Reply #37: Thanks to all [View All]

[prozacnation]

First I wanted to clarify that my son is not obese or even close. He is on the short side for his age and has a stocky or husky type build. When you are short and stocky even a few extra pounds looks bad. He could lose a few pounds no doubt about that. However, I do think that the weight problem will be less of an issue when puberty hormones kick in and he gets taller. He is a late bloomer just like his Dad was. He is active in that he goes to karate twice a week and is on a soccer team during soccer season. I did mention to him last night that we are going to help each other get in better shape by walking, etc.

Sadly the kid who torments him the most was a member of his soccer team last season. I thought he was a nice kid and honestly he was one of the reasons we choose the Christian school.

The school itself is a good school, at least academically. They also claim to be nurturing and supportive. I suppose how they deal with this issue will determine my opinion on that matter. The only thing I don't like about the school is how much they love Bush. Luckily my son knows better.

Enrolling him in a private school was not my first choice, trust me. To begin with it is so expensive and not in our budget. I liked the public middle school that he was at and they were responsive for the most part. We thought about doing an individual education plan for him but we were told it could take up to two years. There has to be testing and a noted history of problems or issues. It's not an immediate thing. I don't have two years to throw away while he is miserable.

He is in counseling on a weekly basis and I think it's helping. Unfortunately, I think most of the work he has to do is internal. We can tell him over and over again that we love him and he's great but he ultimately has to process and believe that information. He has to find the strength to stand up for himself and stop being a victim. I just don't know how to get him to that step.