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thank you for listing the meanings of Caleb.
whole-hearted, brave, confident, devotion.
these are what I need to tell my grandson.
He is 8.
last year, at his school, he was made fun of by some kids in the class who told everyone his name, Caleb, meant "dog".
he was embarrassed and ashamed. he changed schools this year but still has self esteem issued with is name. he had an emotional moment and got angry and burst out with. "Don't call me "Caleb." call me anything you want but do not call me "Caleb."
kids have stuff that bothers them and it is a big deal.
so, than you so much. if you have any material I can give him related to the story of Caleb, I would appreciate it so much. any sources, or books? and especially, anything written on a 3-4 grade level,
thanks,
Donna Hughes
Concerned Grandmother
dhughes@baldwincountyal.gov
whole-hearted, brave, confident, devotion.
these are what I need to tell my grandson.
He is 8.
last year, at his school, he was made fun of by some kids in the class who told everyone his name, Caleb, meant "dog".
he was embarrassed and ashamed. he changed schools this year but still has self esteem issued with is name. he had an emotional moment and got angry and burst out with. "Don't call me "Caleb." call me anything you want but do not call me "Caleb."
kids have stuff that bothers them and it is a big deal.
so, than you so much. if you have any material I can give him related to the story of Caleb, I would appreciate it so much. any sources, or books? and especially, anything written on a 3-4 grade level,
thanks,
Donna Hughes
Concerned Grandmother
dhughes@baldwincountyal.gov
0
Replies
Dear Donna,
Caleb was a spy in the Bible, in the early days of the Hebrews who came from wandering in the desert into the promised land.
I haven't read this book, and it is probably a little below his reading level, but something similar to this may be of interest as a depiction of the biblical story:
https://www.cph.org/p-18498-Caleb-Gods-Special-Spy-One-in-Christ-Bible-Story-Book.aspx
As for the actual "story" of Caleb in the Bible, his name appears throughout several books, especially Numbers and Judges, which may be a difficult read for your Caleb's age level.
I love the heart that you have for your grandson!
One other thought I had, does he have a nickname he prefers to be called? Or do you have a special "pet" name for him that he likes?
Caleb was a spy in the Bible, in the early days of the Hebrews who came from wandering in the desert into the promised land.
I haven't read this book, and it is probably a little below his reading level, but something similar to this may be of interest as a depiction of the biblical story:
https://www.cph.org/p-18498-Caleb-Gods-Special-Spy-One-in-Christ-Bible-Story-Book.aspx
As for the actual "story" of Caleb in the Bible, his name appears throughout several books, especially Numbers and Judges, which may be a difficult read for your Caleb's age level.
I love the heart that you have for your grandson!
One other thought I had, does he have a nickname he prefers to be called? Or do you have a special "pet" name for him that he likes?
1
Well, it is very likely that his name does indeed mean 'dog'. Dogs are nothing to be ashamed of. They are loyal, intelligent, friendly, brave and patient, and really could be role models for most humans. If he were my grandson, I would teach him to appreciate dogs, and also techniques for dealing with other children's ideas of a joke: they must have been delighted when he left the school rather than, for instance, tell them good information about dogs, pretend to wag his tail and sit up and beg, make a game out of choosing which animal they'd rather be or which breed of dog they like best ...
4
I have to agree. Learning to deal with bullies is far more important here.
So Caleb might not mean dog (though it also might, but let's assume it does not), running from the bullies and learning the (yes important) lesson that they were wrong, but this does not mean it will be the outcome of every scenario. Getting bullied for red hair? Wearing glasses? Braces? Being a different colour? There are many, many superficial things children bully each other for
I was called Casper because of my pale complexion. Jokes on them, I LOVED Casper! ...but it still kinda hurt that I was being rejected in the first place. It was never about what they were saying, because I like my skin colour, and hair (I was bullied for that too), and height (again, bullied for) and voice (same again) it was the rejection. Teach him that these children aren't worth striving for in terms of friendship anyway, that maybe it's a good thing they easily out themselves as the bad kids. He now knows who to avoid.
I think you need to sit him down and explain to him that some children find it fun to pick one insignificant aspect of other's and mock them for it. It does not mean it's wrong or weird to have the name Caleb or to need glasses or to have a very pale complexion. He needs to understand that sometimes nothing can be done about it, and it happens to everybody. Perhaps share stories of when you were picked on in school or his parents, cousins, aunties and uncles etc. It'll help him to understand that these kids would have chosen something else to bully him for anyway, and it literally could be anything, and he won't be their only victim neither so he isn't alone
Unfortunately kids have to be told that bullying extends into adulthood if you let it, so it's best to learn how to deal with it now
---
Also teach him that people change and grow over time so perhaps to not hold it against them too much if they ever re-meet in high school, but one thing at a time
So Caleb might not mean dog (though it also might, but let's assume it does not), running from the bullies and learning the (yes important) lesson that they were wrong, but this does not mean it will be the outcome of every scenario. Getting bullied for red hair? Wearing glasses? Braces? Being a different colour? There are many, many superficial things children bully each other for
I was called Casper because of my pale complexion. Jokes on them, I LOVED Casper! ...but it still kinda hurt that I was being rejected in the first place. It was never about what they were saying, because I like my skin colour, and hair (I was bullied for that too), and height (again, bullied for) and voice (same again) it was the rejection. Teach him that these children aren't worth striving for in terms of friendship anyway, that maybe it's a good thing they easily out themselves as the bad kids. He now knows who to avoid.
I think you need to sit him down and explain to him that some children find it fun to pick one insignificant aspect of other's and mock them for it. It does not mean it's wrong or weird to have the name Caleb or to need glasses or to have a very pale complexion. He needs to understand that sometimes nothing can be done about it, and it happens to everybody. Perhaps share stories of when you were picked on in school or his parents, cousins, aunties and uncles etc. It'll help him to understand that these kids would have chosen something else to bully him for anyway, and it literally could be anything, and he won't be their only victim neither so he isn't alone
Unfortunately kids have to be told that bullying extends into adulthood if you let it, so it's best to learn how to deal with it now
---
Also teach him that people change and grow over time so perhaps to not hold it against them too much if they ever re-meet in high school, but one thing at a time
1