A South Dakota grandma has written a piece that brings me anger and sadness to the very depths of my being. She spoke about how her granddaughter went through a pretty tough time when someone stole her sweats from the CEB Braves locker room during a game at Miller.
Juanita Chasing Hawk, the grandmother, further stated that while a game was still going on, her granddaughter’s sweatpants went missing from the locker room. On top of that, the girl did not even carry any extra change of clothes with her. Juanita had no choice but to rush to the dollar store to find something for her granddaughter to change into so she could go home decently.
This affected me very deeply. At school many moons ago, one of the items I cherished was my jacket, which some jerk took from the changing room post sports. The memory stings to this day, as I felt terribly embarrassed and angry at the moment, not even knowing who to blame. Such occurrences leave a long mark on the very young.
The post by Juanita shows the pain felt by mothers and grandmothers in situations of bullying. No one would like to witness their beloved kid or grandchild being bullied, especially in an area that is believed to be a haven for him/her.
South Dakota Grandmother Speaks Up Over Locker Room Bullying.
According to Juanita, only CEB Braves players are allowed inside the locker room. This makes the situation unbearable; I mean, if only team players were there, the theft from within would feel very wrong.
She also explained that some girls on the team have bullied her granddaughter and a few other players, which is something no child should face when they’re simply trying to enjoy a game.
Juanita felt it coming. With this feeling, she attended the game. Her worst fears were doubly confirmed.
Many comments responded to the post. Many expressed their thoughts and gave suggestions. One person stated that most bullies act this way because their self-displeasure is taken out on others. That made sense, but it did not make it okay.
Some suggested that, to avoid a repeat of the incident, the coach should check the players’ bags. Others chimed in on that suggestion, saying the coaches ought to pay more attention during locker room time and keep an eye on players’ belongings.
Juanita has also stated that her granddaughter suffers from bullying in general, and this just increased her worries about what her future might look like.
Now the authorities haven’t given any official response concerning the stolen sweats or the bullying incident in the CEB Braves locker room. Still, Juanita’s post appears to send a strong message to the community that this behavior needs to be addressed and not swept under the rug.
Such matters, I think, ought to receive increased awareness. Every child needs to be able to feel safe in school sports and not be preoccupied with the safety of their belongings or that someone is going to target them. You may also be interested in: After Being Pushed Out of Basketball at 13, My Son Got Hurt on a Church Trip and Was Warned About Jail for Speaking Up
