Ask Sam letter

Hi there,

You have the right to be treated with respect by the people around you, especially at home. It’s not okay that your mum is calling you these names.

As you get older you start to make more of your own decisions and explore different ways to express yourself. Everyone has the right to feel accepted for these choices. The way you choose to dress, the music that you like and your friends are all different parts of your identity and expressions of who you are. It’s okay to be different to the people around you, though it takes a lot of confidence to do that.

It’s not okay for your mum to call you names. If a member of your family bullies in this way it’s called emotional abuse. You may want to consider telling someone that you trust as they may be able to help stop what’s happening.

People who bully want to focus on something that makes another person stand out and use it to hurt them. They expect that their nasty comments will get a reaction. Negative comments can affect your confidence and self-esteem. Being assertive can help you to explain how you feel and stand up for yourself without being rude.

Thinking of ways for you to show the people who bully that you’re not affected by what they’re saying could help you to feel more confident and more in control of your decisions. It’s important to remember that you don’t have to change who you are to please others.

You can get support from other young people who are in a similar situation as you on the message boards or by talking things through with a ChildLine counsellor.

Take care,
Sam