So during my oldest son’s year in the 7th grade he was bullied several times. This happens apparently when you start your kid in Kindergarten at the age of 5 because he’s bored and other parents sons don’t start until the age of 6. Being a year younger than his peers he had not yet hit his growth spurt (thank goodness that appears to be kicking in now).

Usually I am of the belief that bullies are not getting the attention and or discipline they should be getting from home. When it’s my kid on the receiving end I don’t give a shit why they are doing it I just want them to stop. After an incident where my son was pinned against a wall (thank goodness for security cameras in school I guess) I showed him three ways to defend himself. With this knowledge I also advised him that he should NEVER be the aggressor nor should he defend himself physically if it’s a verbal altercation.

There was one incident that stood out more than others last year though. One that I never thought I would have to deal with, especially with all the violence in schools these days you’d think I would be prepared. I was not. A student my son knew well enough to have conversations with threatened him with a knife. Thankfully threats were as far as it went.

The school took quick action and police were involved but I don’t think any mother can really be prepared for this type of situation. Kids going through puberty are not that smart, they make bad choices because their frontal lobe is still developing and hormones… good grief the hormones. Months later I am getting letters and calls from law enforcement regarding the situation, the charges and the process.

My kids should be enjoying summer, playing in pools, hanging out with friends, goofing off and driving me crazy but not thinking about victim statements and court orders of no contact. So today, after another reminder of this event I find being a mom difficult, but I am sure the mom of the kid who made bad choices is also finding being a mom difficult and that is what I am trying to remember.