How do I fight back?

I have never believed that there was such a thing as being bullied at the work place. I had always thought that sort of thing happens only in grade and high school. It was not until recently where I realized that bullying can happen anywhere, no matter the age, for I have experienced it for the first time this year!

I mean, we’re supposed to be adults. Work is where professionalism takes place, and honestly, who has time for that? If we’re basing it on my experience, then these two women sure did!

See, I am the type of person who believes in everyone! I believe in people, and I believed that these two women were my friends. I was completely wrong!

I work as a preschool head teacher at a daycare. I had two assistants. In the beginning, we worked together pretty well. So I thought!

About 5 months ago, everything changed. They started with minor things, such as them indirectly making comments about the activities we had done with the children, to daily undermining, rude, and disrespectful comments towards me, all in front of the children. When I finally approached them, in a professional manner, they pointed fingers at me. for according to them, I didn’t treat them as “teachers.”

As the educated woman that I am, I tried to see where they were coming from, and reflect. Even after taking what they had said into consideration, they continued their bullying. I went to my bosses about the situation and yet, nothing was being done about it. It wasn’t until just about a week ago, where It all hit the fan. One of the two assistants basically kicked me out of my classroom and that’s when I exploded! I went back to my bosses for a third time, demanding them out of my classroom. That I no longer was able to work in such a manner. This is my job! It is something I love to do, and how I am acting and reacting, was not at all me. my bosses stated that they would get them out of the classroom. I strongly didn’t believed that, but apparently my outburst worked. The next morning when I entered the daycare, it was true! These two women were out of my classroom. Yay! Right?🤔 I won, right?

For the moment...

I wish I could say that the situation had stopped, but unfortunately, it didn’t. Even after removing them from the classroom, these ladies have continued to try to intimidate and harass me. It went as far as them attempting to intrude in my personal life by approaching my home attendant and asking for her agency information (which made her very uncomfortable), there was a time this week where both women stepped out of their classroom to stand in front of their door starring at me while I went past them with my students. They also came into my classroom countless times, while the children were around and awake, to remove items/work by the children from the classroom walls.

What I did next was not something I wanted to do, but who will protect me, if it is not me? I wrote a strong email about the situations that has been happening while my bosses were gone, which clearly stated that if another situation, such as this happens again, that I will indeed report them to the department of labor.

I definitely get how hard it is to have been or/is being bullied, especially as an adult. It’s tough and if you’re not a confrontational person, it’s even tougher. It is important for one to put their safety first. It is important to deal with the situation at hand and early on. That is my mistake, I should have handled it sooner, but that is a lesson learned!

With great support by my side, I know that I will be alright. Though these ladies are out of my classroom, they continued to be at the school. As long as these women continue, as will I. Therefore, the fight is not over!!