Bully....is it really an overused word?

I don't know if it's the time of year, or I have a lot going on, or if what I just read strikes my core; but, as I sit here at my place of business, I couldn't stop crying while reading a post my sister sent me.  "The Bully Too Close to Home" written by a mom who was telling on herself.  She wasn't abusing her child verbally or physically, no name calling, no hitting.  But what about that one form that no one really pays much attention to....emotional....As parents, we often get "too busy" or, knowing as adults it's nothing major, don't take concern for what hurts them when they fall or when things don't go their way.  This mom explained how she had made her schedule so tight that there wasn't even time for her children, oldest especially, to even accidentally trip or take a little longer packing a back pack.  Have you ever scolded your child when in your heart of hearts know what you are scolding them for you probably did yourself as a child or it really isn't something that makes or breaks the law? Have you ever seen the look in their eyes? Their expression change? I don't know if life experience or choices to work in certain career fields has opened my eyes more, or if simply paying attention has done the trick, but I see this all too often.  I, myself, did not come from a broken home.  My parents worked together in their own business, so I had them at hand.  If I was sick or hurting they were there.  If I had a school function or something extracurricular, they were there.  I was lucky enough to be born with high emotion (said extremely sarcastically).  I know my own emotion like the back of my hand and usually can tell just by someone's eyes they are hurting.  I knew as a young child that I wasn't alone in this world.  If I needed someone to talk to I at least had one person somewhere to talk to.  However, my high sense of emotion often triggered extreme anxiety and a large feeling of loneliness.  Like I was in a deep dark tunnel, with no light at the end.  I could be surrounded by laughter and still see and hear nothing.  My point in telling you this is so that you see, I came from what most people would call a "normal" family, but yet I still felt alone.  After a few years, I just threw it all up so to speak.  I told my parents where I was at and through that it didn't change my parents from being my parents, but they, my mom especially, learned that sometimes as a parent you just have to shut your mouth and listen.  We all know as parents that's not what WE think our job is?  By being able just to talk, it also opened my mind and eyes to what others go through and what they might need.  I chose to approach a career path that allowed me to listen.  Working first with adults and then switching to youth.  Seeing that the kids of todays world just need your time.  I have turned down jobs that require me to work weekends away from Raleigh or nights that don't allow me to put my own child to bed.  I now am in a career that I work my own schedule.  Yes, I still have trainings and meeting and the list goes on, but I have chosen to work my pace and what works for my family and I don't have a boss telling me otherwise.  All this brings me to what I've learned with my daughter.  She too was born with high emotion.  As a parent and someone who dealt and deals with this, it's my job to teach her how to handle herself and those around her.  I know there are ways I can approach her and ways I can not, even though YOU may approach your child that way, doesn't mean I can.  At 1 1/2 years old I pulled my child from a two parent home to two one parent homes.  She now was having to deal with repercussions that had nothing to do with her.  Anger, sadness, depression,hate, anxiety...the highs and lows of divorce.  I always thought that she would be fine since I left so early, but I knew she knew...I didn't realize that my child was a high emotion person until she was about two...you want to see a child in tune with emotions, meet mine.  One night I was laying with her...thinking she was a sleep, I quietly cried and her little hand reached over and held mine....at a wedding a song came on a small tears came down my face...she  was in my lap and hugged me saying "I love you momma."  I knew, she truly was my mini me.....my poor child.  Our children watch us, they know our lives revolve around technology...how sad...my six year old should not have to tell me to put my phone away.  I'm the adult, I should know that.  I've seen the frustration of her wanting to play or simply have my full attention and it's else where.  I've seen her trying to be playful with those in our house (living with the parents, thankful, but not always easy), and  it be dismissed or punished or lectured.  You know what my child does...Runs to her bed, face down...not throwing a fit...heartbroken....the last situation, I went in to let her know mommy knew she was trying to play, no harm...she said in her pillow "I just wanted to tell so and so I got on green today." The pain wrenches through me because I know, I understand and the last person I ever want to experience this is...My child...I can't protect my child from everything, but home is her safe place...every child's safe place...remember that....Take a breather when you feel the stress....I refuse to have my daughter be one who feels the need to cower down...She will be a strong little girl, young woman and lady.  She will be confident.  I will do everything I can to teach her how precious and wonderful she is and that she is the biggest gift from God to me.  I know she has a voice and I'm going to teach her how to use it.  People say there is a place and time for children to be seen and heard.  Come again? I'd rather hear my child's stories, laughter, and even tears way more than I want to hear the gossip, drama and issues of the adults around me.  So is bully an overused word? Not necessarily...a bully can come in many forms...I can't walk with my child through the halls of her schools to protect her from those children who bully because they are bullied outside of school, but anytime I can walk with her I will.