74 Schools. One Day. A Big Difference.

I wanted to do something to recognize National Bullying Awareness Month on my blog to push parents to get involved in their childrens’ schools. Something that required effort, but wasn’t too challenging. Something that made a difference, but wasn’t too pushy. Something that shouted “Kindness Always Wins” without disclosing blame, shame or embarrassment.

On September 28, my daughter and I were scribbling with sidewalk chalk outside our home. She colored a happy face and every time I looked at it, my body reacted with warm fuzzies and a smile. Before we went inside for lunch, I drew an arrow to the smiling head and wrote a message below it: “My 2-year old is trying to tell you to have a happy day! You deserve it.” Through our windows, we watched pleasantly as dog walkers, runners, high school students and grandparents strolled down our sidewalk, stopped to read the message, and smiled a smile that carried them down the block…and hopefully even farther. That was it! Simple, manageable, and meaningful.

On September 29, I emailed my son’s principal to see if Kindness in Chalk would be a feasible event. I knew she was a sweet, no-nonsense lady who wouldn’t hesitate to tell me if the idea kinda stunk. Had she said no, this movement never would’ve come to fruition. So, a huge THANK YOU to Ms. Nielsen (pictured below) for saying “Yes!” with such enthusiasm and excitement. With her emailed approval, it was time to get a move on. And fast!

On September 30, I launched the campaign on my blog and its coinciding social media outlets. The idea of combating bullying with kindness and a piece of chalk spread like wildfire. As did the adorable sense of elation! You guys, thank you for sharing your genuine excitement with me. I can’t tell you how much every comment I read made my heart sing (in tune and everything)!

The day before the event, I spent some time delivering chalk to schools throughout the metro. Happy to oblige as long as they were willing to participate, I put on some miles that day. I was also grateful to snag an interview with Kelcey Carlson of Fox9 News that day to help get the word out using a much more public platform. I couldn’t sleep that night and at 12:45am, my phone buzzed with a text message from my sister-in-law: “Happy Kindness in Chalk Day!” Technically, yes, it was October 10. And, yes, the anticipation that stemmed from that text message kept me up for at least another hour. Thanks, Chanal.

On October 10, I headed up to my son’s school to chalk with a couple of my good friends who also have boys in attendance there. It was a sunny, inspirational way to spend a Friday morning. After nearly two hours, my daughter was ready for a nap, but I could not convince one of my friends to leave. “One more minute,” she kept saying. “I just want to add one about sitting by someone new on the bus” or “How do I say ‘Play with someone who looks lonely?’ without saying it like that?” or “How do you spell ‘courageous’?” Working with those ladies was an absolute blast and they are darn good chalkers! Thank you, Alysha and Sharon, for joining me that morning. Next year, we bring knee pads and wear pants that, um, de-plumberize us.

My day was spent reading emails and downloading photos and crying. Oh, there was crying. The good cry, like the kind you cry when Steve Martin invites an annoying John Candy into his home for a holiday dinner after finding out he’s a homeless widower in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles . You know what I’m talking about.

You told me you chalked entire neighborhoods, driveways, city parks, running paths, bike trails, and bus stops. My own sister, who lives in a neighborhood filled with high schoolers, was out until 11pm the night before writing words of kindness on the streets that led to the bus stop, almost got hit by two cars and came home with scraped up knuckles, calling herself an idiot because she realized she’d been wearing all black in pitch dark. Why? So those high schoolers could start their mornings with a smile. Who knows what kind of game-changer those words could’ve been, and it just took one idiot…er, person. Love you, Jules.

I heard stories that made me laugh. Like the 2nd grader who unsolicitedly told her principal she “liked her pretty hair” and admitted she did it because she read something that said, “Give someone a compliment today.” Or my friend Rachel who, while waiting to pick up her daughter from school, heard a young boy read the words “You are awesome” out loud, so she reaffirmed it and sprightly told him, “That’s right. You ARE awesome!” He smiled sheepishly and walked away blushing, but how cool is that? And then there’s the kid who’s written words of inspiration were: “Be as nice as your dog is to you.” I had to laugh at the creativity (and validity) of it. My dog is one of the kindest, most loyal living creatures on the planet. A+ for that kiddo!

My own son grabbed a piece of chalk after school that day and kneeled down to write the word “LOVE” on the school sidewalk. Now, keep in mind, he’s in Kindergarten and so far, only knows how to spell ‘the’, ‘and’, ‘stop’ and his first name. The kid wrote LOVE. I asked him how he knew how to spell that word, and he said, “Because.” Well, OK then. I figured it must’ve been some weird act of God or something and accepted his answer for what it was. Because. Because it’s Kindness in Chalk Day. Because love is important. Because, mom. Just because.

In 2014, Kindness in Chalk Day was celebrated by 74 schools around the country, from Florida to South Carolina to Michigan and Oklahoma. You all made magic happen that day. Kids walked a little taller reading affirmations of their worth. A simple “Thank You” doesn’t cover it. You have all stepped up to help wipe out bullying by promoting kindness, proving the good in this world far outweighs the bad. Pat yourselves on the back, and check out your wonderful work in this video collage:

Over the course of ten days, this little movement touched 74 schools and countless little lives. Thank you to every last one of you for sharing, caring and chalking. I promise you, this will become an annual tradition so stock up on chalk early. You are all an inspiration. Keep on adventuring with me!

If your school is not listed on the map below, feel free to contact me at nicki@minnemamaadventures.com with your school name and city and it will get added immediately.

Keep the momentum going! If you are interested in learning more about bullying prevention or spreading kindness, please contact any of these amazing organizations and get involved today:

• PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center
• No Bully
• StopBullying.gov
• Chalk Project
• Kind Campaign