HARTENBOS NEWS - As a mother who has walked the rocky road of having her child bullied, Crystal-Lee Young decided to put pain to paper and write about the topic.
And so the children's book, Goofy Foot, came to be.
Young said it broke her heart to have her daughter carry that weight; she couldn't simply ignore it. But at the same time she knew her response couldn't come from a place of anger, so she opted for a different route.
"I wanted to create something that would encourage, educate and help other parents and children who might face the same struggle. Out of that journey came Goofy Foot, a book about a little girl bullied by her teacher, and the love of her family that gave her the courage to finally say: 'No more.'"
Having moved from the town where her daughter was bullied, she and her family have called Hartenbos home for almost six years now. It was also Hartenbos Primary that afforded Young the opportunity to do a book reading to the school's Grade Four learners.
For her, standing in front of that class and speaking openly about it was a powerful full-circle experience.
"Bullying should never be a taboo topic. When we talk about it, we teach children to recognise it, to speak up and to stand together. We show them that kindness and courage belong in every classroom."
Young said the message in the book is clear: while some experiences in classrooms can be painful, the world is still filled with wonderful teachers who love what they do and leave lifelong imprints on young hearts.
A quote from her book, in which the bullied youngster remembers her mum's words, summarises this:
"Not all of them are bad.
Only a handful, this is what makes us so sad.
The world is full of wonderful teachers who love what they do,
making a difference in the lives of young people, just like you."
But why the title Goofy Foot? Young explains: "'Goofy foot' is a term in surfing. A goofy foot surfer is someone who rides a surfboard with their right foot forward and their left foot back, the opposite of a 'regular' surfer. When I started writing this book, my daughter had been going for surfing lessons. It was a season of calm and healing. She is a goofy foot."
Young emphasised the fact that this was not just her story. It is a mission and a message for families who may be facing similar battles: please know you are not alone.
There is help and hope:
• Childline South Africa: 116 (free call)
• Cipla Mental Health Helpline: call 0800 456 789 / SMS 31393 / WhatsApp 076 882 2775.
"No child should ever feel they are fighting this battle alone. It takes a village to raise a child, and it takes a courageous, compassionate village to protect one."
Goofy Foot is available at Young's online shop on www.crystalyoung.co.za.
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