologized for her behavior.  I was actually embarrassed by her behavior.  It was uncalled for.  It was ignorant and it was her being a bully.  I personally don’t ever see a situation in a restaurant that needs to draw so much attention to me.  Nor a situation that can’t be compromised.  It’s all in how it is handled.  To be a bully and make yourself look ridiculous or as a mature adult who recognizes that things happen. 

It made me think about it.  We label kids bullies that are mean to other kids.  We teach our kids not to be bullies.  We teach our kids to respect one another and be nice.  I don’t normally think about adults as being bullies, especially professional females.  Why not?  Is it fair to assume that once a bully always a bully? 

 Do adult bullies have the ability to teach and raise their own kids to NOT be bullies?  The lady that I referred to from the restaurant was very vocal to her friend and anyone sitting within 10 feet from her that she has no kids.  However, she met a guy who has 2 sons.  She said that she liked the guy but she had to see what she could do about the boys.  Sounds like a bright future for them! 

There unfortunately is no hope for this nasty lady who I’m talking about.  Hopefully though, we as parents and grandparents and child caregivers to teach kids to not bully.  There are 10 other ways to negotiate without bullying being one of them!  There are always going to be people who rub us the wrong way, if we are loud and bossy, does that solve the personality conflict?  Do bullies have the ability to feel bad for their actions?  Do they just feel justified?

We should all take into consideration that there is always someone bigger and meaner so don’t bully.