Local mom puts brakes on bullying

Kandyce Burchiel’s 8-year-old son, Connor, with the sign he held for nearly an hour at Park Ave. and Lacroix St. last Thursday. Photo courtesy of Kandyce Burchiel.

By Greg Holden

There was an unusual sight last Thursday at the corner of Lacroix Street and Park Avenue. An 8-year-old boy was with his mom, holding a sign that said “”I am a bully… honk if you are against bullying”. Cars honked as they passed by, people argued the virtues of this form of discipline on social media and one resident went as far as calling Children’s Services on the mom.

When Kandyce Burchiel disciplined her son in the past for poor behaviour, she didn’t get the results she hoped for. After trying a number of measures he failed to get the message. “I will not spank or hit my children,” Burchiel told the CKReview, “I wanted to teach him that people are against bullying.”

Burchiel’s son Connor had bullied other children on and off for about 3 years. Burchiel said she tried many measures to change Connor’s behaviour. He was previously grounded, had things taken away, was made to volunteer in the community and asked to apologize to the other children. Yet the behaviour continued. Connor is a big guy for a boy his age, standing at nearly 5 feet tall and weighing about 90 pounds. Burchiel felt she had to do something. ”I remember seeing a YouTube video years ago where a man in the states disciplined his son this way,” Burchiel said. “I have not seen anyone else do this in Chatham-Kent.” Now she has and her actions have made her the hero of many. Comments online showed almost universal support for her actions, some people called Burchiel the mom of the year. Nearly 400 people showed their approval by giving a thumbs up to Burchiel’s explanation of events on Facebook.

None the worse for the wear, Connor had a positive response to the experience, thanking his mother for showing him how many people were against bullying. He told his mom that bullying hurts people and he decided to hang the sign up in his bedroom as a reminder. He also read an apology in front of his class. Chatham-Kent Children’s Services spoke with Burchiel and told her she did nothing wrong. “I am not shameful for my decision, I wanted people to know this is who I am”, said Burchiel, “I never thought this would go anywhere except to teach Connor a lesson.” However the outpouring of support online shows that the message reached far beyond Connor, as people embraced her efforts to raise a young man that is respectful of others. Now it is up to Connor.