Respect and Healthy Relationships

I was intrigued when I heard that the Barbie movie had resulted in numerous relationships breaking up. I did a quick google search and found it was indeed a thing.

In a TikTok video one woman voiced she would no longer stand for her boyfriend to treat her the way he had in the past. She went on to comment on how they got into a verbal argument, didn’t speak for a week and when he reached out to her, she thought it was to apologize. Instead, he had conditions for their relationship. The woman was not going to have it, she said, she was tired of being disrespected and ended the relationship.

This is a theme that many other women have also voiced, according to news accounts. Now, if the relationships are toxic, abusive, or unhealthy I certainly am glad the women decided to end the relationship. It just makes me a little sad that it took a movie to help women understand they deserve better. It also has me wondering if they ever learned what to look for in a healthy relationship.

Apparently, they didn’t get the lessons all Grant County schools receive each year from Rosalyn Turcott who is affectionately called Mrs. T. I am thankful that Rosalyn is welcomed by teachers and administrators in each of the Grant County school corporations and the three private schools. I am hopeful that what Rosalyn teaches is reinforced by the same students’ peers, parents, mentors, coaches, and other positive adults in their lives.

For anyone who wants a refresher on what to look for in a healthy relationship take a look at Hands of Hope’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/INHandsofHope/ or our website https://getradiant.org/hands-of-hope/ .

Because while I applaud all for leaving an abusive relationship, if we are going to truly break the cycle of violence, we must also educate our children and youth on what entails a healthy relationship.