Keep your hands to yourself!

I spent a lot of time working with kids in various aspects of my life. That means I have spent a lot of time telling kids to keep their hands to themselves. I recall once having a conversation with a little girl that troubled me. She was running around hitting on a little boy who was around the same age as her, but bigger than her.

Me: Don’t hit him. You are supposed to keep your hands to yourself.

Her: He can’t do anything. He is a boy. Boys aren’t supposed to hit girls.

At the time I had no clue what to respond with, other than the generic “you’ll still get in trouble”.

That incident has come to mind given recent events. Other memories have come back as well. I have had to deal with domestic violence in my close family. I have worked with and met many women who have been victims. I have also met and witnessed women pick fights with men and put their hands on men.

That all being said…

Keep your hands to yourself!

It is never okay for a man to hit a woman with the intent to harm her.

It is never okay for a woman to hit a man with the intent to harm him.

Self-defense is about the only reason why it should ever happen, in my opinion.

One thing you need to remember is that not everyone is going to respond the way you expect.

If someone hits me with the intent to harm me I am going to do my best to use enough force as to thoroughly discourage them from ever putting their hands on me again.

I want to go back and tell that little girl that he could snap. He could have never been told not to hit girls. He could do just about anything.

This is not a post to choose sides.
This is not a post in support of a particular person.

This is a post simply to say…

Keep your hands to yourself!